The Westphalia Football and Athletics Association (FLVW) also published the new implementation regulations for the Westphalia Cup on Tuesday.
The qualification path for participation in the 2023/24 Westfalenpokal has been retained as expected.
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Accordingly, all Westphalian regional and third division clubs qualify directly. Compared to the previous season, there are now seven instead of eight teams.
Regional and third division clubs (8 teams)
In addition to third division SC Verl, these are the regional divisions SC Preußen Münster, SV Rödinghausen, SC Wiedenbrück, SV Lippstadt 08, RW Ahlen, 1. FC Kaan-Marienborn and SG Wattenscheid 09, which therefore do not have to take part in the district cup.
Oberliga Westfalen (6 teams)
The top 6 qualify for the Westphalia Cup. Reserve teams are excluded, so that place 7 and/or place 8 could move up if SC Paderborn 07 II and/or SC Preußen Münster II land in the top third of the table.
The inter-district champions from the Westphalian league to the district league (19 teams)
Since the district league 14 was canceled, there are only 19 instead of 20 qualified teams compared to the previous season. The same applies here: if a reserve team becomes champion, the runner-up moves up.
District cup winners (29 teams)
29 districts in Westphalia make 29 district cup winners.
How is the field populated to 64 participants?
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As in the previous season, there are 62 teams that qualify directly for the Westfalenpokal. So there are still two spots left.
Westphalian relegated from the 2nd Bundesliga would also have a place. SC Paderborn 07 and DSC Arminia Bielefeld are currently represented there. If both of them don’t get relegated – which every Westphalian should assume – two district cup finalists qualify for the Westphalia Cup, just like in the previous season.
The two largest football districts in Westphalia are used here. There is no way around Dortmund. It has always been the largest football district in which the finalist will definitely qualify for the Westfalenpokal.
Bochum and Recklinghausen are in the “fight” for the second largest district. Bochum has always been one step ahead. However, the decisive factor will be who will have the most teams at district level in play on the last matchday of the 2022/23 season. Here both start almost at eye level (Bochum 154 / Recklinghausen 149), so that a prognosis is not possible at the moment.
Westphalia Cup victory leads to the DFB Cup
The Westphalian participants in the DFB Cup are also regulated in the implementation regulations. As always, the winner of the Westfalenpokal gets a place. Second place will go to the best Westphalian regional league teams in the 2022/23 season, as announced at the Oberliga relay day. In the 2023/24 season, the Oberliga champions will qualify again. After that, it goes on alternately for the time being.
Five changes
It is well known that five player changes are allowed in the FLVW area in the coming season. This was also specifically included in the implementation regulations for the Westphalian Cup.
If you want to read everything again in detail, you can go to the FLVW homepage here.
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