Netherlands · Open Cup
KNVB Beker
In US-sports termsThe Dutch Cup — single-elimination, open to amateurs and giants alike, so somewhere in the early rounds a village side gets Ajax on their own field.
What it is
The Dutch Cup — a knockout tournament of well over a hundred clubs, drawing from the top four tiers plus qualifiers from the regional district cups.
How you get in
Through your league level, or by getting far enough in a regional district cup. The Eredivisie clubs enter later.
What it feeds
Winner → Europa League, and a place in the next Johan Cruijff Schaal. If the winner has already qualified for Europe through the league, that spot passes down the table.
Knockout soccer with no seeding mercy — one bad night and the biggest club in the country is out to someone you've never heard of.