Portugal · Open Cup
Taça de Portugal
In US-sports termsPortugal's version of March Madness, except the bracket has around 150 teams in it and the small clubs get to host.
What it is
Portugal's open knockout cup — around 155 clubs from across the league system. Top-flight clubs enter in the third round, second-tier clubs in the second.
How you get in
Qualify through your league level; the big clubs join once the amateurs have thinned the field.
What it feeds
Winner → Europa League (the spot passes down the league table if they've already qualified for the Champions League), plus a place in the Supertaça.
Single-elimination the whole way except the semifinals, which are played over two legs — so the final is genuinely one night, winner takes all.