What Is the Welsh Cup? (Quick Answer)
The Welsh Cup is Wales’s national knockout football competition, run by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) since 1877. That makes it the third-oldest national cup in the world, behind only the FA Cup and the Scottish Cup.
Officially known as the FAW Welsh Cup, it is open to men’s clubs in the Welsh football pyramid. The winner earns a place in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers. Caernarfon Town are the current holders after beating Flint Town United 3–0 in April 2026.
It is a competition full of stories. Village sides share the draw with full-time professionals. Border clubs from England once lifted the trophy. And Wrexham, now a Hollywood-backed name, still hold the record for most wins.
The Welsh Cup at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1877 |
| First final | 30 March 1878: Wrexham 1–0 Druids |
| Organiser | Football Association of Wales (FAW) |
| Entrants in 2026/27 | 284 clubs, a record |
| Record winners | Wrexham, 23 titles |
| Current holders | Caernarfon Town (2025/26) |
| European reward | UEFA Conference League first qualifying round |
| Different winners | 35 clubs |
This Season’s Welsh Cup (2026/27)
The 2026/27 Welsh Cup is at the Round Two stage, where the top-flight clubs join in. A record 284 clubs entered this season, up from 272 the year before.
<!– Editor’s note: update this section after every round and link each item to the live goalscorner.com pages. –>
| Stage | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First Qualifying Round | 24–26 July 2026 | Complete |
| Second Qualifying Round | 21–23 August 2026 | Complete |
| Round One | 18–20 September 2026 | Complete |
| Round Two | Autumn 2026 (confirm date) | Next up |
| Quarter-finals onwards | 2027 (confirm dates) | To come |
Welsh Cup draw and fixtures
The Round One Welsh Cup draw split 88 clubs into Northern and Southern sections. That regional split keeps travel short in the early rounds.
Round Two brings in all 16 Novira Cymru Premier clubs. Newtown, Bala Town, Caerau Ely and Llanelli Town also enter here, thanks to byes as last season’s top-ranked Tier 2 sides.
The FAW streams each Welsh Cup draw free on Cymru Football TV. Fans just need to create an account.
Source: FAW, Round One draw; FAW, First Qualifying Round draw.
How the Welsh Cup Format Works
The Welsh Cup is a straight knockout. Win and you go through; lose and you are out. Clubs enter at different stages depending on their league tier.
Who can enter?
Any men’s club in the Welsh pyramid can apply, as long as its ground meets FAW standards. Welsh clubs that play in the English system, such as Cardiff City and Wrexham, are not eligible.
The round structure
The 2026/27 FAW Welsh Cup runs like this:
- First Qualifying Round. 232 clubs from Tier 3 and below start the journey.
- Second Qualifying Round. The four highest-ranked Tier 3 clubs join.
- Round One. The 28 lowest-ranked Tier 2 clubs enter.
- Round Two. All 16 Cymru Premier clubs and the top four Tier 2 sides come in.
- Later rounds. The draw stays regional until Round Three, then opens up nationwide.
- Semi-finals and final.
The Welsh Cup final
The Welsh Cup final is a single match, usually in April. Draws are settled on the day by extra time and, if needed, penalties. Newport’s Rodney Parade has hosted the last three finals.
It was not always this way. From 1962 to 1985, the final was played over two legs, sometimes with a play-off.
A ticket to Europe
Welsh Cup winners earn a spot in the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round. If the winner has already qualified through the league, the place passes on through the league standings.
Helpful tip: UEFA allocations can change each season. Always check the FAW’s latest rules before planning a European trip.
History of the Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup began in 1877, just a year after the FAW itself was formed. The first final took place on 30 March 1878. Wrexham beat Druids 1–0, with Jas Davies scoring the historic winner.
The early years: North Wales rules
Druids, an amateur side from Ruabon, dominated the early decades. They reached eight of the first ten finals and won five of them. Chirk, Newtown White Stars, Bangor and Wrexham also collected trophies before 1900.
The south took longer to catch up. Aberaman Athletic became the first southern finalist in 1903, but Wrexham thrashed them 8–0. That score is still the biggest winning margin in any final of the competition. Cardiff City finally brought the trophy south in 1912.
The professional era
The competition paused during both world wars. After 1945, Football League clubs like Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham grew dominant. From the 1960s, the winner also earned a European Cup Winners’ Cup place. That made the trophy far more valuable.
The modern game
Since 1995, the cup has belonged to the Welsh pyramid. The New Saints have become the modern powerhouse, while Bangor City and Barry Town enjoyed golden spells. In 2026, Caernarfon Town became the 35th different club to win it.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Caernarfon Town win their first title |
| 2020–21 | Two seasons cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| 2012 | Merthyr, Newport and Wrexham briefly return (2011/12 season) |
| 1995 | Welsh clubs in the English system barred |
| 1962 | Two-legged finals begin, plus a European place |
| 1912 | Cardiff City become the first southern winners |
| 1878 | First final: Wrexham 1–0 Druids |
| 1877 | Competition founded by the FAW |
Source: Wikipedia, List of Welsh Cup finals.
English Clubs in the Welsh Cup
Yes, English clubs have won the Welsh Cup, and quite often. Teams from across the border lifted the trophy 21 times, the last in 1990.
Why border clubs were invited
In the 1870s, North Wales football grew up alongside clubs in Shropshire and Cheshire. Fixtures crossed the border every week. So inviting nearby English sides made the cup stronger and more competitive.
Oswestry and Northwich Victoria both played in the very first season. The 1879 final was even staged in Oswestry. Later, Football League sides like Chester, Shrewsbury Town and Hereford United became regulars.
There was one catch. When the cup offered a European place, English winners could not take it. The spot went to the best Welsh side instead.
English clubs who won the Welsh Cup
| Club | Wins | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Shrewsbury Town | 6 | 1890–91, 1937–38, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1983–84, 1984–85 |
| Chester | 3 | 1907–08, 1932–33, 1946–47 |
| Wellington Town (now Telford) | 3 | 1901–02, 1905–06, 1939–40 |
| Oswestry United | 2 | 1900–01, 1906–07 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 2 | 1935–36, 1936–37 |
| Oswestry | 1 | 1883–84 |
| Bristol City | 1 | 1933–34 |
| Tranmere Rovers | 1 | 1934–35 |
| South Liverpool | 1 | 1938–39 |
| Hereford United | 1 | 1989–90 |
Hereford’s 2–1 win over Wrexham in 1990 was the last by a traditional English entrant. Kidderminster Harriers, Hednesford Town and Stourbridge all reached finals but lost.
The New Saints: a special case
The New Saints play their home games at Park Hall in Oswestry, England. Yet the club competes fully in the Welsh pyramid. With 10 Welsh Cup titles, they are often counted as the most successful English-based winners.
Source: Wikipedia, List of Welsh Cup finals; RSSSF, Welsh Cup finals.
The 1995 Exclusion: Why Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and Newport Left
Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County cannot play in the Welsh Cup because they compete in the English football pyramid. The FAW barred them in 1995.
What happened?
The League of Wales launched in 1992 as a new national league. Six Welsh clubs in the English system refused to switch: Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, Newport, Merthyr Tydfil and Colwyn Bay.
UEFA then raised a problem. It did not want clubs from English leagues qualifying for Europe through a Welsh competition. Under that pressure, the FAW removed all six clubs from the cup in 1995.
The brief 2011/12 return
The FAW invited the six clubs back for 2011/12. Only Merthyr, Newport and Wrexham accepted. The FAW also asked UEFA to let them qualify for Europe again. UEFA said no, because clubs can only qualify through one national association. The invitation was not renewed the following season.
Today, five clubs remain outside: Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham, Newport County and Merthyr Town. Colwyn Bay have since returned to the Welsh pyramid.
Should they come back?
Fans have argued about this for three decades. Supporters of a return make points like these:
- Big crowds and TV interest would lift the competition’s profile.
- Small clubs would get dream ties against famous names.
- The record winners, Wrexham, would be back in the story.
Those against a return argue differently:
- Cymru Premier clubs would lose a realistic path to Europe.
- Professional sides would likely field youth or reserve teams.
- UEFA rules still block a European place for English-system clubs.
For now, the door stays shut. Even so, the debate resurfaces almost every time a Welsh club in the English leagues makes headlines.
Source: Wikipedia, List of Welsh Cup finals; BBC Sport, FAW seeks route into Europe for Cardiff and Swansea.
Wrexham’s Welsh Cup Record
Wrexham are the most successful club in Welsh Cup history, with 23 titles. Their first came in the very first final in 1878, and their last in 1995.
The Wrexham Welsh Cup story is one of pure longevity. The Red Dragons also finished as runners-up 22 times, so they appeared in 45 finals in total. No other club comes close to that number.
Wrexham’s title-winning seasons
1877–78, 1882–83, 1892–93, 1896–97, 1902–03, 1904–05, 1908–09, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1913–14, 1914–15, 1920–21, 1923–24, 1924–25, 1930–31, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1959–60, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1985–86 and 1994–95.
Five Wrexham Welsh Cup highlights
- 1878: Beat Druids 1–0 to win the first-ever final.
- 1903: Crushed Aberaman Athletic 8–0, still the biggest final win.
- 1931: Hammered Shrewsbury Town 7–0 at the Racecourse.
- 1975: Beat Cardiff 5–2 on aggregate, sparking a famous European run.
- 1995: Edged Cardiff 2–1 in Cardiff in their final Welsh Cup final.
Could Wrexham return?
Wrexham did play again in 2011/12 when the FAW reopened the door. But that return lasted only one season. Under current rules, the club cannot enter while it plays in the English leagues.
Fun fact: Cardiff City sit just one title behind Wrexham on 22. Their rivalry in the final produced many classic ties, including the 1995 decider.
Source: Wikipedia, List of Welsh Cup finals.
Welsh Cup Winners in Europe
Winning the Welsh Cup has sent Welsh clubs on some unforgettable European nights. Cardiff City’s run to the 1968 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals remains the high point.
From the 1960s until 1999, the cup winner entered the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Like the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, it is now a lost piece of European football history. Second-tier and even non-league Welsh sides suddenly faced Europe’s giants.
| Season | Club | Furthest stage | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | Merthyr Tydfil | First round | Beat Italian side Atalanta 2–1 at home; Atalanta later reached the semi-finals |
| 1984–85 | Wrexham | Second round | Knocked out Porto, then lost to Roma |
| 1980–81 | Newport County | Quarter-finals | Took East Germany’s Carl Zeiss Jena to the brink |
| 1975–76 | Wrexham | Quarter-finals | Lost narrowly to eventual winners Anderlecht |
| 1970–71 | Cardiff City | Quarter-finals | Beat Real Madrid 1–0 in front of 47,000 at Ninian Park |
| 1967–68 | Cardiff City | Semi-finals | Lost 4–3 on aggregate to Hamburg |
| 1963–64 | Borough United | Second round | A tiny Welsh League club winning a European tie |
| 1962–63 | Bangor City | First round | Beat Napoli 2–0 at home before losing a play-off |
Europe today
Modern winners enter the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, the third tier below the Champions League and Europa League. It is a tough test. Holders Caernarfon Town lost 10–0 on aggregate to Estonia’s Levadia Tallinn in July 2026. Still, every summer brings fresh hope of a giant-killing.
Sources: Cardiff City FC, Adventures in Europe; RSSSF, Welsh clubs in Europe; Football Web Pages, Levadia v Caernarfon.
Full List of Welsh Cup Winners
Wrexham lead the all-time list with 23 titles, ahead of Cardiff City on 22. In total, 35 different clubs have won the trophy.
Most Welsh Cup wins
| Club | Titles | First win | Latest win | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrexham | 23 | 1878 | 1995 | 22 |
| Cardiff City | 22 | 1912 | 1993 | 10 |
| Swansea City | 10 | 1913 | 1991 | 8 |
| The New Saints | 10 | 1996 | 2025 | 4 |
| Bangor City | 8 | 1889 | 2010 | 10 |
| Druids | 8 | 1880 | 1904 | 5 |
| Shrewsbury Town (Eng) | 6 | 1891 | 1985 | 3 |
| Barry Town | 6 | 1955 | 2003 | 1 |
| Chirk AAA | 5 | 1887 | 1894 | 1 |
| Rhyl | 4 | 1952 | 2006 | 4 |
| Chester (Eng) | 3 | 1908 | 1947 | 10 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 3 | 1949 | 1987 | 2 |
| Wellington Town (Eng) | 3 | 1902 | 1940 | 0 |
Totals include former names: The New Saints as Llansantffraid and Total Network Solutions, Swansea City as Swansea Town, and Bangor City as Bangor.
Every Welsh Cup final, season by season
The list runs newest first. (Eng) marks clubs based in England. From 1961–62 to 1984–85, the Welsh Cup final was two-legged, so the score shown is the aggregate or the deciding play-off.
| Season | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 | Caernarfon Town | 3–0 | Flint Town United |
| 2024–25 | The New Saints | 2–1 | Connah’s Quay Nomads |
| 2023–24 | Connah’s Quay Nomads | 2–1 | The New Saints |
| 2022–23 | The New Saints | 6–0 | Bala Town |
| 2021–22 | The New Saints | 3–2 | Penybont |
| 2020–21 | Cancelled (COVID-19) | – | – |
| 2019–20 | Cancelled (COVID-19) | – | – |
| 2018–19 | The New Saints | 3–0 | Connah’s Quay Nomads |
| 2017–18 | Connah’s Quay Nomads | 4–1 | Aberystwyth Town |
| 2016–17 | Bala Town | 2–1 | The New Saints |
| 2015–16 | The New Saints | 2–0 | Airbus UK Broughton |
| 2014–15 | The New Saints | 2–0 | Newtown |
| 2013–14 | The New Saints | 3–2 | Aberystwyth Town |
| 2012–13 | Prestatyn Town | 3–1 (aet) | Bangor City |
| 2011–12 | The New Saints | 2–0 | Cefn Druids |
| 2010–11 | Llanelli | 4–1 | Bangor City |
| 2009–10 | Bangor City | 3–2 | Port Talbot Town |
| 2008–09 | Bangor City | 2–0 | Aberystwyth Town |
| 2007–08 | Bangor City | 4–2 (aet) | Llanelli |
| 2006–07 | Carmarthen Town | 3–2 | Afan Lido |
| 2005–06 | Rhyl | 2–0 | Bangor City |
| 2004–05 | Total Network Solutions | 1–0 | Carmarthen Town |
| 2003–04 | Rhyl | 1–0 (aet) | Total Network Solutions |
| 2002–03 | Barry Town | 2–2 (aet, won on pens) | Cwmbran Town |
| 2001–02 | Barry Town | 4–1 | Bangor City |
| 2000–01 | Barry Town | 2–0 | Total Network Solutions |
| 1999–2000 | Bangor City | 1–0 | Cwmbran Town |
| 1998–99 | Inter Cable-Tel | 1–1 (aet, won on pens) | Carmarthen Town |
| 1997–98 | Bangor City | 1–1 (aet, won on pens) | Connah’s Quay Nomads |
| 1996–97 | Barry Town | 2–1 | Cwmbran Town |
| 1995–96 | Llansantffraid | 3–3 (aet, won on pens) | Barry Town |
| 1994–95 | Wrexham | 2–1 | Cardiff City |
| 1993–94 | Barry Town | 2–1 | Cardiff City |
| 1992–93 | Cardiff City | 5–0 | Rhyl |
| 1991–92 | Cardiff City | 1–0 | Hednesford Town (Eng) |
| 1990–91 | Swansea City | 2–0 | Wrexham |
| 1989–90 | Hereford United (Eng) | 2–1 | Wrexham |
| 1988–89 | Swansea City | 5–0 | Kidderminster Harriers (Eng) |
| 1987–88 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Wrexham |
| 1986–87 | Merthyr Tydfil | 1–0 (replay, after 2–2) | Newport County |
| 1985–86 | Wrexham | 2–1 (replay, after 1–1) | Kidderminster Harriers (Eng) |
| 1984–85 | Shrewsbury Town (Eng) | 5–1 agg | Bangor City |
| 1983–84 | Shrewsbury Town (Eng) | 2–1 agg | Wrexham |
| 1982–83 | Swansea City | 4–1 agg | Wrexham |
| 1981–82 | Swansea City | 2–1 agg | Cardiff City |
| 1980–81 | Swansea City | 2–1 agg | Hereford United (Eng) |
| 1979–80 | Newport County | 5–1 agg | Shrewsbury Town (Eng) |
| 1978–79 | Shrewsbury Town (Eng) | 2–1 agg | Wrexham |
| 1977–78 | Wrexham | 3–1 agg | Bangor City |
| 1976–77 | Shrewsbury Town (Eng) | 4–2 agg | Cardiff City |
| 1975–76 | Cardiff City | 6–5 agg | Hereford United (Eng) |
| 1974–75 | Wrexham | 5–2 agg | Cardiff City |
| 1973–74 | Cardiff City | 2–0 agg | Stourbridge (Eng) |
| 1972–73 | Cardiff City | 5–1 agg | Bangor City |
| 1971–72 | Wrexham | 3–2 agg | Cardiff City |
| 1970–71 | Cardiff City | 4–1 agg | Wrexham |
| 1969–70 | Cardiff City | 5–0 agg | Chester (Eng) |
| 1968–69 | Cardiff City | 5–1 agg | Swansea City |
| 1967–68 | Cardiff City | 6–1 agg | Hereford United (Eng) |
| 1966–67 | Cardiff City | 4–3 agg | Wrexham |
| 1965–66 | Swansea Town | 2–1 (play-off) | Chester (Eng) |
| 1964–65 | Cardiff City | 3–0 (play-off) | Wrexham |
| 1963–64 | Cardiff City | 2–0 (play-off) | Bangor City |
| 1962–63 | Borough United | 2–1 agg | Newport County |
| 1961–62 | Bangor City | 3–1 (play-off) | Wrexham |
| 1960–61 | Swansea Town | 3–1 | Bangor City |
| 1959–60 | Wrexham | 1–0 (replay, after 1–1) | Cardiff City |
| 1958–59 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Lovell’s Athletic |
| 1957–58 | Wrexham | 2–1 (replay, after 1–1) | Chester (Eng) |
| 1956–57 | Wrexham | 2–1 | Swansea Town |
| 1955–56 | Cardiff City | 3–2 | Swansea Town |
| 1954–55 | Barry Town | 4–3 (replay, after 1–1) | Chester (Eng) |
| 1953–54 | Flint Town United | 2–0 | Chester (Eng) |
| 1952–53 | Rhyl | 2–1 | Chester (Eng) |
| 1951–52 | Rhyl | 4–3 | Merthyr Tydfil |
| 1950–51 | Merthyr Tydfil | 3–2 (replay, after 1–1) | Cardiff City |
| 1949–50 | Swansea Town | 4–1 | Wrexham |
| 1948–49 | Merthyr Tydfil | 2–0 | Swansea Town |
| 1947–48 | Lovell’s Athletic | 3–0 | Shrewsbury Town (Eng) |
| 1946–47 | Chester (Eng) | 5–1 (replay, after 0–0) | Merthyr Tydfil |
| 1940–46 | Not held (Second World War) | – | – |
| 1939–40 | Wellington Town (Eng) | 4–0 | Swansea Town |
| 1938–39 | South Liverpool (Eng) | 2–1 | Cardiff City |
| 1937–38 | Shrewsbury Town (Eng) | 2–1 (replay, after 2–2) | Swansea Town |
| 1936–37 | Crewe Alexandra (Eng) | 3–1 (replay, after 1–1) | Rhyl |
| 1935–36 | Crewe Alexandra (Eng) | 2–0 | Chester (Eng) |
| 1934–35 | Tranmere Rovers (Eng) | 1–0 | Chester (Eng) |
| 1933–34 | Bristol City (Eng) | 3–0 (replay, after 1–1) | Tranmere Rovers (Eng) |
| 1932–33 | Chester (Eng) | 2–0 | Wrexham |
| 1931–32 | Swansea Town | 2–0 (replay, after 1–1) | Wrexham |
| 1930–31 | Wrexham | 7–0 | Shrewsbury Town (Eng) |
| 1929–30 | Cardiff City | 4–2 (replay, after 0–0) | Rhyl Athletic |
| 1928–29 | Connah’s Quay & Shotton | 3–0 | Cardiff City |
| 1927–28 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Bangor |
| 1926–27 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Rhyl Athletic |
| 1925–26 | Ebbw Vale | 3–2 | Swansea Town |
| 1924–25 | Wrexham | 3–1 | Flint |
| 1923–24 | Wrexham | 1–0 (replay, after 2–2) | Merthyr Town |
| 1922–23 | Cardiff City | 3–2 | Aberdare Athletic |
| 1921–22 | Cardiff City | 2–0 | Ton Pentre |
| 1920–21 | Wrexham | 3–1 (replay, after 1–1) | Pontypridd |
| 1919–20 | Cardiff City | 2–1 | Wrexham |
| 1915–19 | Not held (First World War) | – | – |
| 1914–15 | Wrexham | 1–0 (replay, after 1–1) | Swansea Town |
| 1913–14 | Wrexham | 3–0 (replay, after 0–0) | Llanelli |
| 1912–13 | Swansea Town | 1–0 (replay, after 0–0) | Pontypridd |
| 1911–12 | Cardiff City | 3–0 (replay, after 0–0) | Pontypridd |
| 1910–11 | Wrexham | 6–0 | Connah’s Quay & Shotton |
| 1909–10 | Wrexham | 2–1 | Chester (Eng) |
| 1908–09 | Wrexham | 1–0 | Chester (Eng) |
| 1907–08 | Chester (Eng) | 3–1 | Connah’s Quay & Shotton |
| 1906–07 | Oswestry United (Eng) | 2–0 | Whitchurch (Eng) |
| 1905–06 | Wellington Town (Eng) | 3–2 | Whitchurch (Eng) |
| 1904–05 | Wrexham | 3–0 | Aberdare Athletic |
| 1903–04 | Druids | 3–2 | Aberdare Athletic |
| 1902–03 | Wrexham | 8–0 | Aberaman Athletic |
| 1901–02 | Wellington Town (Eng) | 1–0 | Wrexham |
| 1900–01 | Oswestry United (Eng) | 1–0 | Druids |
| 1899–1900 | Aberystwyth | 3–0 | Druids |
| 1898–99 | Druids | 1–0 (replay, after 2–2) | Wrexham |
| 1897–98 | Druids | 2–1 (replay, after 1–1) | Wrexham |
| 1896–97 | Wrexham | 2–0 | Newtown |
| 1895–96 | Bangor | 3–1 | Wrexham |
| 1894–95 | Newtown | 3–2 | Wrexham |
| 1893–94 | Chirk | 2–0 | Westminster Rovers |
| 1892–93 | Wrexham | 2–1 | Chirk |
| 1891–92 | Chirk | 2–1 | Westminster Rovers |
| 1890–91 | Shrewsbury Town (Eng) | 5–2 | Wrexham |
| 1889–90 | Chirk | 1–0 | Wrexham |
| 1888–89 | Bangor | 2–1 | Northwich Victoria (Eng) |
| 1887–88 | Chirk | 5–0 | Newtown |
| 1886–87 | Chirk | 2–1 | Davenham (Eng) |
| 1885–86 | Druids | 4–0 | Newtown |
| 1884–85 | Druids | 3–1 (replay, aet, after 1–1) | Oswestry (Eng) |
| 1883–84 | Oswestry (Eng) | 1–0 (replay, after 0–0) | Druids |
| 1882–83 | Wrexham | 1–0 | Druids |
| 1881–82 | Druids | 5–0 | Northwich Victoria (Eng) |
| 1880–81 | Druids | 2–0 | Newtown White Stars |
| 1879–80 | Druids | 2–1 | Ruthin |
| 1878–79 | Newtown White Stars | 1–0 | Wrexham |
| 1877–78 | Wrexham | 1–0 | Druids |
Sources: Wikipedia, List of Welsh Cup finals; RSSSF, Wales list of cup finals; FAW, 2026 final preview.
Welsh Cup vs Welsh League Cup: What’s the Difference?
The Welsh Cup is open to clubs at every level and offers a European place. The Welsh League Cup is a smaller competition for the top tiers only, with no European reward.
| Welsh Cup | Welsh League Cup | |
|---|---|---|
| Started | 1877 | 1992–93 |
| Who can enter | Any eligible club in the Welsh pyramid | Clubs from the top tiers only |
| Size | 284 clubs in 2026/27 | A much smaller field |
| European place | Yes, Conference League qualifiers | No |
| Prestige | Wales’s main cup | Secondary trophy |
Think of it like England’s FA Cup and League Cup. The Welsh Cup carries the history and the glamour. The League Cup gives top-flight clubs another shot at silverware, often with rotated squads.
Welsh Cup FAQs
Who has won the Welsh Cup the most?
Wrexham have won the Welsh Cup the most, with 23 titles. Cardiff City are second on 22, while Swansea City and The New Saints have 10 each.
Can English clubs play in the Welsh Cup?
Not today, unless they belong to the Welsh pyramid. English border clubs entered for over a century and won it 21 times. The New Saints, based in Oswestry, still take part because they play in the Cymru Premier.
Does the Welsh Cup winner qualify for Europe?
Yes. The winner enters the UEFA Conference League first qualifying round. If the winner already qualifies through the league, the spot passes down the league table.
Why don’t Cardiff and Swansea play in the Welsh Cup?
They compete in the English football system. The FAW barred Welsh clubs in English leagues in 1995 after pressure from UEFA. Wrexham, Newport County and Merthyr Town are excluded for the same reason.
Who are the current holders?
Caernarfon Town hold the trophy. They beat Flint Town United 3–0 at Rodney Parade on 12 April 2026 for their first title.
Is the Welsh Cup the oldest cup in the world?
No, but it is close. It is the third-oldest national cup competition, after the FA Cup and the Scottish Cup.
Final Whistle: Why the Welsh Cup Still Matters
Few competitions pack so much history into one trophy. It has crowned village clubs, English border sides and Football League giants. It has sent Cardiff to a European semi-final and Merthyr past Atalanta. And in 2026, it gave Caernarfon Town the greatest day in their history.
The next chapter is already under way, with Cymru Premier clubs now joining the draw. Could another first-time winner emerge? Or will The New Saints reclaim their crown?