Traditional duel in the ÖFB Cup: Wacker Innsbruck against Rapid Vienna!

Traditional duel in the ÖFB Cup: Wacker Innsbruck against Rapid Vienna!

On Wednesday the time had come: The pairings for the 1st round of the Uniqa ÖFB-Cup 2025/26 were drawn live on ORF Sport+. With Willi Kreuz as a "Losfee", the former national team player and Bundesliga goalkeeper king, the tradition, which dates from 1919, won the first competition when Rapid Vienna won. The surprise of the evening was undoubtedly the meeting of FC Wacker Innsbruck with SK Rapid, a real traditional duel that should lure the fans into the stadiums. This reports 12termann.at .

The time frame for the games is scheduled between 25 and 27 July 2025, the exact appointments will still be announced. The basic idea behind the draw was to enable regional encounters through geographical criteria. Over 64 teams from 9 state associations compete in the first round, including 12 Bundesliga clubs. Wikipedia grant home rights in this first round.

The return of the cup

The Uniqa ÖFB Cup will be held for the 91st time this season. It has established himself as an integral part of Austrian football over the years and is the highlight of the season for many. The winner not only receives the prestigious trophy, but also the right to start in the 3rd qualification round of the UEFA Europa League 2026/27. This means that the competition is not only interesting for fans, but also for the clubs who want to present themselves at an international level.

Current defending champion is the Wolfsberger AC, who won the final against TSV Hartberg 1-0 on May 1, 2025. The top scorer will continue to be in focus in the course of the tournament, because Donis Avdijaj from Hartberg has proven with 7 goals last season that he is an attack talent. Laola1 shows the impressive statistics and is reminiscent of the great history of the ÖFB-Cups.

The draw in detail

A total of 32 encounters were drawn to the fans. Here is an overview of some of the most exciting pairings of the 1st round:

• atus tiles Koller Velden vs. SC Neusiedl am See 1919
• FC Wacker Innsbruck vs. SK Rapid
• Wiener Sport-Club vs. Lask
• Ask Voitsberg vs. FK Austria Vienna
• FC Dornbirn 1913 vs. Graz athletic sport club

The draw shows that the fans can look forward to exciting duels. In the first phase, the games were designed according to the geographical division to avoid long trips. The other phases of the tournament will then stage the larger names against the amateurs.

A look at the statistics shows that the historical background of the ÖFB Cup is also an important part of Austrian football culture. Although the competition had its heights and depths and was exposed to between 1950 and 1958, it is still very popular.

In the coming season, both sportiness and tradition will be in the foreground, and fans can hardly wait to see their favorite clubs on the lawn. The first games take place from July 25th to 27th and promise exciting encounters and many emotions. In the end, who will highlight the coveted trophy? We can be excited!