New Format and Name for 2024 Korea Cup: One-Leg Final at Seoul World Cup Stadium

The Korean FA Cup is undergoing a rebranding and will now be known as the “Korea Cup.” The final of the 2024 edition is set to take place on Saturday, November 30th, at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The Korea Football Association has officially announced the change, with the tournament now being called the Hana Bank Korea Cup. The decision was influenced by similar cup competitions in other countries that incorporate symbols representing national authority in their names.

Furthermore, the 2024 Korea Cup final will see a departure from the traditional two-leg format that has been in place in recent years. Instead, a one-off final will be played at Seoul World Cup Stadium, drawing inspiration from the English FA Cup final at Wembley. Additional changes include the introduction of VAR from the quarterfinals onwards, expanded substitution opportunities, and revamped qualification criteria for the AFC Champions League Elite.

The competition is set to kick off on March 9th with Round 1 featuring bottom-half K3 teams, K4 teams, and K5 teams. Subsequent rounds will see the entry of K League 2 and non-ACL teams from K League 1, leading up to the participation of ACL teams in the Round of 16. The final is scheduled for November 30th, with Pohang Steelers looking to defend their title after defeating Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the previous season. Key dates for the tournament include Round 1 on March 9th-10th, Round 2 on March 23rd-24th, Round 3 on April 17th, the Round of 16 on June 19th, the quarterfinals on July 17th, and the semifinals in August.

The upcoming Korea Cup promises an exciting blend of competition and tradition, culminating in a showdown to determine the champions of adult football in the country. Stay tuned for more updates and action-packed matches as teams battle it out for glory in the revamped tournament.