FFSL to revive FA Cup after five-year gap

Match action from a previous edition

By Susil Premalal

Football Federation of Sri Lanka has decided to revive the country’s premier knockout football competition, the FA Cup Inter-Club Tournament 2026/27, from July 25 after a five-year break.
FFSL President Jaswar Umar told the Daily Mirror that between 700 and 800 teams representing all FFSL-affiliated football leagues are expected to participate in this year’s tournament.
Currently, 65 football leagues are affiliated with the FFSL. Financial allocations required for leagues to field teams in the upcoming FA Cup tournament are scheduled to be distributed during the FFSL Annual General Meeting to be held in Nuwara Eliya on June 6.
Accordingly, it has been made compulsory for every affiliated football league to field teams for the FA Cup competition. The FFSL has further decided to suspend the voting rights of leagues that fail to enter teams for the tournament.
The FA Cup competition has a long-standing history in Sri Lankan football, dating back to 1948. From 1948 to 1987, it was conducted as the Ceylon FA Cup, while from 1988 onwards it was held under various sponsorship titles, including the Bristol Cup, Sharp Cup, Holcim Cup, Cargills Cup and Vantage Cup.
Saunders Sports Club, regarded as the oldest football club in Sri Lanka, holds the record for the most FA Cup titles with 15 championships.
At the last edition held in 2019/20, Police Sports Club emerged champions after defeating Saunders SC 6-5 in a penalty shootout following a closely contested final.