Article by GSP – Published on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, 10:32 / Updated on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 10:33
As in the last five editions of the Romanian Cup, no team from Bucharest qualified for the final. The last act of the Romanian Cup 2026 takes place between the University of Craiova and the University of Cluj. The Municipal Stadium in Sibiu hosts this game, which starts on May 13, at 20:00.
U Craiova won the Romanian Cup seven times, the last time in the 2020-2021 season, when they beat Astra Giurgiu after extra time. Instead, U Cluj won this trophy only once. It happened more than 60 years ago, to be exact 1965 edition. The Transylvanian team competed in five finals, but were defeated each time.
In the final on Wednesday evening, the Oltenians are credited with the first chance at the houses of sports betting with odds of 1.72 to lift the trophy, while Cluj have odds of 2.00 to win the Romanian Cup for the 2nd time.
Tension until the last second in all matches of the knockout stages of the finalists
In this Romanian Cup season, both the quarter-finals and the semi-finals were tense for both finalists. Thus, Cluj University defeated Hermannstadt 2-1 at home, after being led until the 73rd minute. U Craiova, on the other hand, entered extra time in the quarter-finals, where prevailed against those from CFR Cluj. The score at the end of regular time was 1-1, Cluj equalizing in the 90th minute. In extra time U Craiova scored twice.
In the semifinals, both U Cluj and U Craiova reached the penalty shootout, where they did not miss even once. Both teams played the only leg of the semi-finals away from home. U Cluj met FC Argeș on April 21, while U Craiova played Dinamo on April 23.
The top scorer of this competition for U Craiova is Etim, an American who scored three times. Cluj University has Mendy and Atanas Trică as their best scorers, each with two goals.
Olteni start favorites in this final, with a 2.37 odds for victory
Both U Craiova and U Cluj entered extra time in their last final. Thus, the Oltenians defeated Astra Giurgiu 3-2 in the 2020-2021 season, and Cluj University lost after the penalty shootout three seasons ago, in front of those from Sepsi.
The odds for a draw in this final are 3.20. A success of Olten in regular time is rated with 2.37, and one of Cluj with 2.80. For Cluj University, Mendy scored in both the quarter-finals and the semi-finals. The odds for the Frenchman to score here too is 3.50.
U. Craiova won the Romanian Cup twice in the last 9 seasons
The first time U Craiova won the Romanian Cup was in the 1976-1977 season. Then he beat Steaua București in the last act with a score of 2-0. The goals from Craiova were scored by Ilie Balaci and Sorin Cârțu.
The last trophy Olten won in the 2020-2021 season, when they defeated Astra Giurgiu in the last act, after extra time. The penultimate trophy was won in the 2017-2018 edition, when they beat Hermannstadt, then in the second division. The other trophies of the Romanian Cup arrived for the Olteni in the 1977-1978, 1980-1981, 1982-1983 and 1990-1991 editions.
U Craiova contested the final twice, but failed to win it or even score. Thus, in the 1997-1998 season, they lost to Rapid, and two seasons later they lost against Dinamo.
Both U Craiova and U Cluj will enter the European cups, regardless of the result of the Romanian Cup final. The two are in the top two places in the championship with two rounds to go. However, the financial aspect is not one that you want to treat with final indifference.
The winner of the Romanian Cup will receive 240,000 euros, while the loser of the final will receive only 10,000 euros. It should be noted that all 4 Romanian Cup semifinalists have already received a check of 50,000 euros for reaching that stage.
