Final Countdown for Women's Cup Winners' Cup

In 2015/16 season 34 teams will have the chance to win a truly unique trophy in European handball: the very last Women's Cup Winners' Cup on offer.

After the Men's Cup Winners' Cup merged with the corresponding EHF Cup in the 2012/13 season, the Women's CWC and EHF Cup will follow suit in the 2016/17 season, meaning that the upcoming competition in the Women's Cup Winners' Cup is the last one.

According to the competition's playing system and seeding list that was released by the EHF on Tuesday, 34 teams have the chance to eventually lift the trophy.

12 clubs (10 + two coming from the EHF Champions League Qualification) enter the race in Round 2 (there are no Round 1 matches); 18 teams are already seeded in Round 3 (14 + four coming from the EHF Champions League Qualification).

None of the two finalists from the previous season, Fleury Loiret Handball and FC Midtjylland, play the Cup Winners' Cup this season as both qualified for the EHF Champions League 2015/16 - however, they can still end up in the competition as the four fourth placed teams from the EHF Champions League Group Matches enter the CWC in Round 4.

Round 2 takes place on 17/18 and 24/25 October; Round 3 on 14/15 and 21/22 November. The draw for these two rounds will be conducted on 21 July at the EHF Office in Vienna.

Seeding lists and playing systems have also been released for the Women's EHF Cup and the Women's Challenge Cup.

46 teams vie for lifting the EHF Cup, while 25 play in the Women's Challenge Cup. Last season's EHF Cup Winners, Team Tvis Holstebro, play the Cup Winners' Cup this season, their opponents in the final, Rostov-Don, have qualified for the EHF Champions League.

Last season's winners of the Challenge Cup have also moved up so to say, as Union Mios Biganos-Begles starts in the EHF Cup in 2015/16.

Rounds 2 and 3 in the Women's EHF Cup are played on 17/18 and 24/25 October as well as on 14/15 and 21/22 November (there are no Round 1 matches). Round 3 in the Women's Challenge Cup is played on 14/15 and 21/22 November (no matches in Rounds 1 and 2).

The draw for all these rounds takes place on 21 July at the EHF Office in Vienna.

Downloads

Women's Cup Winners' Cup: Playing system and seeding list

Women's EHF Cup: Playing system and seeding list

Women's Challenge Cup: Playing system and seeding list