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Within the prestigious Gold Championships the SMFA Cup holders qualify for the following seasons tournament, along with 31 other clubs from the various national leagues dependent on their final league position.

The number of clubs which qualify for the SMFA Cup from each national league within the Gold Championships varies between each league.

Within a standard game world the SMFA Cup holders qualify for the following seasons tournament, along with a set amount of clubs from within the game world dependent on their final league position.

However, it is worth noting that the number of clubs which qualify for the SMFA Cup from each standard game world will vary between each format.

In nation based Standard Game Worlds the SMFA Cup will also include numerous top-level external clubs, which will vary dependent on format.

For example clubs within the Australian Championships will compete against other Asian teams.

Please refer to 'Qualification within Standard Game World'.

Selecting the formation and tactics for your team is the same process as any other matchday.

Regarding fitness and SMFA Cup matches a player's fitness is taken into consideration and it is reduced during the game.

Players will be able to pick up an injury whilst playing for their club. Also a player could pick up an SMFA suspension, but this will only apply for SMFA competitions and will not effect domestic competitions.

If you are a Gold Manager then selecting the formation and tactics for your team is the same process as any other matchday.

If you are not a Gold Manager then your Assistant Manager will decide the tactics and team.

Your Assistant Manager will not change the tactical screen. This means that you can set your team for the following match and it will not change.

Regarding fitness and SMFA Cup matches all players are 100% fit for the game, and no fitness is reduced.

Players will not be able to pick up an injury whilst playing for their club. Also a player could pick up an SMFA suspension, but this will only apply for SMFA competitions and will not effect domestic competitions.

Please refer to 'Matchday within Standard Game Worlds'.

The SMFA Cup is split into two stages:

First, a group stage involving a set amount of clubs dependent on the type of Game World. Each club which qualifies for the opening group phase of the SMFA Cup will be seeded accordingly, and this will mean equally matched clubs will avoid each other until the latter stages.

The clubs are drawn into numerous groups with four clubs per group. Dependent on the type of Game World each club will play every other club in the group at least once.

Second, the knockout stage involving the qualified clubs from the group stage. The first round of the knockout stage sees the group winners playing the group runners-up (however you cannot play a runner-up from the same group), over two legs, home and away.

If the aggregate score is level then away goals will count double. If the aggregate scores are still level then penalties are used to decide who will progress to the next stage of the tournament.

The SMFA Cup final is a one off match played at a neutral pre-determined venue. If the match is a draw after 90 minutes have been played, then penalties are used to decide who will lift the trophy.

Any player who makes an appearance for a club at any stage of the SMFA Cup is cup-tied for all future matches during that season in the same competition.

This means that if the player transfers clubs during the same season he will not be eligible to represent his new club in that competition for the duration of the season.

However, the cup-tied status is removed after the group stages and he is eligible to represent another club unless he makes further appearances during the knock-out stages.

For example a player represents club "x" in the SMFA Cup and then transfers to club y during the group stages. The player in question will be cup-tied in relation to the SMFA Cup for the duration of the group stage, and will be eligible to represent his new club during the knock-out stages.

Or a player represents club "x" in the SMFA Cup during the knock-out stages and then transfers to club "y". The player in question will be cup-tied in relation to the SMFA Cup for the duration of the tournament.

Any player who makes an appearance for a club at any stage of the SMFA Cup will not become cup-tied for future matches within Standard Game Worlds.

Any player who makes an appearance for a club at any stage of the SMFA Cup will not become cup-tied for future matches within Custom Game Worlds.

The winners of the SMFA Cup qualify for the following seasons Super Cup.

Within Gold Championships the SMFA awards prize money to each club that qualifies for the SMFA Cup group stages, during which prize money is awarded for either a win or a draw.

In both Gold Championships and Standard Game Worlds the SMFA pays each club prize money for qualifying for each round of the competition and the overall winners receive bonus prize money.