The 2026/27 Polish Cup competition has begun, with Lech Poznan, one of the main favourites, set to enter the tournament only in the round of 16. The Poznan-based club, along with Jagiellonia, Rakow, Gornik, and GKS, has the privilege of skipping the first round due to competition regulations. The first matches are scheduled for Tuesday, and according to the outlet weszlo.com, which described the tournament structure, the cup offers league-phase gameplay as its final will be held at the National Stadium.
Lech Poznan currently sits in second place in the Ekstraklasa table, having collected 10 points from four matchdays. The team has recorded three wins and one draw, scoring 8 goals and conceding 3. This is a strong position, placing them just 2 points behind leaders Legia Warsaw. The team's current form is WWWD, providing a solid foundation for the autumn challenges, including the cup campaign.
When will Lech Poznan play in the Polish Cup?
Lech Poznan, Jagiellonia Bialystok, Rakow Czestochowa, Gornik Zabrze, and GKS Katowice are the five clubs that will bypass the first round of the Polish Cup. They will enter the competition in the round of 16. This is standard practice for teams finishing in the highest league positions the previous season. Meanwhile, the first round will feature teams from lower leagues, including eleven clubs from the third tier. Among them are Gornik Polkowice, MKS Kluczbork, Siarka Tarnobrzeg, Wigry Suwalki, Wiked Luzino, Polonia Sroda Wielkopolska, Kluczevia Stargard, Chemik Bydgoszcz, and the reserve teams of Widzew, Wisla Plock, and Korona.
An interesting feature is the participation of fourth-tier teams, which distinguishes the Polish system from many other countries where only one team per club is allowed in the domestic cup. This year, Beskid Andrychow and Sokół Ostróda will play in the first round. Another unusual case is Gornik II Zabrze, a reserve team not currently playing in any league, which qualified through the Silesian district cup. They will play against Olimpia Grudziadz at Arena Zabrze. Representatives of Gornik's reserves posed a rhetorical question: "A może wystawimy pierwszą drużynę i dzięki temu będziemy wszystkie mecze rozgrywali u siebie?" (Maybe we'll field the first team and thanks to that we'll play all matches at home?).
What are Lech's chances of winning the cup?
Lech Poznan and Jagiellonia Bialystok are considered the main favourites to win the Polish Cup in the 2026/27 season. It is estimated that their combined chance of triumph exceeds 30 percent. Among the teams not skipping the first round, Wisla Krakow has the highest rating. Other clubs like Arka Gdynia, Lechia Gdansk, Nieciecza, and LKS Lodz have higher chances than Slask Wroclaw, who drew a tough opponent from the start. The combined chances of all participants winning the tournament are estimated at around 70 percent.
The reward for the winner is significant. It guarantees a place in the qualifying rounds of European competitions. For Lech, Legia, Jagiellonia, or Rakow, this would mean direct entry into the UEFA Europa League qualifying phase, where they would be seeded. This is extra motivation for everyone, from small local clubs to the biggest brands in Polish football. The current Ekstraklasa standings show that Lech has a solid basis to think about a double.
What does the cup mean for the league schedule?
The cup competition runs parallel to the league, requiring good squad rotation. Already in the first round, top clubs will be playing in both competitions. An example is the match between Motor Lublin and Legia Warsaw scheduled for September 1, 2026, at 20:30. On the same day, September 2 at 14:30, the final will be held at the National Stadium. The first round will also feature the match between Wiked Luzino and Wisla Plock, also on September 2 at 14:30.
For Lech Poznan, managing resources will be key. The team has an important away league match against Wisla Plock scheduled for December 17, 2026. Wisla is currently in 16th place in the table, theoretically giving Lech a chance to secure points. All upcoming matches, both league and potential cup games, can be tracked on our fixtures page. Before Lech Poznan plays in the cup, however, they must focus on maintaining their good league form to keep pace with Legia.
