and Haj Benjelloun in the 1957 Throne Cup final|right winner of the 1960 Throne Cup|right
Before independence National knockout competitions had already taken place prior to Morocco's independence in 1956, starting with '''CA Marocain's
victory in the Coupe du Sultan
in 1916. CA Casablanca
, Olympique Marocain
, USM Casablanca
, and US Fès
were among the other early winners. The competition changed its name to the Coupe Coloniale du Maroc
in the 1930s, when teams such as Majd Al-Madina
, SA Marrakech
, Racing Casablanca
, Maghreb SR
, and ASPTT Casablanca
won championships. With five victories, USM Casablanca
dominated this era. The 1956 final was never contested, and USD Meknès''' was the last known champion in 1952. Despite their history, the
Royal Moroccan Football Federation does not formally recognise these competitions; instead, it views the 1956–1957 Coupe du Trône as the only national cup.
After Independence: Birth of the Throne Cup The
Moroccan Throne Cup, known in French as
Coupe du Trône, is the oldest official football cup competition in
Morocco. It was first held in the
1956–57 season, shortly after Morocco gained independence, making it a symbolic tournament that reflects both national pride and footballing heritage. The competition has used a knockout format open to clubs from all tiers of the
Moroccan football league system since its inception. This allows amateur and lower-division clubs to compete against top-tier teams, occasionally producing unexpected results known as "giant-killings." The
first-ever winner of the Throne Cup was
MC Oujda, who also won the first two editions consecutively (1957, 1958), marking a strong early presence. Over time, however,
AS FAR (the Royal Army team) became the tournament’s most successful club, winning the title a record
12 times, followed closely by
Wydad AC and
FAR’s traditional rivals Raja CA. The final is typically played at neutral venues and is one of the most watched domestic matches in Moroccan football. Notable stadiums such as
Stade Mohammed V in
Casablanca and
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in
Rabat have hosted many finals over the years. In addition to the prestige, the winner of the Throne Cup earns
qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup, adding a continental dimension to the stakes. The cup also plays a vital role in giving exposure to young talents and smaller clubs, sometimes acting as a springboard for players’ careers. The competition has survived through decades of Moroccan football evolution, political transitions, and club transformations, and continues to be a key highlight of the national football calendar. It represents not just sporting glory but also a deep connection between football and Moroccan national identity. == Format ==