The
Allsvenskan clubs
Djurgårdens IF and
Malmö FF contested the final, with the winner earning a place in the
second qualifying round of the
2018–19 UEFA Europa League. Since Malmö were qualified for the
first qualifying round of the
2018–19 UEFA Champions League and Djurgården were qualified for the
first qualifying round of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League through their positions in the
2017 Allsvenskan, Sweden's fourth European place was given to
BK Häcken as the 4th team of the 2017 Allsvenskan. Djurgården was given a place in the second qualifying round of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League since they won the final. Djurgården played their first final since
2013 and their ninth in total. Malmö played their first final since
2016 and their 19th in total. Both clubs lost in their previous final appearances. Having met in
1951,
1975, and
1989, this was the fourth final to contest the two clubs. Malmö had won all of the prior meetings in the final of the competition. The 1989 final was notably the last time Malmö won the competition, Djurgården had last won a cup title in
2005. The clubs faced each other twice in
Allsvenskan prior to the cup final, at
Tele2 Arena on 18 April where Djurgården won 3–0, and at
Stadion on 3 May where Malmö won 1–0. ==Route to the final==