First round matches of the Coca-Cola Cup continue in Cyprus

The first phase of the 2026-2027 Coca-Cola Cup in Cyprus continued on October 21, 2026, with two matches featuring top-tier teams hosting lower-division opponents. AEK Larnaca hosted Akritas Chlorakas at the AEK Arena, while Nea Salamina played APEA Akrotiriou at the Ammochostos-Epistrofi stadium. These single-elimination fixtures were preceded by a scheduling change that moved the AEK-Akritas kickoff to 17:00 at the mutual request of both clubs.

The tournament includes 21 teams in the lower-division brackets, with various teams already securing advancement or receiving byes. While clubs like Paphos FC, Apollon, and Omonia Nicosia were exempt from the first round under competition regulations, others like Krasava ENY and Aris had already advanced. Match officials for the October 21 games were appointed by the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), with Giorgos Georgiou officiating the AEK match and Konstantinos Neophytou overseeing the Nea Salamina fixture.

The schedule continues throughout late October and early November to determine the final lineup for the round of 16. The tournament also includes separate brackets for third-division and STOK selection teams, with their initial rounds slated to begin on November 25, 2026.