It’s less than a week to go until the start of one of the world’s most important tournaments, the St. Regis Cowdray Gold Cup – Tuesday June 23. The teams are getting ready to fight for the much coveted golden trophy, that will be celebrating a special milestone as well – the 70th. anniversary of the St. Regis Cowdray Gold Cup. 70 years of heritage, history and tradition.

In addition the 2026 edition of the contest will see a new system to be applied during the league phase as well as in the next stage – meaning, the quarter finals, because, unlike last year, there will be one more team; as usual, all of them up to 22 goals.

It was determined that the initial phase, consists of a League A made of five teams, due to play a total of four games each; and a two crossover section, consisting of four teams and three teams groups, under the name of Group B/C and Group D/E. These lineups shoul play four qualifying matches to advance to the knockout and quarter final stages.

How will the quarter finals be determined? 

The new rules are simpler than in past editions – the two first teams within League A will qualify to quarter final, while the three best within Group B/C and Group D/C will advance to the next stage; the standings depend according to each team performance, the same to those lineups from 4th. to 8th., in order to determine the matchups of the quarters.

It’s worth to notice that in case of a tie in points within a league, the “who beats who” will be applied before going to a penalty shootout; but there will be a penalty shootout, in the event there are many ties or if teams haven’t clashed with each other previously. With regards to the standings from first to eighth, the points earned during the four league games will be used and, in the event of a tie, there will be goal average.

As a summary:

League A: Made of five teams, that will play four games each. The two best, will advance to the quarter finals.

Group B/C: Both Groups will feature a total of seven teams (Group B, 4 and Group C, 3), in a crossover section. Group B will have an extra match between the first seeded and the fourth team that emerged from the draw, and between the second and third. The three best, will play the quarter finals.

Grupo D/E: These two Groups will be made of seven teams, as well (Group D, 4 and Group E, 3), in another crossover section. Group D will have an extra match between the first seeded and the fourth team emerging from the draw, and between the second and third. The three best, will play the quarter finals.

ST. REGIS BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE COWDRAY GOLD CUP – Teams & Fixture.