The defending champions Toulouse, who beat Nantes 5–1 in the previous year's final to claim their first Coupe de France title,[1] were eliminated in the round of 32 by third-tier FC Rouen.
Dates for the first two qualifying rounds, and any preliminaries required, were set by the individual Regional leagues. From round three, the FFF defined the calendar, with rounds up to and including the round of 32 being scheduled for weekends and later rounds up to, but not including, the final, taking place on midweek evenings.[3]
The first six rounds, and any preliminaries required, were organised by the Regional Leagues and the Overseas Departments/Territories, who allowed teams from within their league structure to enter at any point up to the third round. Teams from Championnat National 3 entered at the third round, those from Championnat National 2 entered at the fourth round and those from Championnat National entered at the fifth round.[4]
The number of teams entering at each qualifying round was as follows:
The 153 qualifiers from the Regional Leagues were joined by the 11 qualifiers from the Overseas Territories and 20 2023–24 Ligue 2 teams.[5] The qualifiers from Réunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana played off in internal matches.[4]
The eighth round ties for mainland matches were defined at the same time as the seventh round draw. The winners of the seventh round matches in Martinique and Guadeloupe played their eighth round matches at home against teams from mainland France, from a prioritised list of teams who were both willing to travel and still in the competition. If the team from Tahiti were to win their seventh round tie, this eighth round match would take place overseas, and be drawn from the same list.[8] Teams from Réunion and French Guiana were slotted into the draw where gaps appeared due to mainland teams being selected to travel overseas.
Prioritised order of mainland teams
The prioritised list of mainland teams willing to travel overseas was published on 31 October 2023, along with the priority list of ties they would be allocated to should they remain in the competition beyond the seventh round.[9]
Later rounds were open draws with no regional grouping.
Seventh round
The draw for the seventh round took place in multiple stages:[10]
The seventh round in Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana[11] and Réunion took place between the two qualifying teams from each territory, and was drawn and scheduled by the local league.
The Overseas tie involving the team from New Caledonia was drawn separately on 31 October 2023, against a team from the list of those willing to travel.[8][9]
Mainland teams were divided into nine groups, primarily by geography, but also ensuring the groups were balanced in terms of the levels of the teams. The teams from Mayotte and Tahiti were included in these groups, but were drawn away from home. Groups were published on 1 November 2023.[12] The mainland draw took place later on 1 November 2023.[13]
^Initially, the tie was reversed from the draw, as Étoile Maritime FC were unable to secure a suitable stadium in time. Subsequently, Trélissac-Antonne Périgord FC attempted to move the match from the original pitch at Stade Firmin Daudou to a synthetic pitch, due to pitch conditions. Étoile Maritime FC appealed and the match will now take place in La Rochelle, with Étoile Maritime FC at home, on 25 November 2023. The match was further rescheduled for 2 December after the assistant coach of Étoile Maritime FC, Najib Akhannich, died in his sleep on the night of Thursday 23 November to Friday 24 November and his family asked the French Football Federation to postpone the match, which was accepted.[23][24]
Stadium: Stade Robert Pirès Referee: Aurélien Petit
^A report was filed to the FFF by Dunkerque, indicating a suspended player was included on the team-sheet by EF Reims Sainte-Anne, which would result in the team being eliminated and Dunkerque qualifying.[35] On 13 December 2023, the FFF announced it had upheld the report, and that Dunkerque qualified for the next round.[36]
Stadium: Stade de Guentrange Referee: Philippe Lucas
Round of 64
The round of 64 draw was split into four groups, roughly by geography, with Ligue 1 teams distributed evenly.[38] The draw was made on 11 December 2023 by Sandrine Gruda and Brahim Asloum.[39][40]
The draw was made on 8 January 2024 by Tamara Horacek and Benjamin Moukandjo. Ties took place between 19 and 24 January 2024. The draw featured fifth division side AS Saint-Priest, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition.
^Initially scheduled for 20 January 2024 at 17:30 CET, the match was postponed due to snow.[48]
Round of 16
The draw was made on 21 January 2024. The ties took place between 6 and 8 February 2024. The draw featured fifth division side AS Saint-Priest, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition.
The draw was made on 8 February 2024. The ties took place between 27 and 29 February, and on 13 March 2024. The draw featured fourth division side Le Puy Foot 43 Auvergne, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition.
The draw was made on 1 March 2024. The ties took place on 2 and 3 April 2024. The draw featured second division side Valenciennes, the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition.
