Finale of the ÖFB Cup: Hartberg against WAC - a spectacle on Lake Wörthersee!

Finale of the ÖFB Cup: Hartberg against WAC - a spectacle on Lake Wörthersee!

On May 1, 2025 at 5 p.m., the final of the Uniqa ÖFB Cup between TSV Hartberg and the Wolfsberger AC (WAC) will be held in the Wörthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt. Both teams for the first time in history reach the final of this prestigious tournament. The anticipation for the duel grows while the teams are preparing after an exciting season.

The last weekend was all about discussions about the upcoming final. Andy Ogris, former player and triple cup winner, invited editors from Laola1, Harald Prantl and Peter Rietzler, to a regulars' table. Ogris, who had lost in 2015 as a coach of the Viennese Austria in the final against FC Red Bull Salzburg, predicts an exciting game, possibly with another penalty shootout after extra time.

statistical insights and interesting facts

In this cup season, Hartberg only conceded one goal, while the WAC had to accept four goals in its previous games. Hartberg led a record of a victory and a defeat against WAC in the former duels in the Bundesliga, with both teams delivering exciting games. This season WAC scored impressive 15 goals in his five cup games, all of which took place away.

• Successes & structures of the finalists:
• Hartberg scored 23 hits in the current cup season.
• Thierno Ballo with three goals is the most accurate player of the WAC in the Cup.
• WAC coach Dietmar Kühbauer was a cup winner with Rapid Vienna in 1995, while Hartberg coach Manfred Schmid himself won the title three times as a player.

An interesting aspect is that the winner of the final will receive a premium of 120,000 euros and is involved in the income of the game. The trophy itself weighs about 12 kilograms, has a height of 70 cm and a diameter of 43 cm. This has been awarded since its last revision in 2019 and is one of the most impressive awards in Austrian football.

historical context and meaning of the ÖFB cup

The ÖFB Cup, which is now held in its 107th season, is one of the oldest football competitions in Austria. The first official edition took place on February 23, 1919. 64 teams take part in the competition, the mode of which is organized in the knockout system. While the sponsors and the popularity of the competition fluctuated over the years, it remains a central component of Austrian football, also because it offers the participants the chance of qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.

With an interesting history and the encounter between two previously inexperienced finalists, expectations are great. On May 1st, all interested parties can look forward to a gripping 90 minutes plus possible extension to see who will secure the title of the ÖFB Cup winner in 2025.

Laola1 reports on the preparations and the assessments of the experts. The Kleine Zeitung offers interesting statistics and historical contexts, while at Wikipedia-page can find more information about the ÖFB-Cup.