On 1 June 2012, the FFF announced the calendar for the 96th Coupe de France season.[3]
On 4 October 2012, the French Football Federation confirmed that the final of the Coupe de France would be moved up a day from 1 June to 31 May. The change occurred due to the final match of the 2012–13 Top 14 season being contested at the Stade de France on 1 June, which would have conflicted with the Coupe de France final.[4]
All of the teams that enter the competition, but are not members of Ligue 1 or Ligue 2, have to compete in the regional qualifying rounds. The regional qualifying rounds determine the number of regional clubs that will earn spots in the 7th round and normally lasts six rounds.
Seventh Round
The draw for the seventh round of the Coupe de France was held on 31 October 2012 at the headquarters of the Comité National Olympique et Sportif Français (CNOSF), the national sporting committee of France, and was conducted by Guy Ferrier, the France women's under-17 coach that won the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, as well as former footballers Jérôme Alonzo and Daniel Rodighiero.[6] The overseas regional draw was conducted on the previous day.[7] The matches will be played on 17–18 November.
Evian reached the final for the first time in their history. Bordeaux won their fourth Coupe de France – and first since 1987 – after a 3–2 victory against Evian.[8][9]
^The qualifying rounds are organized by the regions' respective regional and departmental leagues. Each regions' qualifying rounds lasts six rounds in order to determine the regional and departmental clubs that will earn a berth in the seventh round.