The cup winners were entitled to participate in the third qualification round of the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League.
Participants
A total of 64 teams will participate in the competition. Clubs from the 2016–17 Bundesliga and 2016–17 First League are automatically qualified but, as Bundesliga reserve teams could theoretically participate in the First League, may only enter their first team. This means that First League members FC Liefering, while technically an independent entity, will not participate as they are fully controlled by Red Bull Salzburg. The remaining spots were distributed by a fixed scheme to amateur clubs from the nine Austrian regional football associations:[1][2]
For each regional association, the respective cup winners and, if applicable, losing teams from the relegation play-offs between First League and the Regional Leagues are obliged to participate.[3]
Note 1 – While FC Liefering technically is an independent entity, the club is fully controlled by Red Bull Salzburg and therefore viewed as the reserve team of Red Bull.[4]
Note 2 – USV Rudersdorf will participate as runners-up of the Burgenland cup competition as winners SC/ESV Parndorf 1919 are already qualified via their final position in the 2015–16 Regional League East.
Note 3 – FC Kitzbühel will participate as runners-up of the Tyrol cup competition as winners WSG Wattens are already qualified after their First League promotion.
Note 4 – Dornbirner SV will participate as runners-up of the Voralberg cup competition as winners FC Dornbirn 1913 are already qualified via their final position in the 2015–16 Regional League West.
The draw for this round was conducted on 20 June 2016 in Paris, France. The reason for this rather exceptional place was that all leaders of the Austrian Football Association were in the city due to the UEFA Euro 2016. The matches were drawn by actress and model Davia Martelli.[1][2]
Matches for this round were determined on regional criteria. The 45 amateur clubs from the Regional Leagues and below were split into two groups, with the Eastern group consisting of 26 teams from Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland, Styria and Carinthia and the Western group comprising 19 teams from Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. In a first step, seven matches between members of the Eastern group and six matches among Western group participants were drawn before each of the remaining clubs were paired with one of the professional teams.[1][2]
Fixtures of this round will be played on 15–17 July 2016 with the exception of the match between FC Karabakh and SK Rapid which had been moved to 8 July 2016 due to the opening of the Allianz Stadion.[1][2]
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