On a crisp October evening in Riga, FK Auda pulled off one of the most shocking upsets in Latvian football history, defeating newly-crowned league champions Riga FC 2-1 in the Latvian Football Cup final at Skonto Stadium on October 30, 2025. The win didn’t just lift a trophy—it shattered the narrative that Riga FC were unstoppable. With the TonyBet Virslīga title already secured just weeks prior, Riga FC entered the final as heavy favorites. But football, as they say, is played on the pitch—not on paper.
The Underdog’s Night
FK Auda, a club that had spent most of the season hovering near the mid-table in the league, hadn’t even been considered a serious cup threat. Their path to the final was anything but glamorous: they eliminated higher-ranked sides like Riga Mariners and FS Metta Lu in tight, gritty matches. Meanwhile, Riga FC had dominated the league, winning 23 of 34 matches, conceding just 17 goals all season. Their 0-0 draw against FK 'Tukums 2000' on the final league matchday had sealed their first domestic title since 2019. They were riding high. Until the final whistle blew.
The opening goal came in the 27th minute from Aļģirdas Gražis, the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, who’d been instrumental for Riga FC all season. It felt inevitable. But FK Auda responded with a calm, composed equalizer in the 52nd minute from midfielder Niks Savalnieks, whose low drive from the edge of the box slipped past Riga’s keeper by a fraction of a second. The stadium, packed with 8,420 fans—nearly half in Auda’s green and white—erupted. Then, in the 78th minute, substitute D. Cepelevs, who’d only played 12 minutes all season before this final, pounced on a loose ball after a corner and slotted it home. No celebration. No theatrics. Just a quiet, determined fist pump. The goal stood. 2-1.
A Cup With History
The Latvian Football Cup, officially branded as the Responsible Gaming Latvian Football Cup since 2021 under sponsorship by William Hill, isn’t just another trophy. It’s a legacy. First held in 1937, it survived Soviet occupation, Nazi rule, and decades of underfunding. During the 1940s, it even served as a qualifier for the Soviet Cup. For smaller clubs like FK Auda, it’s often the only realistic path to European competition. This win guarantees them a spot in the 2026–27 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.
It’s also a rare moment of parity. Since 2015, Riga FC and Ventspils have combined to win 8 of the last 10 league titles. But the cup? That’s where the magic happens. In 2021, FK RFS pulled off a similar shock, beating Riga FC 3-2 in extra time. But this? Beating the league champions on their home ground, in front of their fans, with the double within reach? That’s something else.
Who Was Left Behind
The 2025 tournament began with 50 teams—from the top-flight giants to village sides like FK Kuivižu Spartaks and Babītes SK, who were eliminated in the preliminary round with 10-0 losses. Only 45 of the scheduled 47 matches were completed, with two abandoned due to frozen pitches in early November. Aļģirdas Gražis finished as top scorer, but his eight goals weren’t enough. Meanwhile, K. Svekis and Anthony Contreras each netted five, and six players tied with three goals. The tournament’s depth was staggering: BFC Daugavpils, FK Liepaja, and SK Super Nova all made deep runs before falling.
Even the league’s top scorer, Krišjānis Zviedris of Riga FC, didn’t play in the final. He was suspended after a red card in the semi-final. His absence was felt, but not enough to change the outcome.
What This Means for Latvian Football
This isn’t just a feel-good story. It’s a signal. For years, the Latvian league has been criticized for being too predictable—too dominated by a handful of well-funded clubs. But FK Auda’s win proves that with smart recruitment, disciplined tactics, and belief, even the smallest budgets can topple giants. Their head coach, Māris Verpakovskis, a former national team captain, spent the summer rebuilding the squad with players released by bigger clubs. He didn’t buy stars. He bought grit.
The win also puts pressure on the Latvian Football Federation to reconsider funding models. While Riga FC benefits from corporate backing and a youth academy, FK Auda operates on a budget of just €1.2 million—less than half of Riga’s. Yet they lifted the cup. That’s not luck. That’s strategy.
What’s Next?
FK Auda will now prepare for the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers in July 2026. They’ll face teams from Croatia, Hungary, or Serbia—none of whom will have heard of them. Riga FC, meanwhile, will regroup for the 2026 season, their double dream dashed. The league’s final table shows they still finished 11 points clear of second place. But in football, sometimes one match erases months of dominance.
And for the kids in Auda’s hometown of Jūrmala? They’ll be wearing green and white jerseys next spring. Because this time, they didn’t just dream of beating the champions. They did it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did FK Auda qualify for European competition with this win?
Winning the Latvian Football Cup automatically grants FK Auda entry into the 2026–27 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers. As the cup winner, they enter in the first qualifying round, bypassing the need to finish in the top two of the Latvian Higher League. This is the only route for smaller clubs to reach European competition, making the cup far more valuable than many realize.
Why was Riga FC’s domestic double so significant?
A domestic double—winning both the league and cup in the same season—is rare in Latvia. Only three clubs have achieved it since 2000: Riga FC (2018, 2021), Ventspils (2013), and RFS (2021). Riga FC had already clinched the league title weeks before the final, making the cup final a formality in the eyes of many. Their defeat marks the first time since 2019 that the league champion failed to win the cup.
Who was the top scorer in the 2025 Latvian Cup, and why didn’t they win the final?
Aļģirdas Gražis of Riga FC scored eight goals in the tournament, the most of any player. He opened the scoring in the final, but his team lost. His performance was exceptional, but football is a team sport. Riga FC’s reliance on him, combined with defensive lapses and a lack of creativity in midfield after the equalizer, ultimately cost them. He was named player of the tournament—but not of the final.
How does the Latvian Cup format differ from the league?
The Latvian Cup is a single-elimination knockout tournament with 50 teams, including lower-division clubs, while the TonyBet Virslīga is a double round-robin league with only 10 teams. Cup matches are one-off, meaning a single mistake or lucky break can end a season. The league rewards consistency over months. That’s why underdogs like FK Auda often win the cup, but rarely the league.
What impact will this win have on FK Auda’s finances and recruitment?
UEFA prize money from the Europa Conference League qualifiers could bring FK Auda over €500,000 in revenue—more than their entire annual budget. This will allow them to retain key players like Niks Savalnieks and attract mid-tier talent from Lithuania and Estonia. Sponsorship deals are already in talks, and youth enrollment at their academy has jumped 40% since the final.
Has any team ever won the cup after finishing lower than fifth in the league?
Yes. In 2015, FK Jelgava, who finished 7th in the league, won the cup and qualified for Europe. In 2008, FC Jūrmala, who finished 9th, lifted the trophy. It’s not common, but it’s happened often enough to prove that the cup is the great equalizer in Latvian football.