Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 13:33• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 14:09

PSV, AZ and Feyenoord probably hope that Ajax will seize the TOTO KNVB Cup on Sunday April 18. On Wednesday evening, the team from Amsterdam hope to qualify for the final battle against Vitesse via a victory over sc Heerenveen. A possible cup victory of Ajax will most likely lead to a different distribution of the tickets for European football, which is more favorable for the clubs in the upper echelons.

Due to the arrival of the Conference League, tickets will be distributed differently this season. Only winning the cup tournament ensures direct placement for the group stage of the Europa League. The number three of the Eredivisie normally qualifies for the third heat of the Conference League, while the numbers four to seven in the play-offs will compete for a ticket for the second heat of the Conference League.

However, should the winner of the cup tournament finish in the top two of the Eredivisie, and thus enter the (preliminary rounds of) Champions League, the ticket associated with the cup win will shift to the competition. In that case, the number three of the Eredivisie enters the group stage of the Europa League, the number four reports in the third heat of the Conference League and the play-offs go between the number five to eight. This makes the cup final interesting for the entire left row. Of the clubs currently in the left row, only Vitesse will hope that Ajax will not win the cup.

If Ajax reaches the final, the chances are that the play-offs will go between numbers five to eight. That could only change if Vitesse in the Eredivisie itself falls outside the top seven, but that chance is small. Another scenario that is possible is that Vitesse wins the cup and ends in third place in the Eredivisie. In that case, too, the tickets will be ‘rolled over’. Then the number four enters the third heat of the Conference League and the play-offs are completed between the number five to eight.

It is likely that Ajax will end in the top two, as the club is eight points ahead of number three AZ and still has one match credit. Vitesse would have to make a big leap to finish in the top two, as the club is fourth with six points behind number two PSV. AZ and Feyenoord are currently third and fifth respectively. If the cup winner finishes in the top two, a fourth place for those clubs is enough to ensure European football in the 2021/22 season.

Public in De Kuip
Earlier on Wednesday, a spokesman for Vitesse expressed the hope that Vitesse can take supporters to Rotterdam. “It is not in our hands. In the coming period we will be working with various involved authorities to look at the possibilities”, it quoted ANP. “At the moment it is unclear exactly what the organization around the cup final will look like. Of course it is our wish to be able to take supporters with us to the final, if the situation permits.” On Tuesday evening, Vitesse won 2-0 against VVV-Venlo in the semi-final.

* Should the final go between Vitesse and Ajax, numbers 5 to 8 will probably qualify for the play-offs.