French Cup: AS Cuines La Chambre topple Saint-Priest from six divisions below

AS Cuines La Chambre produced the upset of the weekend in the fourth round of the French Cup. The D2 club, which plays at the tenth level of French football, won 1-0 against AS Saint-Priest, a National 1 side positioned six divisions above them.

The elimination gives the Saint-Étienne de Cuines team the scalp of a National 1 club. The six-division gulf between the two opponents lends particular weight to the achievement, which could already stand as one of the stories of the 2026-2027 French Cup.

Having entered the competition in the second round, AS Cuines La Chambre had first beaten D3 club Modane 3-2, before defeating Club Sportif des 4 Routes, also a D2 side, 4-1. In the fifth round, the amateur club could meet another amateur opponent, with Ligue 3 teams entering the competition at that stage.

Coach Stephen Thomasset described the match as “very difficult” and stressed that few people believed in his side, unlike the players themselves. In his view, the chance to surprise Saint-Priest depended in particular on a strong start, while his players had shown great desire and commitment since the draw. He portrayed the qualification as the achievement of an entire club. Having arrived two years ago, he also praised a group that had remained faithful to what was done last season. AS Cuines had reached the fourth round twice before; this time, it is reaching the fifth round for the first time.