It was the second edition of the tournament to be played on a fall-spring schedule, running from July to September of the following year.
The introduction of this new competition format meant that the Liiga Cup was discontinued.
The winner also qualified for the 2019–20 UEFA Europa League.
The first and second rounds of the Cup will include all registered teams, with the exception of Veikkausliiga and Ykkönen teams, who will be included in the 30-team group stage early in 2017.
The top two teams from the group stage will advance directly to the semi-finals, while the remaining winners of each group and each second-place finisher will proceed to the quarterfinals.