Changes to the competition structure due to the COVID-19 pandemic meant a total of 134 teams qualified for round 7 from this process this season, rather than the usual 156.
Other than the overseas leagues, and those regional leagues which choose to have the early rounds before the summer break, the general schedule for the Preliminary rounds was as follows:[3][4][5] On 28 October 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a second COVID-19 lockdown, including the suspension of all amateur football, for four weeks.
A total of twelve clubs qualified from the overseas leagues, two each from Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Réunion and Mayotte, and one each from New Caledonia and Tahiti.
On 6 July 2020, due to the state of health emergency being extended until the end of October,[11] and the lack of any date for competition to commence, the Mayotte League were contacted by the FFF regarding how the qualifying teams would be selected.
[12] On 27 September 2020, the Comité de Direction announced a planned restart of the competition, with 64 teams remaining, including the four qualified from the first round.
[19] On 27 July, due tot the ongoing pandemic situation, the start date of qualifying was moved to 2 September 2020.
The winner would have gained entry to the third round draw of the Pays de la Loire region.
[1] In 2019–20, Pau FC progressed furthest in the main competition, reaching the round of 16 before losing to Paris Saint-Germain 0–2.
[45] The third round draw, in which the Regional 1 and Championnat National 3 teamas joined the competition, was made on 10 September 2020.
[1] In 2019–20, Saint-Pryvé Saint-Hilaire FC progressed furthest in the main competition, reaching the round of 32 before losing to Monaco 1–3.
The draw required a Preliminary round involving 178 clubs from the district divisions and Régional 3 on 30 August 2020.
[54] The fifth round draw, which saw the single Championnat National side from the region enter the competition, was made on 8 October 2020.
[1] In 2019–20, FC Bastia-Borgo progressed the furthest in the main competition, reaching the ninth round before losing to Saint-Étienne 0–3.
[1] In 2019–20, ASM Belfort progressed furthest in the main competition, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to Rennes 0–3.
[1] In 2019–20, SAS Épinal progressed the furthest in the main competition, reaching the quarter-final, defeating Lille on the way, before eventually losing to Saint-Étienne.
[76] The fourth round draw, which saw the entry of the teams from Championnat National 2, took place in three parts over the 23 and 24 September 2020.
[1] In 2019–20, Athlético Marseille progressed furthest in the main competition, reaching the round of 32 before losing to Rennes 0–2.
[1] In 2019–20, AS Fabrègues progressed furthest in the main competition, reaching the ninth round before losing to Paris FC 0–2.
[95] The fifth round draw, which saw the entry of the single Championnat National side in the region, took place on 6 October 2020.
[1] In 2019–20, Olympique Grande-Synthe and Stade Portelois progressed furthest in the main competition, reaching the ninth round before losing to AS Nancy (0–1) and Strasbourg (1–4) respectively.
[99][100] The first round, scheduled for the weekend of 30 August 2020, saw 982 teams enter the competition, from the Regional and District divisions.
[108] The fifth round draw, which saw the entry of the single Championnat National team from the region, took place on 7 October 2020.
[1] In 2019–20 FC Rouen, US Granville and ESM Gonfreville all progressed furthest in the main competition, reaching the round of 32 before losing to Angers (1–4), Marseille (0–3) and Lille (0–2) respectively.
[1] In 2019–20, FC Guichen and Stade Briochin progressed the furthest in the main competition, reaching the ninth round before losing to Caen (1–2) and ESM Gonfreville (on penalties) respectively.
[1] In 2019–20, Red Star progressed furthest in the main competition, reaching the round of 32 before losing to Nice 2–1.
[138] The fourth round draw, which saw the entry into the competition of the Championnat National 2 teams, was made on 24 September 2020.
[139] The fifth round draw, which saw the two Championnat National teams from the region join the competition, was made on 7 October 2020.
[1] In 2019–20, FC Limonest Saint-Didier progressed the furthest in the main competition, reaching the round of 16, before losing to Dijon 2–1 after extra time.
[145] The draw, made on 27 July 2020, required a Preliminary round, which took place on 30 August 2020, and which saw 370 teams enter the competition, from the District leagues, division 2 and below.
The ties for the first round on 6 September 2020 were also preassigned, which saw a further 475 teams enter, from the higher District leagues and Regional 3.