So I have just won the cup....

[July Fourth]

First season ever, lucky enough to get a team a few games in that had qualified..so I haven't found it that difficult, yet I've seen plenty of people raging that the cup is too hard..

So can I expect a massive climb in difficulty next season?

Wait to this time next year and most teams you face in the cup are active. You won cup 1st season playing new teams.