association football
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
, a league cup or secondary cup generally signifies a
cup
A cup is an open-top used to hold hot or cold liquids for pouring or drinking; while mainly used for drinking, it also can be used to store solids for pouring (e.g., sugar, flour, grains, salt). Cups may be made of glass, metal, china, cl ...
competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league. The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946–47 and was entitled the
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup (also known as the Viaplay Cup for sponsorship reasons) is a football competition open to all Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) clubs. First held in 1946–47, it is the oldest national League Cup in existe ...
. However, in the Republic of Ireland the now-defunct League of Ireland Shield was the first national league-only tournament of its kind (played first in 1921); this was subsequently replaced by the League of Ireland Cup in 1983.
The creation of a league cup marked the difference from the association cup or primary cup, which is generally also open to teams from multiple leagues, often as far down as regional amateur leagues, and who are also members of the country's football association. League cups are less prevalent than primary cups.
The creation of a tournament of this kind exclusively for the top national-level league teams, in addition to the two main domestic association football tournaments of the league and association cup, also created a new national footballing achievement called the domestic " treble". The first national league treble of this kind was won by
Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Ruagairí na Seamróige) is an Irish association football club based in Tallaght, South Dublin. The club's senior team competes in the League of Ireland Premier Division and it is the most ...
of the Republic of Ireland in 1925.
League cups were generally introduced after the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
– for example, the
Football League Cup
The EFL Cup (referred to historically, and colloquially, as the League Cup), currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual knockout competition and major trophy in men's domestic football in England. Organised by t ...
in England in 1960 – although in other countries they were created following a rise in the number of floodlit stadiums, allowing regular midweek matches.
In certain countries, the league cup had, or in some cases still has, group stages in the early stages. These often opened the season before the main league season began. The
NWSL Challenge Cup
The NWSL Challenge Cup, currently known as the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual tournament organized by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top-tier women's league in the United States soccer league system. Th ...
, which opens the season of the
National Women's Soccer League
The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a professional women's soccer league at the top of the United States league system. It is owned by the teams and, until 2020, was under a management contract with the United States Soccer Federati ...
in the U.S., currently uses this exact format.
List of league cups and secondary cups in association football
Men's league cups
Africa
*
Algerian League Cup
The Algerian League Cup ( ar, كأس الرابطة الجزائرية) is an Algerian football competition organized by the Algerian Football Federation. The competition was launched in the first edition in 1992 and was not regular and after tha ...
*
KPL Top 8 Cup
The KPL Top 8 Cup (also known as the KPL Top 8 Knockout, the KPL Top 8 Knockout Cup or simply the Top 8 Knockout, the Top 8 Cup or the Kenyan Top 8 Cup) is a Kenyan football championship contested by the top eight teams of the preceding Kenyan P ...
*
**
MTN 8
MTN 8 is the current branding for a South African soccer cup competition launched in 1972 for teams who finished in the top 8 positions of the league table of the country's preceding top-flight league (currently the DStv Premiership) season.
T ...
– first tier
**
Telkom Knockout
The Telkom Knockout was a South African professional football knockout competition which comprised the 16 teams in the South African Premier Soccer League.
The competition was established in 1982 and was first known as the Datsun Challenge. Unde ...
– second tier
Asia
*
**
Canale Cup
The Canale Cup is a football (soccer) knockout cup competition for the Brisbane, Australia region that includes teams from the Brisbane Premier League and all Capital Leagues (1–3). From 2017 to 2020 it was known as the Pig 'N' Whistle Canale ...
Kuwait Federation Cup
The Kuwaiti Federation Cup ( ar, كأس الاتحاد الكويتي) is a competition organised by the Kuwait Football Association
The Kuwait Football Association ( ar, الإتحاد الكويتي لكرة القدم) is the governing body ...
Malaysia Cup
The Malaysia Cup ( ms, Piala Malaysia), formerly known as ''Malaya Cup'', is an annual football tournament in Malaysia, held at the end of the calendar year. The cup was first held in 1921. Despite its prestige and popularity as the nation's o ...
Thai League Cup
The League Cup ( th, ไทยลีกคัพ) is a football cup competition in Thailand. It is also known as Toyota League Cup for sponsorship reasons.
It was re-formed during the 2010 domestic football league season in Thailand and runs alon ...
EFL Cup
The EFL Cup (referred to historically, and colloquially, as the League Cup), currently known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual knockout competition and major trophy in men's domestic football in England. Organised by t ...
(formerly the Football League Cup) – first tier
**
EFL Trophy
The English Football League Trophy, known for sponsorship purposes as the Papa Johns Trophy after restaurant chain Papa John's Pizza, is an annual English association football knockout competition open to all clubs in EFL League One and EFL L ...
(formerly the Football League Trophy) – second tier
** Isthmian League Cup – regional competition
**
Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
The Northern Premier League is an English football league that was founded in 1968. It has four divisions: the Premier Division (which stands at level 7 of the English football league system), Division One East, Division One West and Division ...
– regional competition
**
Northern Premier League President's Cup
The Northern Premier League is an English football league that was founded in 1968. It has four divisions: the Premier Division (which stands at level 7 of the English football league system), Division One East, Division One West and Division ...
Toto Cup
The Israel Toto Cup ( he, גביע הטוטו, ''Gvia Ha'Toto'') is an association football tournament that features clubs in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Israeli Premier League (Ligat Ha'Al), and the second division Liga Leumit.
F ...
*
Irish League Cup
The Northern Ireland Football League Cup (BetMcLean League Cup for sponsorship purposes), also known colloquially as the Irish League Cup, is a national association football, football single elimination, knock-out cup competition in Northern Ire ...
*
Taça da Liga
The Taça da Liga (), known outside Portugal as Portuguese League Cup, is an annual football club competition organised by the Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional (LPFP) for teams competing in the Primeira Liga and LigaPro, the top two tiers ...
*
FNL Cup
National Football League Cup is a Russian football competition, held among the best teams of Russian Football National League in the winter break.
History
The first cup was held in 2012. On 1 December 2011, it was reported that the cup rules were ...
*
**
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup (also known as the Viaplay Cup for sponsorship reasons) is a football competition open to all Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) clubs. First held in 1946–47, it is the oldest national League Cup in existe ...
– first tier
**
Scottish Challenge Cup
The Scottish Professional Football League Challenge Cup,Welsh League Cup
Copa de la Liga Profesional
The Copa de la Liga Profesional (English: ''Professional League Cup''; officially named "Copa Diego Armando Maradona" in its first edition) is an official Argentine football cup competition. The cup was planned and organised by the "Liga Profesi ...
Torneo Intermedio
The Torneo Intermedio was a knockout competition played by 16 football teams.
History 1993
The Torneo Intermedio was played during the 1993 Copa América with only Peruvian Primera División teams. The 16 clubs were divided into 4 groups and the ...
Taça da Liga Feminina
The Taça da Liga Feminina of football is a league cup competition in Portugal. It is due to start during the 2019–20 season involving the top four teams at the end of the first half of the Campeonato Nacional.
It is scheduled to start in Ja ...
NWSL Challenge Cup
The NWSL Challenge Cup, currently known as the UKG NWSL Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual tournament organized by the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the top-tier women's league in the United States soccer league system. Th ...
Egyptian League Cup
Egyptian League Cup was an Egyptian football tournament. This championship was held once in 2000 and El Qanah from Port Said won the cup.
Finals
See also
* EFA League Cup
The EFA League Cup, currently known as the WE League Cup for sponso ...
*
Tunisia Coupe de la Ligue Professionel The Coupe de la Ligue Professionelle was the top knockout tournament for the Tunisian league football clubs. It was created in 1999 with the intention of being played among the two top Tunisian football divisionsLigue Professionnelle 2 with some inv ...
Chinese Super League Cup
The Chinese Super League Cup () was a football tournament in China held for two years from 2004 until 2005.
History
Chinese Super League Cup was established in the inaugural season of the Chinese Super League (CSL) as a supplementary tournament ...
Japan Soccer League Cup
was the original league cup for clubs in the top levels of Japanese soccer before the creation of the J. League and its cup. The cup was first played in 1973, but did not become an annual tournament until 1976.
The JSL/JFL Cup included clubs fro ...
UFL Cup
The United Football League Cup, commonly known as UFL Cup, was a Filipino association football competition. It was played on a multistage format that culminated in a knockout stage (single elimination). Clubs eligible to compete for the cup wer ...
Belgian League Cup The Belgian League Cup was a Belgian association football cup created in 1973. The competition was held from 1973 by eleven clubs wanting to increase professionalism in Belgian football but lasted only three seasons before being disbanded. The tour ...
Centenary Trophy
The Centenary Trophy ( ca, Trofeu centenari, eu, Mendeurrena Trofeoa, es, Trofeo del centenario) was an association football friendly tournament organised in Spain by the Catalan Football Federation in which the Catalonia national team played ...
Coupe Charles Drago
The Coupe Charles Drago was an elimination cup competition organised by the Ligue de Football Professionnel, between clubs that are knocked out before the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France
The Coupe de France, formerly known as the Coupe ...
*
Coupe de la Ligue
The Coupe de la Ligue (), known outside France as the French League Cup, was a knockout cup competition in French football organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel. The tournament was established in 1993 and, unlike the Coupe de France ...
*
DFL-Ligapokal
The DFL-Ligapokal (, officially Premiere Ligapokal , previously DFB-Ligapokal ) or the ''German League Cup'' was a German football competition that took place before the start of the Bundesliga season, featuring the top five teams of the previous B ...
Ekstraklasa Cup
The Ekstraklasa Cup ( pl, Puchar Ekstraklasy) was an elimination tournament for Polish football clubs who play in the Polish 1st Division Ekstraklasa. The Ekstraklasa Cup was the fourth attempt at introducing a League Cup competition in Poland. ...
Russian Premier League Cup
The Russian Premier League Cup was a football competition organized by Russian Premier League. This was a knockout competition for 16 teams of the Premier League. All ties, including the final, were two-legged. The winners of the Cup did not get an ...
Copa de la Liga
The Copa de la Liga (League Cup in Spanish) was a Spanish football tournament created in 1982.
Due to time constraints, saturation and club pressure, the competition only lasted four years, being cancelled in 1986. Winning the trophy helped two ...
*
Swiss League Cup
The Swiss League Cup was a football tournament which took place as a summer pre-season tournament in 1972 and 1973, and during the Swiss football season from 1974–75 to 1981–82. The tournament was a knockout competition contested by clubs fro ...
Ukrainian Second League Cup
The Ukrainian Second League Cup ( uk, Кубок Ліги) was a knockout cup competition in Ukrainian football, run by the Professional Football League of Ukraine.
Created in 1999 to qualify its winner and finalist for the national cup (Ukraini ...
(a preliminary tournament for the Ukrainian Cup that involved third tier teams along with best teams of
Ukrainian Amateur Cup
The Ukrainian Amateur Cup ( uk, Кубок України з футболу серед аматорських команд) or AAFU Cup ( uk, Кубок ААФУ) is a national cup competition in Ukraine for amateur clubs. The nationwide competitio ...
; the
Ukrainian League Cup
The Ukrainian League Cup ( uk, Кубок Ліги) was a knockout cup competition in Ukrainian football, run by the Professional Football League of Ukraine. The tournament was organized to supplement the 2009–10 Ukrainian Second League season. ...
was a single season supplemental tournament for the third tier teams of
2009–10 Ukrainian Second League
The 2009–10 Ukrainian Second League was the 19th season of 3rd level professional football in Ukraine. The competitions were divided into two groups according to geographical location in the country – A is western Ukraine and B is eastern Ukrai ...
and involved participation of some reserve and amateur teams)
* FAW Premier Cup
PFF Women's Cup
The PFF Women's Cup is the national women's football cup of the Philippines organized by the Philippine Football Federation.
History
The inaugural edition was launched in 2014 by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and was contested by 1 ...
LNB Pro B Leaders Cup
The LNB Pro B Leaders Cup is a professional national basketball cup competition that is played in a given LNB Pro B (French 2nd Division) season. The trophy is the second tier level of its type in France, being one tier blow the LNB Pro A Leaders ...
*
BBL Cup
The British Basketball League Cup, often shortened to the BBL Cup, is an annual cup competition for British basketball teams organised by the United Kingdom's top professional league, the British Basketball League. It is one of two peripheral co ...
(includes only
British Basketball League
The British Basketball League (BBL) is a men's professional basketball league in Great Britain and represents the highest level of play in the countries. The league is contested by 10 teams from England and Scotland. There are no clubs howeve ...
Israeli Basketball State Cup
The Israeli Basketball State Cup ( he, גביע המדינה בכדורסל) is the second most important professional basketball competition in Israel, after the Israeli Super League. It is the national federation cup of Israel. The tournament b ...
(includes the top two levels, the
Premier League
The Premier League (legal name: The Football Association Premier League Limited) is the highest level of the men's English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Fo ...
and
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...
Coppa Italia
The ("Italy Cup") is an annual knockout cup competition in Italian football organized by the FIGC until the 2009–10 season and the Lega Serie A ever since.
History
The beginning of the tournament was turbulent, due to the complexity of ...
(
Serie A
The Serie A (), also called Serie A TIM for national sponsorship with TIM, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and the winner is awarded the Scudetto and the Cop ...
Portuguese League Cup
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** ...
WNBA Commissioner's Cup
The WNBA Commissioner's Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the WNBA Commissioner's Cup Presented By Coinbase, is an in-season competition of the Women's National Basketball Association that begins at the start of the regular season and continu ...