Cascadia Cup

Lore & Background

In 2004, fan-based organizations supporting the Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps sponsored the creation of a 2-foot-tall silver cup to be awarded annually to the club that finishes with the best record in the season series between the three rivals. From 2004 to 2006, the Cascadia Cup competition included all scheduled regular season A-League and later USL-1 matches played between the Sounders, Timbers, and Whitecaps. In 2007, the Virginia Beach Mariners folded just before the season started, leaving the USL 1st Division to scramble to fix the season schedule. The result was an unbalanced schedule, and as such it was decided to adjust the Cascadia Cup format for that season. Fans of all three Cascadian teams agreed to make only the last home and last away matches between constituent clubs count toward the Cup. In 2008 the clubs reverted to playing each other an equal three times each. The Cascadia Cup competition once again included all scheduled regular season USL-1 matches played between the three rivals. The Seattle Sounders of the USL-1 were made defunct in 2009 due to the introduction of the MLS expansion franchise of the same name. In 2009, it was announced that expansion teams would be allotted to Vancouver and Portland. Both teams were named after their predecessors, ensuring the continuation of the rivalry. Supporters of the Timbers and Whitecaps decided to continue the Cascadia Cup without the Sounders for two years while playing in the USL. In 2009, supporters of the Timbers and Whitecaps only included regular season USL-1 matches played between the teams and Portland won the cup for the first time. Some Sounders supporters wished to include a preseason victory over Vancouver and a US Open Cup match win at Portland for consideration in the cup standings while others believed that the Cascadia Cup competition should be suspended until 2011. Portland won the Cup for a second consecutive year in 2010. The 2011 MLS season marked the first season since 2008 in which all three teams would be in the same league. Seattle claimed their third title by going undefeated in Cascadia Cup play – coming from behind to win both of their road games in Portland and Vancouver while earning draws at home. For the 2012 MLS season the league changed to an unbalanced schedule. As a result, each team would play the other two Cascadia club three ti

In Their Own Story

The rain fell softly on Providence Park just before kickoff, misting the green pitch under the floodlights. In the North End, the drums began their steady rhythm, vibrating through the concrete stands where hundreds of fans from Vancouver and Seattle sat among the home crowd. A banner unfurled slowly, depicting the wooden Cup trophy against a backdrop of mountains. The air smelled of wet grass and anticipation as the players walked onto the field, knowing that tonight was not just about three points, but about defending their corner of the Cascadia map.

Reader's Guide

In most years since all three teams have been in MLS (2011–present), all of the games between the Cascadia teams count in Cascadia Cup standings. In some years, however, some of the matchups are uneven, with more games between some pairs of teams than others. In 2018, for instance, the Timbers-Sounders matchup was played three times but the Whitecaps played the other two teams only twice each. To keep the Cup competition balanced in these years, only a subset of games count toward the Cup standings, with the supporters groups agreeing before the season which games to count. In 2018, for instance, the final two games of each matchup were the ones that counted, and the initial Timbers-Sounders game on May 13 was excluded. The winner each year is decided by these criteria, in order: Greater number of points in all Cascadia Cup matches. Greater number of points earned in matches between teams tied on points. Greater goal difference in matches between teams tied on points. Greater number of goals scored in matches between teams tied on points. Reapply previous three criteria if two or more teams are still tied. Greater goal difference in all Cascadia Cup matches. Greater number of goals scored in all Cascadia Cup matches. Smaller number of disciplinary points in all Cascadia Cup matches (yellow = 1 point, red = 2 points).

Did You Know?

• The Cascadia Cup trophy is a 2-foot-tall silver cup, not hand-carved from wood.
• The cup was first contested in 2004 and was claimed by the Vancouver Whitecaps.
• In 2012, MLS filed a trademark claim for the name 'Cascadia Cup', which led to the formation of the Cascadia Cup Council.
• No winner was awarded in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.