Cascadia Cup

Cascadia Cup
The Cascadia Cup logo
The Cascadia Cup logo, designed by James Bullen
LocationPacific Northwest
Teams
First meeting2004
Stadiums
Statistics
Most winsOverall:
Seattle / Vancouver (tie, 7 titles)
MLS era:
Seattle (5 titles)
USL era:
Vancouver (3 titles)
Longest win streakSeattle (3, 2018–2021)[a]
Current win streakPortland (1, 2024)

The Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The cup is named for the Cascadia region.[1] The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the original North American Soccer League.[2] It was first contested in 2004, and was claimed by the Whitecaps. In 2011 the competition continued with the now Major League Soccer (MLS) sides Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[3]

History

[edit]

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.[4] 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.[5][6][7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

Seattle lost a chance to clinch the 2011 Cascadia Cup in their match against Vancouver on October 9, 2013, but would go on to win it later in the season.[10]

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.[11] 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.[1] 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.[citation needed] Portland won the Cup for a second consecutive year in 2010.[12]

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.[13]

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 times each. Portland had four games at home while Vancouver and Seattle had three and two, respectively. It was decided by the supporters groups to count all matches equally.[14] Portland won the cup in Vancouver on October 21, 2012, with their only away win of their 2012 season. It was the Timbers' third time hoisting the cup, and the first with the Sounders in the competition.[15]

For seven straight finals between 2015 and 2021, the Western Conference representative in the MLS Cup or the MLS is Back Tournament was from Cascadia. This streak came to an end in 2022 as all three teams failed to qualify for the playoffs. 2022 also marked the first time since they joined MLS that all three missed the playoffs in the same season.

The Cascadia Cup Council decided that 2020 matches not played in front of supporters, including the MLS is Back Tournament, would not count towards Cascadia Cup standings.[16][17][18]

Trademark dispute

[edit]

In December 2012, MLS filed a trademark claim for rights to the name "Cascadia Cup".[19] This caused an immediate reaction from the three main supporters groups—the Timbers Army, Emerald City Supporters, and the Vancouver Southsiders—that had created the original competition. This prompted them to form a legal entity called the Cascadia Cup Council,[20] whose sole purpose was to obtain and retain the legal rights to the name "Cascadia Cup". Releases by MLS indicate that their trademark plan was an altruistic attempt to protect the Cascadia Cup from abuse by third parties,[21] a claim that was disputed by the contest-organizing fan groups. Those same groups later had discussions with MLS leadership in an attempt to resolve the issue, and in July 2013 both MLS and the supporters groups announced an agreement that the council would own the trademark and no monetization would occur without the agreement of all parties.[22]

Scoring

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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:[23]

  • 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).

Title performance

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Titles won

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Club Titles USL era MLS era Years won
Seattle Sounders 7 2 5 2006, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021
Vancouver Whitecaps 7 3 4 2004, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2023
Portland Timbers 6 2 4 2009, 2010, 2012, 2017, 2022, 2024

Annual results

[edit]
Year Champions Second Third
USL era
2004 Vancouver Whitecaps Portland Timbers Seattle Sounders
2005 Vancouver Whitecaps Portland Timbers Seattle Sounders
2006 Seattle Sounders Vancouver Whitecaps Portland Timbers
2007 Seattle Sounders Vancouver Whitecaps Portland Timbers
2008 Vancouver Whitecaps Seattle Sounders Portland Timbers
USL era (Seattle ineligible)
2009 Portland Timbers Vancouver Whitecaps
2010 Portland Timbers Vancouver Whitecaps
MLS era
2011 Seattle Sounders FC Portland Timbers Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2012 Portland Timbers Seattle Sounders FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2013 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Portland Timbers Seattle Sounders FC
2014 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Seattle Sounders FC Portland Timbers
2015 Seattle Sounders FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC Portland Timbers
2016 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Portland Timbers Seattle Sounders FC
2017 Portland Timbers Seattle Sounders FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2018 Seattle Sounders FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC Portland Timbers
2019 Seattle Sounders FC Portland Timbers Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2020 Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Seattle Sounders FC Portland Timbers Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2022 Portland Timbers Vancouver Whitecaps FC Seattle Sounders FC
2023 Vancouver Whitecaps FC Portland Timbers Seattle Sounders FC
2024 Portland Timbers Seattle Sounders FC Vancouver Whitecaps FC

League standings finishes

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  Sounders   Timbers   Whitecaps

USL First Division
P. 2004[b] 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
1 1 *1 *1
2 *2 2 *2
3 *3
4 4 4 4 *4
5 5 5
6 6
7 *7 7 7
8
9
10
11 11 11
12
MLS Western Conference
P. 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
1 1 1 *1
2 *2 2 2 *2 *2 2 *2 2
3 3 3 3 3
4 4 *4 4 4 4
5 5 *5 5
6 6 6 6 6 *6
7 *7 7
8 *8 *8 8 *8 8
9 9 9 9 *9
10 10
11 11
12 12
13
14

• Total: Seattle with 10 highest finishes. Portland with 6, and Vancouver with 4.
• Finishes with an asterisk (*) indicate winning the Cascadia Cup.
• Border indicates playoff line.

Season by season breakdown

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USL era

[edit]

2004
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
Vancouver Whitecaps 8 4 3 1 7 6 +1 13
Portland Timbers 8 4 4 0 10 11 −1 12
Seattle Sounders 8 3 4 1 9 9 0 10
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2004.

2005
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
Vancouver Whitecaps 8 2 0 6 10 5 +5 12
Portland Timbers 8 2 3 3 10 15 −5 9
Seattle Sounders (U) 8 1 2 5 7 7 0 8
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2005.
(U) USL–1 Champions

2006
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
Seattle Sounders 8 4 2 2 13 10 +3 14
Vancouver Whitecaps (U) 8 3 2 3 10 8 +2 12
Portland Timbers 8 1 4 3 6 11 −5 6
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2006.
(U) USL–1 Champions

2007
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts SEA VAN POR
Seattle Sounders (U) 4 2 0 2 7 4 +3 8 — 1–0 2–0
Vancouver Whitecaps 4 0 1 3 2 3 −1 3 2–2 — 0–0
Portland Timbers 4 0 1 3 2 4 −2 3 2–2 0–0 —
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2007.
(U) USL–1 Champions

2008
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
Vancouver Whitecaps (U) 6 4 1 1 9 6 +3 13
Seattle Sounders 6 2 2 2 5 5 0 8
Portland Timbers 6 1 4 1 4 7 −3 4
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2008.
(U) USL–1 Champions

USL/MLS split (Seattle ineligible)

[edit]

2009
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
Portland Timbers 3 2 1 0 3 1 +2 6
Vancouver Whitecaps 3 1 2 0 1 3 −2 3
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2009.

2010
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
Portland Timbers 4 2 0 2 6 4 +2 8
Vancouver Whitecaps 4 0 2 2 4 6 −2 2
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2010.

Major League Soccer era

[edit]

2011
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts SEA POR VAN
Seattle Sounders FC 4 2 0 2 9 6 +3 8 — 1–1 2–2
Portland Timbers 4 2 1 1 6 5 +1 7 2–3 — 2–1
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4 0 3 1 4 8 −4 1 1–3 0–1 —
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2011.

2012
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
Portland Timbers 6 3 1 2 7 7 0 11
Seattle Sounders FC 6 2 1 3 9 5 +4 9
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6 0 3 3 4 8 −4 3
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2012.

2013
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6 2 1 3 13 9 +4 9
Portland Timbers 6 1 1 4 7 7 0 7
Seattle Sounders FC 6 2 3 1 6 10 −4 7
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2013.

2014
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6 3 2 1 8 11 −3 10
Seattle Sounders FC 6 2 2 2 12 10 +2 8
Portland Timbers 6 2 3 1 15 14 +1 7
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2014.

2015
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
Seattle Sounders FC 6 4 2 0 9 8 +1 12
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6 2 2 2 6 7 −1 8
Portland Timbers (M) 6 1 3 2 7 7 0 5
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2015.
(M) MLS Cup Champions

2016
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6 3 3 0 11 10 +1 9
Portland Timbers 6 3 3 0 14 14 0 9
Seattle Sounders FC (M) 6 3 3 0 10 11 −1 9
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2016.
(M) MLS Cup Champions

2017
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
Portland Timbers 6 3 1 2 8 6 +2 11
Seattle Sounders FC 6 2 1 3 8 5 +3 9
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6 1 4 1 6 11 −5 4
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2017.

2018
Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts SEA VAN POR
Seattle Sounders FC 4 3 1 0 7 4 +3 9 — 2–0 2–3
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4 2 2 0 5 6 −1 6 1–2 — 2–1
Portland Timbers 4 1 3 0 5 7 −2 3 0–1 1–2 —
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2018.

2019
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts SEA VAN POR
1 Seattle Sounders FC (M) 4 2 1 1 4 3 +1 7 — 1–0[24] 1–2[25]
2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4 1 2 1 2 4 −2 5 0–0[26] — 1–0[27]
3 Portland Timbers 4 1 1 2 6 5 +1 4 1–2[28] 2–2[29] —
Source: [30][31][32][33][34][35]
(M) MLS Cup Champions

2020
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Seattle Sounders FC 7 4 1 2 13 5 +8 13
2 Portland Timbers 6 4 1 1 6 5 +1 13
3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5 0 0 5 1 10 −9 0
Source: [citation needed]

No 2020 winner awarded due to COVID-19 pandemic


2021
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts SEA POR VAN
1 Seattle Sounders FC 4 2 1 1 11 6 +5 7 — 0–2 4–1
2 Portland Timbers 4 2 0 2 7 9 −2 6 2–6 — 2–3
3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4 1 1 2 5 8 −3 4 1–1 0–1 —
Source: "Cascadia Cup". cascadiacup.soccer. January 2021.

2022
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts POR VAN SEA
1 Portland Timbers 4 3 1 0 9 4 +5 10 — 1–1 2–1
2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4 1 1 2 5 9 −4 4 2–3 — 2–1
3 Seattle Sounders FC 4 1 0 3 6 7 −1 3 0–3 4–0 —
Source: "Schedule". mlssoccer.com.


2023
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6 3 1 2 9 8 +1 10
2 Portland Timbers 6 2 2 2 11 8 +3 8
3 Seattle Sounders FC 6 1 3 2 6 10 −4 6
Source: "Schedule". mlssoccer.com.
Rules for classification: Scoring

2024 season

[edit]
See also: 2024 Portland Timbers season, 2024 Seattle Sounders FC season, and 2024 Vancouver Whitecaps FC season

2024
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Portland Timbers (C) 6 2 2 2 8 7 +1 8
2 Seattle Sounders FC 6 2 2 2 7 6 +1 8
3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 6 2 2 2 7 9 −2 8
Source: "Schedule". mlssoccer.com.
Rules for classification: Scoring
(C) Champions


  Sounders win   Timbers win   Whitecaps win   Draw   Upcoming fixture

March 30 Whitecaps 3–2 Timbers Vancouver, British Columbia
7:30 PM
Report
Stadium: BC Place
Attendance: 24,693
Referee: Allen Chapman
April 20 Sounders 0–2 Whitecaps Seattle, Washington
7:30 PM
Report
Stadium: Lumen Field
Attendance: 30,550
Referee: Ramy Touchan
May 12 Timbers 1–2 Sounders Portland, Oregon
1:30 PM
Report
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 25,218
Referee: Allen Chapman
May 18 Sounders 1–1 Whitecaps Seattle, Washington
7:30 PM
Report
Stadium: Lumen Field
Attendance: 30,102
Referee: Victor Rivas
June 22 Timbers 2–0 Whitecaps Portland, Oregon
7:30 PM
Report
Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 22,471
Referee: Ted Unkel
August 31 Timbers 1–0 Sounders Portland, Oregon
7:30 PM
Report Stadium: Providence Park
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
September 28 Whitecaps 1–1 Timbers Vancouver, British Columbia
7:30 PM
Report
Stadium: BC Place
Attendance: 25,902
Referee: Joe Dickerson
October 2 Whitecaps 0–3 Sounders Vancouver, British Columbia
7:30 PM
Report
Stadium: BC Place
Attendance: 17,362
Referee: Chris Penso
October 19 Decision Day Sounders 1–1 Timbers Seattle, Washington
6:00 PM
Report
Stadium: Lumen Field
Attendance: 36,341
Referee: Ismir Pekmic

See also

[edit]


References

[edit]
  1. ^ Trophy not awarded in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. ^ Western Conference results.
  1. ^ a b Walker, Ian (September 30, 2009). "Vancouver Whitecaps underdog against Portland". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on October 6, 2009.
  2. ^ Dreier, Fred (March 14, 2011). "North by Northwest". Sports Business. Sports Business Daily. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  3. ^ Wahl, Grant (May 23, 2011). "A Pacific Passion Play: Big-time clubs left Portland, Seattle and Vancouver 30 years ago, but their fans never did. Now the teams are back in MLS, and their reborn rivalries are turning the region into a hotbed of the sport". SI.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  4. ^ "Soccer fans creating Cascadia Cup". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. March 31, 2004. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  5. ^ "2004 Cascadia Cup Results". Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  6. ^ "2005 Cascadia Cup Soccer". Home.comcast.net. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  7. ^ "2006 Cascadia Cup Champions". Home.comcast.net. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  8. ^ "2007Cascadiacup". Home.comcast.net. Archived from the original on August 13, 2009. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  9. ^ "2008 Cascadia Cup Champions". Home.comcast.net. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
  10. ^ "Whitecaps 4, Sounders 1: Vancouver ruins Seattle's chance to clinch Cascadia Cup". The Oregonian. Associated Press. October 10, 2013.
  11. ^ "MLSsoccer.com". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  12. ^ Kesgard, Kip (July 24, 2010). "Portland Timbers – 2010 Cascadia Cup Champions". OregonLive.com. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  13. ^ Winner, Andrew (September 25, 2011). "Special night in Vancouver as Seattle win Cascadia Cup". Major League Soccer. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  14. ^ Oshan, Jeremiah (January 24, 2012). "2012 Cascadia Cup Format: All Games Will Count Equally". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  15. ^ Arnold, Geoffrey C. (October 21, 2012). "Portland Timbers defeat Whitecaps to win Cascadia Cup". The Oregonian. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  16. ^ "CASCADIA CUP UPDATE". Vancouver Southsiders. June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  17. ^ "Message from the Cascadia Cup Council". 107 Independent Supporters Trust. June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  18. ^ "2020 Cascadia Cup". Emerald City Supporters. June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  19. ^ "Canadian trade-mark data: 1607055 – Canadian trade-marks database – Intellectual property and copyright – Canadian Intellectual Property Office – Industry Canada". Cipo.ic.gc.ca. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  20. ^ "Supporters Groups Issue Statement on Trademarking of Cascadia Cup". ProstAmerika. January 10, 2013. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  21. ^ Nick Firchau (January 17, 2013). "MLS has work to do on Cascadia trademark tussle".
  22. ^ "MLS and Cascadia Supporters Reach Resolution Cup Trademark Issue". MLSsoccer.com. July 5, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  23. ^ "Cascadia Cup". Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  24. ^ "Seattle Sounders 1, Vancouver Whitecaps 0 - 2019 MLS Match Recap". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  25. ^ "Seattle Sounders 1, Portland Timbers 2 - 2019 MLS Match Recap". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  26. ^ "Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0, Seattle Sounders FC 0 - 2019 MLS Match Recap". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  27. ^ "Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1, Portland Timbers 0 - 2019 MLS Match Recap". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  28. ^ "Portland Timbers 1, Seattle Sounders 2 - 2019 MLS Match Recap". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  29. ^ "Portland Timbers 3, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 - 2019 MLS Match Recap". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  30. ^ "Seattle Sounders 1, Portland Timbers 2 - 2019 MLS Match Recap". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  31. ^ "Seattle Sounders 1, Vancouver Whitecaps 0 - 2019 MLS Match Recap". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  32. ^ "Portland Timbers 1, Seattle Sounders 2 - 2019 MLS Match Recap". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  33. ^ "Portland Timbers 3, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 - 2019 MLS Match Recap". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  34. ^ "Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1, Portland Timbers 0 - 2019 MLS Match Recap". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  35. ^ "Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0, Seattle Sounders FC 0 - 2019 MLS Match Recap". Retrieved January 10, 2020.
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