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League cup

Sports tournament type

In several sports, most prominently association football, a league cup or secondary cup generally signifies a cup 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. 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 domestic 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 domestic 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 of the Republic of Ireland in 1925.

League cups were generally introduced after the Second World War – for example, the Football League Cup 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.

List of league cups and secondary cups in association football

Men's league cups

Africa

Algeria Algerian League Cup
Egypt Egyptian League Cup
Kenya KPL Top 8 Cup
South Africa
- MTN 8 – first tier
- Telkom Knockout – second tier

Asia

Australia
- Canale Cup – regional competition
Philippines Copa Paulino Alcantara
Indonesia Indonesia President's Cup
Japan J.League Cup
Jordan Jordan FA Shield
Kuwait Kuwait Federation Cup
Malaysia Malaysia Cup
Oman Oman Professional League Cup
Qatar Qatari Stars Cup
Thailand Thai League Cup
UAE UAE League Cup

Europe

England
- EFL Cup (formerly the Football League Cup) – tiers 1–4
- EFL Trophy (formerly the Football League Trophy) – tiers 3–4 (16 U-21 teams of tier 1 and 2 clubs)
- National League Cup — tier 5 (plus 16 professional under-21 teams playing in Premier League 2)
- Isthmian League Cup – regional competition
- Northern Premier League Challenge Cup – regional competition
- Northern Premier League President's Cup – regional competition
- Southern Football League Cup – regional competition
Finland Finnish League Cup
Iceland Icelandic League Cup
Ireland League of Ireland Cup
Israel Toto Cup
Italy Coppa Italia Dilettanti (tiers 5 and 6)
Northern Ireland Irish League Cup
Portugal Taça da Liga
RUS FNL Cup
Scotland
- Scottish League Cup – first tier
- Scottish Challenge Cup – second tier
Spain Spain
- Copa Federación de España – tiers 3, 4 and 5
Wales Welsh League Cup

North America

Canada / USA / Mexico Leagues Cup

South America

Argentina Copa de la Liga Profesional
Peru Torneo Intermedio

Women's league cups

Europe

England
- WSL Cup — first tier
- WNL Cup — second tier
Iceland Icelandic League Cup
Portugal Taça da Liga Feminina
Scotland SWPL Cup

Asia

Japan WE League Cup

North America

CAN Women's Inter-Provincial Championship

Defunct league cups and secondary cups

Men's league cups

Africa

Egypt EFA League Cup
Libya Libyan League Cup
Tunisia Tunisia Coupe de la Ligue Professionel

Asia

Australia
- NSL Cup – first tier
- NNSWF State Cup – regional competition
China Chinese Super League Cup
Iraq Baghdad Championship
Japan Japan Soccer League Cup (1973–1991), Konica Cup (1990 and 1991)
Lebanon Lebanese Elite Cup (1996–2023), Lebanese Challenge Cup (2013–2023)
Philippines UFL Cup
South Korea Korean League Cup

Europe

Belgium Belgian League Cup
Denmark Spar Cup, Danish League Cup, Viasat Cup
East Germany Olympia-Pokal (1964), Fuwo-Pokal (1972), DFV-Toto-Sonderrunde (1974 and 1976)
England Full Members Cup (tiers 1–2), Super Cup, Centenary Trophy (tier 1)
France Coupe Charles Drago
France Coupe de la Ligue
Germany DFL-Ligapokal (1997–2007)
Gibraltar Gibraltar Premier Cup
Greece Greek League Cup (tier 1), Gamma Ethniki Cup (tier 3), Greek Football Amateur Cup (tiers 3–6)
Northern Ireland Ulster Cup (1949–2003), Floodlit Cup (1987–1998), Gold Cup (1911–2001)
Latvia Virsligas Winter Cup
Norway Norwegian League Cup (1992 and 1993)
Poland Young Leaders Rally Cup (1952), League Cup (1977 and 1978), Polish League Cup (1999–2002), Ekstraklasa Cup (2006–2009)
Portugal Federation Cup
Romania Cupa Ligii
Russia Russian Premier League Cup
Scotland Saint Mungo Cup, Summer Cup (tier 1), War Emergency Cup (tier 1), Supplementary Cup (tier 2), C Division League Cup (tier 3), Southern League Cup
Soviet Union All-Union Committee of Physical Culture and Sports Tournament (1952), USSR Federation Cup
Spain Copa de la Liga
Switzerland Swiss League Cup
Turkey Spor Toto Cup
Ukraine Ukrainian Second League Cup (a preliminary tournament for the Ukrainian Cup that involved third-tier teams along with best teams of Ukrainian Amateur Cup; the Ukrainian League Cup was a single season supplemental tournament for the third-tier teams of 2009–10 Ukrainian Second League and involved participation of some reserve and amateur teams)
Wales FAW Premier Cup

North America

Canada / USA / Mexico North American SuperLiga
Trinidad and Tobago
- Trinidad and Tobago League Cup
- Trinidad and Tobago Pro Bowl

South America

Argentina Copa de la Superliga
Uruguay Torneo Liguilla

Women's league cups

Asia

Japan Nadeshiko League Cup
Philippines PFF Women's Cup

North America

USA NWSL Challenge Cup (2020–2023, supercup from 2024)

League cups and secondary cups in other sports

Basketball

Men's league cups

FRA LNB Pro A Leaders Cup
FRA LNB Pro B Leaders Cup
GBR BBL Cup (includes only British Basketball League teams)
ISL Icelandic League Cup (includes top two league levels)
ISR Israeli Basketball State Cup (includes the top two levels, the Premier League and National League)
ISR Israeli Basketball League Cup (separate cup for the Premier League and National League)
ITA Coppa Italia (Serie A)
ITA LNP Cup
PRT Portuguese League Cup
SRB KSS Cup (Second League)
ESP Copa Princesa de Asturias (LEB Oro) - second tier
CHE SBL Cup
USA / CAN NBA Cup

Women's league cups

ISL Icelandic League Cup (includes top two league levels)
USA WNBA Commissioner's Cup

References

(2014). "Governance models across football associations and leagues".
(4 September 2020). "Who's won the treble? Bayern double up".

Info: Wikipedia Source

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