American soccer rivalry
The Heritage Cup is an annual cup rivalry between Major League Soccer (MLS) teams San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders FC . Both teams carried their names forward from their North American Soccer League (NASL) predecessors. However, the rivalry is also geographical as the two cities are based on the West Coast .
Club namesakes
History
Overall stats
As of September 18, 2024
Competition
Matches
Wins
Draws
San Jose
Seattle
NASL (1974–1983)
24
9
10
5
WACS/WSA/WSL (1985–1988)
8
2
6
0
MLS (2009–present)
40
15
15
10
League totals (regular season)
72
26
31
15
WSA playoffs
2
1
1
0
League totals (playoffs)
2
1
1
0
U.S. Open Cup
6
2
2
2
U.S. Open Cup totals
6
2
2
2
All-time totals
80
29
34
17
Cup history
The Heritage Cup trophy was conceived and designed by San Jose Earthquakes fan Rob Stevenson and was commissioned by San Jose's Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation in collaboration with Seattle Sounders FC supporters.[ 1] The competition began in 2009 when the expansion Seattle began play, becoming the second MLS team named after their North American Soccer League counterpart – San Jose having been the first when they inherited the Earthquakes name in time for the 2000 season .[ 2]
MLS era
The original Earthquakes and Sounders sides did have a rivalry while playing in the NASL. However, it did not completely resurface during the 2009 season with fans of both teams viewing other clubs as bigger rivals.[ 3] That season, the first MLS meeting of the teams was not considered for the competition due to the schedule consisting of two games in Seattle and only one in San Jose. Seattle won the initial meeting at home 2–0 and the second 2–1. The San Jose Earthquakes won the inaugural cup on goals scored after a 4–0 home victory on August 2, 2009.[ 4]
Present and future MLS teams that carry on the name of their market's NASL predecessors are eligible to join the competition. However, when the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC became eligible to compete for the cup upon joining the league in 2011 , both teams' supporters elected not to participate.[ 2] [ 5] [ 6] They left open the possibility of joining if a couple of additional eligible teams join MLS, thereby better differentiating the Heritage Cup from the Cascadia Cup .
The 2012 MLS Season brought an unbalanced schedule for the first time since 2009. The rules to the cup therefore reverted to counting only the last two matches between the teams, the way it will be counted in any season that has an unbalanced schedule.[ 7]
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 the organizers sent out the following proposal
Gentlemen,
Here is the latest information for you about the 2020 Heritage Cup, the annual competition between San Jose and Seattle. The Quakes have not won the Cup since 2015, while Seattle displayed the Cup and used it in-stadium to promote their anniversary last year.
As you know, the Heritage Cup is a joint operation between San Jose fans and some Sounders fans. This year presents a special challenge and we could only come up with one viable option, which is to use the July 10 San Jose vs Seattle game in Orlando as the Heritage Cup game for 2020. We delayed until now to arrange this, hoping to hear about the league schedule, but that didn't happen. So this will be a one-game competition, on neutral ground.
We hope that this might also help the MLS Is Back tournament as well. If you can help us get information about this game and the Heritage Cup to MLS and especially to the ESPN producers and broadcast team as quickly as possible, this might be an additional storyline they can use in their telecast to add a little more drama to the game.
This match ended in a 0-0 draw and the winner of the Group stage (B) at the MLS is Back tournament, San Jose Earthquakes, was awarded the Heritage Cup for 2020.
For 2021 there was an unbalanced three-game regular season schedule between the two competing MLS teams. The Heritage Cup was awarded based on the results of the final two of three matches of each participating team, with each team hosting one match, namely the July 31 match hosted by Seattle Sounders FC and the September 29 match hosted by San Jose Earthquakes. Seattle regained the Cup with their 3-1 victory in San Jose.[ 8]
MLS honours
Results
Competitive matches only
NASL era
For statistical purposes, matches that went to shootouts are counted as draws. Matches ending with a shootout are denoted with *.
Season
Date
Competition
Stadium
Home team
Result
Away team
Attendance
Series
Ref
1974
May 19
NASL
Memorial Stadium
Seattle Sounders
3–1
San Jose Earthquakes
SEA 1–0–0
June 30
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
2–2*
Seattle Sounders
SEA 1–0–1
1975
June 21
NASL
Memorial Stadium
Seattle Sounders
5–1
San Jose Earthquakes
SEA 2–0–1
July 12
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
2–2*
Seattle Sounders
SEA 2–0–2
August 9
Memorial Stadium
Seattle Sounders
1–2
San Jose Earthquakes
SEA 2–1–2
1976
June 4
NASL
Kingdome
Seattle Sounders
1–2
San Jose Earthquakes
Tied 2–2–2
June 20
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
2–1
Seattle Sounders
SJ 3–2–2
1977
April 23
NASL
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
2–0
Seattle Sounders
SJ 4–2–2
May 21
Kingdome
Seattle Sounders
0–1
San Jose Earthquakes
SJ 5–2–2
1978
April 30
NASL
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
1–0
Seattle Sounders
SJ 6–2–2
May 13
Kingdome
Seattle Sounders
3–1
San Jose Earthquakes
SJ 6–3–2
1979
May 12
NASL
Kingdome
Seattle Sounders
2–1
San Jose Earthquakes
SJ 6–4–2
May 19
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
0–1
Seattle Sounders
SJ 6–5–2
1980
April 19
NASL
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
0–1
Seattle Sounders
Tied 6–6–2
May 3
Kingdome
Seattle Sounders
4–0
San Jose Earthquakes
SEA 7–6–2
1981
June 20
NASL
Kingdome
Seattle Sounders
1–0
San Jose Earthquakes
SEA 8–6–2
August 8
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
3–0
Seattle Sounders
SEA 8–7–2
1982
April 11
NASL
Kingdome
Seattle Sounders
0–0*
San Jose Earthquakes
SEA 8–7–3
July 3
Kingdome
Seattle Sounders
5–4
San Jose Earthquakes
SEA 9–7–3
August 7
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
1–2
Seattle Sounders
SEA 10–7–3
1983
June 15
NASL
Kingdome
Seattle Sounders
1–1*
Golden Bay Earthquakes
SEA 10–7–4
July 6
Spartan Stadium
Golden Bay Earthquakes
2–2*
Seattle Sounders
SEA 10–7–5
July 13
Kingdome
Seattle Sounders
2–5
Golden Bay Earthquakes
SEA 10–8–5
September 3
Spartan Stadium
Golden Bay Earthquakes
2–1
Seattle Sounders
SEA 10–9–5
Alliance era
Season
Date
Competition
Stadium
Home team
Result
Away team
Attendance
Series
Ref
1985
July 7
WACS
Memorial Stadium
F.C. Seattle
3–1
San Jose Earthquakes
SEA 1–0–0
August 2
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
1–0
F.C. Seattle
Tied 1–1–0
1986
June 27
WSA
Memorial Stadium
F.C. Seattle
1–0
San Jose Earthquakes
SEA 2–1–0
August 15
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
1–3
F.C. Seattle
SEA 3–1–0
1987
March 21
WSA
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
3–1
F.C. Seattle Storm
SEA 3–2–0
May 17
Memorial Stadium
F.C. Seattle Storm
3–0
San Jose Earthquakes
SEA 4–2–0
June 7
WSA Playoffs
Memorial Stadium
F.C. Seattle Storm
0–3
San Jose Earthquakes
SEA 4–3–0
1988
July 1
WSA
Memorial Stadium
Seattle Storm
3–0
San Jose Earthquakes
SEA 5–3–0
July 17
Spartan Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
1–3
Seattle Sounders
SEA 6–3–0
July 30
WSA Championship
Memorial Stadium
Seattle Storm
5–0
San Jose Earthquakes
5,600
SEA 7–3–0
1996–2008
Results from when the two teams played each other between 1996 and 2008.
MLS era
For statistical purposes, matches that went to shootouts are counted as draws. Matches ending with a shootout are denoted with *.
Season
Date
Competition
Stadium
Home team
Result
Away team
Attendance
Series
Ref
2009
April 25
MLS
Qwest Field
Seattle Sounders FC
2–0
San Jose Earthquakes
28,838
SEA 1–0–0
[ 9]
June 13 ‡
Qwest Field
Seattle Sounders FC
2–1
San Jose Earthquakes
28,999
SEA 2–0–0
[ 10]
August 2 ‡
Buck Shaw Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
4–0
Seattle Sounders FC
9,919
SEA 2–1–0
[ 11]
2010
May 22 ‡
MLS
Qwest Field
Seattle Sounders FC
0–1
San Jose Earthquakes
35,953
Tied 2–2–0
[ 12]
July 31 ‡
Buck Shaw Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
0–1
Seattle Sounders FC
10,351
SEA 3–2–0
[ 13]
2011
April 2 ‡
MLS
Buck Shaw Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
2–2
Seattle Sounders FC
10,276
SEA 3–2–1
[ 14]
October 15 ‡
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
2–1
San Jose Earthquakes
64,140
SEA 4–2–1
[ 15]
2012
March 31
MLS
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
0–1
San Jose Earthquakes
38,458
SEA 4–3–1
June 26
U.S. Open Cup
Kezar Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
0–1
Seattle Sounders FC
7,219
SEA 5–3–1
August 11 ‡
MLS
Buck Shaw Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
2–1
Seattle Sounders FC
10,744
SEA 5–4–1
September 22 ‡
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
1–2
San Jose Earthquakes
38,948
Tied 5–5–1
2013
March 23
MLS
Buck Shaw Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
1–0
Seattle Sounders FC
10,525
SJ 6–5–1
May 11 ‡
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
4–0
San Jose Earthquakes
38,880
Tied 6–6–1
July 13 ‡
Buck Shaw Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
1–0
Seattle Sounders FC
10,525
SJ 7–6–1
2014
May 17
MLS
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
1–0
San Jose Earthquakes
49,746
Tied 7–7–1
June 24
U.S. Open Cup
Starfire Sports
Seattle Sounders FC
1–1*
San Jose Earthquakes
4,023
Tied 7–7–2
August 2 ‡
MLS
Levi's Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
1–0
Seattle Sounders FC
48,765
SJ 8–7–2
August 20 ‡
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
1–1
San Jose Earthquakes
38,509
SJ 8–7–3
2015
March 14
MLS
CenturyLinkField
Seattle Sounders FC
2–3
San Jose Earthquakes
39,175
SJ 9–7–3
June 20 ‡
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
0–2
San Jose Earthquakes
39,971
SJ 10–7–3
September 12 ‡
Avaya Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
1–1
Seattle Sounders FC
18,000
SJ 10–7–4
2016
May 7 ‡
MLS
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
2–0
San Jose Earthquakes
39,570
SJ 10–8–4
September 10 ‡
Avaya Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
1–1
Seattle Sounders FC
18,000
SJ 10–8–5
2017
April 8 ‡
MLS
Avaya Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
1–1
Seattle Sounders FC
18,000
SJ 10–8–6
June 28
U.S. Open Cup
Avaya Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
2–1
Seattle Sounders FC
13,442
SJ 11–8–6
July 23 ‡
MLS
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
3–0
San Jose Earthquakes
43,528
SJ 11–9–6
2018
July 25 ‡
MLS
Avaya Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
0–1
Seattle Sounders FC
16,478
SJ 11–10–6
October 28 ‡
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
2–1
San Jose Earthquakes
42,617
Tied 11–11–6
2019
April 24 ‡
MLS
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
2–2
San Jose Earthquakes
37,722
Tied 11–11–7
September 29 ‡
Avaya Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
0–1
Seattle Sounders FC
18,000
SEA 12–11–7
2020
July 10 ‡
MLS is Back
ESPN Sports Complex
Seattle Sounders FC
0–0
San Jose Earthquakes
0[ a]
SEA 12–11–8
September 10 ‡
MLS
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
7–1
San Jose Earthquakes
0[ a]
SEA 13–11–8
October 18
Earthquakes Stadium
San Jose Earthquakes
0–0
Seattle Sounders FC
0[ a]
SEA 13–11–9
November 8
CenturyLink Field
Seattle Sounders FC
4–1
San Jose Earthquakes
0[ a]
SEA 14–11–9
2021
May 12
MLS
PayPal Park
San Jose Earthquakes
0–1
Seattle Sounders FC
5,000[ b]
SEA 15–11–9
July 31 ‡
Lumen Field
Seattle Sounders FC
0–1
San Jose Earthquakes
32,704
SEA 15–12–9
September 29 ‡
PayPal Park
San Jose Earthquakes
1–3
Seattle Sounders FC
11,361
SEA 16–12–9
2022
April 23 ‡
MLS
PayPal Park
San Jose Earthquakes
4–3
Seattle Sounders FC
12,467
SEA 16–13–9
[ 16]
May 11
U.S. Open Cup
Starfire Sports
Seattle Sounders
2–2*
San Jose Earthquakes
3,773
SEA 16–13–10
[ 17]
October 9 ‡
MLS
Lumen Field
Seattle Sounders
2–2
San Jose Earthquakes
33,910
SEA 16–13–11
2023
May 31 ‡
MLS
Lumen Field
Seattle Sounders
0–1
San Jose Earthquakes
30,013
SEA 16–14–11
July 12 ‡
PayPal Park
San Jose Earthquakes
2–0
Seattle Sounders FC
13,577
SEA 16–15–11
2024
March 23 ‡
MLS
PayPal Park
San Jose Earthquakes
3–2
Seattle Sounders FC
16,109
Tied 16–16–11
September 18 ‡
Lumen Field
Seattle Sounders
2–2
San Jose Earthquakes
29,326
Tied 16–16–12
Cup winners by season
Western Conference standings finishes
Sounders
Earthquakes
• Total: Seattle with 14 higher finishes, San Jose with 1.
Statistical leaders
Bold denotes player is still able to play in competition. Updated through game played on November 8, 2020
Top goalscorers
As of September 29, 2021 , at least two goals included in table
San Jose's Chris Wondolowski is the Heritage Cup's top goalscorer, with eight goals.
Top assists
As of May 12, 2021 , at least two goals included in table
Notes
^ a b c d e f These matches were the determined matches to be specifically for the Heritage Cup cup competition between 2009 and 2011.
^ a b c d e f These matches were the determined matches to be specifically for the Heritage Cup cup competition between 2012 and 2014.
See also
References
^ Hipps, Jay. "SSVCF unveils Heritage Cup trophy" . Center Line Soccer. Retrieved June 10, 2009 . [permanent dead link ]
^ a b Romero, Jose (June 10, 2009). "Let the Heritage Cup competition begin|9" . Soccer Silicon Valley . The Seattle Times Company. Archived from the original on June 13, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2009 .
^ Ruiz, Don (May 22, 2010). "Heritage Cup? Sounders simply want to beat Earthquakes" . The News Tribune . Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2010 .
^ Gashk, Matt. "Seattle Falls To San Jose" . Seattle Sounders FC. Archived from the original on August 5, 2009. Retrieved October 15, 2009 .
^ Dittfurth, Garrett. "On the Heritage Cup" . Timbers Army Blogs. Archived from the original on March 12, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2011 .
^ http://forum.vancouversouthsiders.ca/index.php?p=/discussion/243/heritage-cup-our-position [user-generated source ]
^ "Heritage Cup Rules" . Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Retrieved August 12, 2012 .
^ "2021 Heritage Cup Rules – Soccer Silicon Valley Community Foundation" .
^ "Sounders FC gets back on the winning track" . soundersfc.com . Seattle Sounders FC. April 25, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2018 .
^ "Sounders get back on the winning track" . soundersfc.com . Seattle Sounders FC. June 13, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2018 .
^ "Seattle falls to San Jose" . soundersfc.com . Seattle Sounders FC. August 2, 2009. Retrieved May 11, 2018 .
^ "Wondo strikes early, Quakes defense does the rest" . soundersfc.com . Seattle Sounders FC. May 22, 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2018 .
^ "Sounders FC Stays Hot With Win Over Earthquakes" . soundersfc.com . Seattle Sounders FC. July 31, 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2018 .
^ Gaschk, Matt (April 2, 2011). "Sounders Draw In San Jose" . soundersfc.com . Seattle Sounders FC. Retrieved May 11, 2018 .
^ "2011-10-15: Seattle Sounders vs. San Jose Earthquakes" . MLSSoccer.com . Major League Soccer. October 15, 2011. Archived from the original on March 3, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2018 .
^ "Espinoza hat trick rallies San Jose past Seattle 4-3" . San Jose Mercury News . April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2022 .
^ "SEAvsSJ 05-11-2022" . MLSSoccer.com . Major League Soccer. May 11, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2024 .
External links
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