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In several sports, most prominentlyassociation football, aleague cup orsecondary cup generally signifies acup competition for which entry is restricted only to teams in a particular league.[1] The first national association football tournament to be called "League Cup" was held in Scotland in 1946–47 and was entitled theScottish League Cup. However, in the Republic of Ireland the now-defunctLeague of Ireland Shield was the first national league-only tournament of its kind (played first in 1921); this was subsequently replaced by theLeague of Ireland Cup in 1983.
The creation of a league cup marked the difference from thedomestic 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.[1][2]
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 byShamrock Rovers of the Republic of Ireland in 1925.
League cups were generally introduced after theSecond World War – for example, theFootball 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.
Algerian League Cup
Egyptian League Cup
KPL Top 8 Cup
South Africa
Australia
Copa Paulino Alcantara
Indonesia President's Cup
J.League Cup
Jordan FA Shield
Kuwait Federation Cup
Malaysia Cup
Oman Professional League Cup
Qatari Stars Cup
Thai League Cup
UAE League Cup
England
Finnish League Cup
Icelandic League Cup
League of Ireland Cup
Toto Cup
Coppa Italia Dilettanti (tiers 5 and 6)
Irish League Cup
Taça da Liga
FNL Cup
Scotland
Spain
Welsh League Cup
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Leagues CupAustralia
Chinese Super League Cup
Baghdad ChampionshipJapan Soccer League Cup (1973–1991),Konica Cup (1990 and 1991)
Lebanese Elite Cup (1996–2023),Lebanese Challenge Cup (2013–2023)UFL Cup
Korean League Cup
Belgian League Cup
Spar Cup,Danish League Cup,Viasat Cup
Olympia-Pokal (1964),Fuwo-Pokal (1972),DFV-Toto-Sonderrunde (1974 and 1976)Full Members Cup (tiers 1–2),Super Cup,Centenary Trophy (tier 1)
Coupe Charles DragoCoupe de la Ligue
DFL-Ligapokal (1997–2007)
Gibraltar Premier Cup
Greek League Cup (tier 1),Gamma Ethniki Cup (tier 3),Greek Football Amateur Cup (tiers 3–6)Ulster Cup (1949–2003),Floodlit Cup (1987–1998),Gold Cup (1911–2001)
Virsligas Winter Cup
Norwegian League Cup (1992 and 1993)
Young Leaders Rally Cup (1952),League Cup (1977 and 1978),Polish League Cup (1999–2002),Ekstraklasa Cup (2006–2009)Federation Cup
Cupa LigiiRussian Premier League CupSaint Mungo Cup,Summer Cup (tier 1),War Emergency Cup (tier 1),Supplementary Cup (tier 2),C Division League Cup (tier 3),Southern League Cup
All-Union Committee of Physical Culture and Sports Tournament (1952),USSR Federation CupCopa de la Liga
Swiss League Cup
Spor Toto Cup
Ukrainian Second League Cup (a preliminary tournament for theUkrainian Cup that involved third-tier teams along with best teams ofUkrainian Amateur Cup; theUkrainian League Cup was a single season supplemental tournament for the third-tier teams of2009–10 Ukrainian Second League and involved participation of some reserve and amateur teams)FAW Premier CupNWSL Challenge Cup (2020–2023, supercup from 2024)LNB Pro A Leaders CupLNB Pro B Leaders Cup
BBL Cup (includes onlyBritish Basketball League teams)Icelandic League Cup (includes top two league levels)Israeli Basketball State Cup (includes the top two levels, thePremier League andNational League)Israeli Basketball League Cup (separate cup for the Premier League and National League)Coppa Italia (Serie A)LNP CupPortuguese League Cup
KSS Cup (Second League)Copa Princesa de Asturias (LEB Oro) - second tierSBL Cup /NBA CupIcelandic League Cup (includes top two league levels)WNBA Commissioner's Cup
