The Heritage Cup, inaugurated in 2009, is awarded annually and jointly by the supporters of the Major League Soccer (MLS) teams eligible to compete for it.
The Heritage Cup is intended to honor and promote the continuing legacy of the defunct North American Soccer League (NASL) in the highest level of professional soccer in North America.
The Heritage Cup provides an opportunity for Major League Soccer (MLS) teams which have adopted nicknames from the NASL, and their supporters, to celebrate their shared history through good-natured competition.
2. Eligibility: Eligible MLS teams shall have the same city and nickname, or a recognizable variation. For 2009 and 2010 and each subsequent year unless and until this Rule 2 is amended, two MLS teams are eligible to compete for the Heritage Cup: (1) San Jose Earthquakes, known by the same name in the NASL, and (2) Seattle Sounders, FC, known as the Seattle Sounders in NASL. This Rule 2 shall be amended periodically as necessary to expressly identify the MLS teams eligible to compete for the Heritage Cup.
Amended March 2011: For 2011 and each subsequent year unless and until this Rule 2 is amended, four MLS teams are eligible to compete for the Heritage Cup: (1) San Jose Earthquakes, known by the same name in the NASL, (2) Seattle Sounders, FC, known as the Seattle Sounders in NASL, (3) Portland Timbers, known by the same name in the NASL, and (4) Vancouver Whitecaps FC, known as the Vancouver Whitecaps in NASL.
(a) MLS teams in cities that previously had NASL teams but with different names (e.g., the Los Angeles Galaxy), are ineligible to compete for the Heritage Cup. Ineligible MLS teams may become eligible to compete by changing nicknames (e.g., San Jose Clash to San Jose Earthquakes.).
(b) Non-MLS teams that retain NASL nicknames (e.g., Tampa Bay Rowdies) are not eligible. Non-MLS teams may become eligible if a successor franchise enters the MLS with the same city and nickname (e.g., USL-1 Seattle Sounders to MLS Seattle Sounders, FC.)
(c) Eligible MLS teams may lose eligibility by changing their nicknames, moving or folding their franchise. In the event of fewer than two eligible MLS teams, the remaining eligible MLS team shall retain the Heritage Cup until an eligible competitor emerges. In the event of no eligible MLS teams, the Heritage Cup shall be retained by the supporters of the last eligible team which won the Cup until eligible competitors emerge.
3. Winning the Cup: The Heritage Cup shall be awarded annually to the eligible MLS team which prevails against other eligible MLS team(s) during the course of the MLS regular season. Determination of the prevailing eligible MLS team, as described in this Rule 3, shall be based on the number of eligible teams and number of games among them. This Rule 3 shall be amended periodically as necessary to identify the specific criteria for determining at the outset of an MLS regular season the prevailing eligible MLS team as against other eligible MLS team(s).
For 2020 the revised schedule for the regular season had not been published by the start of the MLS is Back Tournament. The Heritage Cup shall be awarded based on the results of the single group stage match of the MLS is Back Tournament between the participating teams, namely the July 10 match at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida (Heritage Cup Match). The winner of this match shall be awarded the Heritage Cup. In the event of a tie the prevailing eligible MLS team shall be:
(a) the eligible MLS team which earns this highest group stage standing, following all tiebreakers set in the MLS is Back Tournament rules.
(b) If the match is postponed and rescheduled to a definite date then that match shall become the Heritage Cup Match.
(c) If the MLS is Back Tournament is rescheduled or postponed then these rules shall be adapted and published before the beginning of the tournament.
(d) If the MLS is Back Tournament is cancelled then the Heritage Cup rule shall be revised to include any scheduled, competitive matches between the eligible teams.
(e) If there are no competitive matches played between the eligible teams then the Heritage Cup will not be awarded for 2020. It will stay with the 2019 cup holders and be contested in the 2021 season.
4. Presentation of the Cup: The Heritage Cup will be presented jointly by the supporters of the participating MLS teams to the prevailing eligible MLS team on the pitch immediately following the conclusion of the final Heritage Cup match. The presentation shall be brief and involve a representative sampling of supporters from each of the participating MLS teams.
5. Custody of the Cup: The prevailing eligible MLS team shall have custody of the Heritage Cup for approximately one year from the date of the last Cup game in one year to the date of the last Cup game the following year.
(a) The Heritage Cup shall be prominently displayed by the prevailing MLS team in its trophy case and shall be surrendered to the supporters for presentation at the final Heritage Cup match of the season.
(b) The supporters for the prevailing MLS team shall be responsible for purchasing an engraved tag on the Heritage Cup with the year and name of the prevailing eligible MLS team for that year.