# Heritage Cup (MLS)

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

| Major League Soccer | North American Soccer League |
| San Jose Earthquakes | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Seattle Sounders FC | Seattle Sounders |

## History
### Overall stats

    As of September 18, 2024
| Competition | Matches | Wins | Wins | Draws |
| Competition | Matches | San Jose | Seattle | Draws |
| 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. 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.

### 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. 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.
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. 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.
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.

#### MLS honours

| San Jose | Competition | Seattle |
| Domestic |||
| 2 | MLS Cup | 2 |
| 2 | Supporters' Shield | 1 |
| — | U.S. Open Cup | 4 |
| 4 | Aggregate | 7 |
| Continental and Worldwide |||
| — | CONCACAF Champions League | 1 |
| — | Leagues Cup | — |
| — | Campeones Cup | — |
| 0 | Aggregate | 1 |
| 4 | Total aggregate | 8 |

## 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 | Series |
| 1974 | May 19 | NASL | Memorial Stadium | Seattle Sounders | 3–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | SEA 1–0–0 |
| 1974 | June 30 | NASL | 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 |
| 1975 | July 12 | NASL | Spartan Stadium | San Jose Earthquakes | 2–2* | Seattle Sounders | SEA 2–0–2 |
| 1975 | August 9 | NASL | 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 |
| 1976 | June 20 | NASL | 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 |
| 1977 | May 21 | NASL | 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 |
| 1978 | May 13 | NASL | 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 |
| 1979 | May 19 | NASL | 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 |
| 1980 | May 3 | NASL | 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 |
| 1981 | August 8 | NASL | 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 |
| 1982 | July 3 | NASL | Kingdome | Seattle Sounders | 5–4 | San Jose Earthquakes | SEA 9–7–3 |
| 1982 | August 7 | NASL | 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 |
| 1983 | July 6 | NASL | Spartan Stadium | Golden Bay Earthquakes | 2–2* | Seattle Sounders | SEA 10–7–5 |
| 1983 | July 13 | NASL | Kingdome | Seattle Sounders | 2–5 | Golden Bay Earthquakes | SEA 10–8–5 |
| 1983 | September 3 | NASL | 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 |
| 1985 | July 7 | WACS | Memorial Stadium | F.C. Seattle | 3–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | | SEA 1–0–0 |
| 1985 | August 2 | WACS | 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 |
| 1986 | August 15 | WSA | 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 |
| 1987 | May 17 | WSA | Memorial Stadium | F.C. Seattle Storm | 3–0 | San Jose Earthquakes | | SEA 4–2–0 |
| 1987 | 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 |
| 1988 | July 17 | WSA | Spartan Stadium | San Jose Earthquakes | 1–3 | Seattle Sounders | | SEA 6–3–0 |
| 1988 | 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.
| Season | Date | Competition | Stadium | Home team | Result | Away team | Attendance | Series | Ref |
| 2002 | July 17 | U.S. Open Cup | Interbay Stadium | Seattle Sounders | 3–4 | San Jose Earthquakes | 1,275 | | |
| 2003 | August 5 | U.S. Open Cup | Husky Soccer Stadium | Seattle Sounders | 1–0 | San Jose Earthquakes | 2,510 | | |

### MLS era

For statistical purposes, matches that went to shootouts are counted as draws. Matches ending with a shootout are denoted with *.
* Heritage Cup match‡
| Season | Date | Competition | Stadium | Home team | Result | Away team | Attendance | Series |
| 2009 | April 25 | MLS | Qwest Field | Seattle Sounders FC | 2–0 | San Jose Earthquakes | 28,838 | SEA 1–0–0 |
| 2009 | June 13‡ | MLS | Qwest Field | Seattle Sounders FC | 2–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 28,999 | SEA 2–0–0 |
| 2009 | August 2‡ | MLS | Buck Shaw Stadium | San Jose Earthquakes | 4–0 | Seattle Sounders FC | 9,919 | SEA 2–1–0 |
| 2010 | May 22‡ | MLS | Qwest Field | Seattle Sounders FC | 0–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 35,953 | Tied 2–2–0 |
| 2010 | July 31‡ | MLS | Buck Shaw Stadium | San Jose Earthquakes | 0–1 | Seattle Sounders FC | 10,351 | SEA 3–2–0 |
| 2011 | April 2‡ | MLS | Buck Shaw Stadium | San Jose Earthquakes | 2–2 | Seattle Sounders FC | 10,276 | SEA 3–2–1 |
| 2011 | October 15‡ | MLS | CenturyLink Field | Seattle Sounders FC | 2–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 64,140 | SEA 4–2–1 |
| 2012 | March 31 | MLS | CenturyLink Field | Seattle Sounders FC | 0–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 38,458 | SEA 4–3–1 |
| 2012 | June 26 | U.S. Open Cup | Kezar Stadium | San Jose Earthquakes | 0–1 | Seattle Sounders FC | 7,219 | SEA 5–3–1 |
| 2012 | August 11‡ | MLS | Buck Shaw Stadium | San Jose Earthquakes | 2–1 | Seattle Sounders FC | 10,744 | SEA 5–4–1 |
| 2012 | September 22‡ | MLS | 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 |
| 2013 | May 11‡ | MLS | CenturyLink Field | Seattle Sounders FC | 4–0 | San Jose Earthquakes | 38,880 | Tied 6–6–1 |
| 2013 | July 13‡ | MLS | 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 |
| 2014 | June 24 | U.S. Open Cup | Starfire Sports | Seattle Sounders FC | 1–1* | San Jose Earthquakes | 4,023 | Tied 7–7–2 |
| 2014 | August 2‡ | MLS | Levi's Stadium | San Jose Earthquakes | 1–0 | Seattle Sounders FC | 48,765 | SJ 8–7–2 |
| 2014 | August 20‡ | MLS | 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 |
| 2015 | June 20‡ | MLS | CenturyLink Field | Seattle Sounders FC | 0–2 | San Jose Earthquakes | 39,971 | SJ 10–7–3 |
| 2015 | September 12‡ | MLS | 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 |
| 2016 | September 10‡ | MLS | 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 |
| 2017 | June 28 | U.S. Open Cup | Avaya Stadium | San Jose Earthquakes | 2–1 | Seattle Sounders FC | 13,442 | SJ 11–8–6 |
| 2017 | 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 |
| 2018 | October 28‡ | MLS | 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 |
| 2019 | September 29‡ | MLS | 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 | SEA 12–11–8 |
| 2020 | September 10‡ | MLS | CenturyLink Field | Seattle Sounders FC | 7–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 0 | SEA 13–11–8 |
| 2020 | October 18 | MLS | Earthquakes Stadium | San Jose Earthquakes | 0–0 | Seattle Sounders FC | 0 | SEA 13–11–9 |
| 2020 | November 8 | MLS | CenturyLink Field | Seattle Sounders FC | 4–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 0 | SEA 14–11–9 |
| 2021 | May 12 | MLS | PayPal Park | San Jose Earthquakes | 0–1 | Seattle Sounders FC | 5,000 | SEA 15–11–9 |
| 2021 | July 31‡ | MLS | Lumen Field | Seattle Sounders FC | 0–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 32,704 | SEA 15–12–9 |
| 2021 | September 29‡ | MLS | 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 |
| 2022 | May 11 | U.S. Open Cup | Starfire Sports | Seattle Sounders | 2–2* | San Jose Earthquakes | 3,773 | SEA 16–13–10 |
| 2022 | 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 |
| 2023 | July 12‡ | MLS | 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 |
| 2024 | September 18‡ | MLS | Lumen Field | Seattle Sounders | 2–2 | San Jose Earthquakes | 29,326 | Tied 16–16–12 |
| 2025 | March 29‡ | MLS | PayPal Park | San Jose Earthquakes | | Seattle Sounders FC | | |
| 2025 | July 19‡ | MLS | Lumen Field | Seattle Sounders | | San Jose Earthquakes | | |
* 1 2 3 4 No spectators due to COVID-19 pandemic
* ↑ Limited capacity due to social distancing due to COVID-19 pandemic

### Cup winners by season

| Year | Winner | SJ points | SEA points | Notes |
| 2009 | San Jose Earthquakes | 3 | 3 | San Jose Earthquakes won 5–2 on aggregate. |
| 2010 | Seattle Sounders FC | 3 | 3 | Seattle Sounders FC won based on MLS standings position after 1–1 tie on aggregate. |
| 2011 | Seattle Sounders FC | 1 | 4 | Seattle Sounders FC won on points. |
| 2012 | San Jose Earthquakes | 6 | 0 | San Jose Earthquakes won on points. |
| 2013 | Seattle Sounders FC | 3 | 3 | Seattle Sounders FC won 4–1 on aggregate. |
| 2014 | San Jose Earthquakes | 4 | 1 | San Jose Earthquakes won on points. |
| 2015 | San Jose Earthquakes | 4 | 1 | San Jose Earthquakes won on points. |
| 2016 | Seattle Sounders FC | 1 | 4 | Seattle Sounders FC won on points. |
| 2017 | Seattle Sounders FC | 1 | 4 | Seattle Sounders FC won on points. |
| 2018 | Seattle Sounders FC | 0 | 6 | Seattle Sounders FC won on points. |
| 2019 | Seattle Sounders FC | 1 | 4 | Seattle Sounders FC won on points. |
| 2020 | San Jose Earthquakes | 1 | 4 | San Jose Earthquakes won based on the tiebreaker rule at MLS is Back. |
| 2021 | Seattle Sounders FC | 3 | 3 | Seattle Sounders FC won 3–2 on aggregate. |
| 2022 | San Jose Earthquakes | 4 | 1 | San Jose Earthquakes won on points. |
| 2023 | San Jose Earthquakes | 6 | 0 | San Jose Earthquakes won on points. |
| 2024 | San Jose Earthquakes | 4 | 1 | San Jose Earthquakes won on points. |
| 2025 | | | | |

### Western Conference standings finishes

Sounders  Earthquakes
| P. | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| 1 | | | | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 2 | | | 2 | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | 3 | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| 4 | | 4 | | | 4 | | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | | 6 | | | 6 | | | | 6 | | | | | | | |
| 7 | | | 7 | | | | 7 | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 8 | | | | |
| 9 | | | | | | 9 | | 9 | | | | | | | 9 | |
| 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | | | |
| 11 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | | |
| 12 | | | | | | | | | | 12 | | | | | | |
| 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | | 14 |
* 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
| Scorer | Club | G |
| Raúl Ruidíaz | Seattle Sounders FC | 8 |
| Chris Wondolowski | San Jose Earthquakes | 8 |
| Jordan Morris | Seattle Sounders FC | 4 |
| Cristian Roldan | Seattle Sounders FC | 4 |
| Fredy Montero | Seattle Sounders FC | 4 |
| Simon Dawkins | San Jose Earthquakes | 3 |
| Nicolas Lodeiro | Seattle Sounders FC | 3 |
| Joevin Jones | Seattle Sounders FC | 2 |
| Kelvin Leerdam | Seattle Sounders FC | 2 |
| Obafemi Martins | Seattle Sounders FC | 2 |
| Lamar Neagle | Seattle Sounders FC | 2 |
| Shea Salinas | San Jose Earthquakes | 2 |

### Top assists

    As of May 12, 2021, at least two goals included in table
| Assists | Club | A |
| Nicolas Lodeiro | Seattle Sounders FC | 5 |
| Cristian Roldan | Seattle Sounders FC | 4 |
| Shea Salinas | San Jose Earthquakes | 4 |
| Cordell Cato | San Jose Earthquakes | 3 |
| Jordan Morris | Seattle Sounders FC | 3 |
| Mauro Rosales | Seattle Sounders FC | 3 |
| Pérez García | San Jose Earthquakes | 2 |
| Ryan Johnson | San Jose Earthquakes | 2 |
| Joevin Jones | Seattle Sounders FC | 2 |
| Raúl Ruidíaz | Seattle Sounders FC | 2 |