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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.[1] 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.
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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.[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 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.
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Men's league cups
Africa
Algerian League Cup
Egyptian League Cup
KPL Top 8 Cup
South Africa
- MTN 8 – first tier
- Telkom Knockout – second tier
Asia
Europe
England
- EFL Cup (formerly the Football League Cup) – first tier
- EFL Trophy (formerly the Football League Trophy) – second tier
- 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
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
- Scottish League Cup – first tier
- Scottish Challenge Cup – second tier
Spain
- Copa Federación de España - tiers 3, 4 and 5
Welsh League Cup
South America
Women's league cups
Europe
Asia
North America
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Men's league cups
Africa
Asia
Australia
- NSL Cup – first tier
- NNSWF State Cup – regional competition
Chinese Super League Cup
Umm al-Ma'arik Championship
Japan 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
Europe
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), Conference League Cup (tier 5)
Coupe Charles Drago- Coupe 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 Ligii- Russian Premier League Cup
- 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
All-Union Committee of Physical Culture and Sports Tournament (1952), USSR Federation Cup- Copa de la Liga
Swiss League Cup
Spor Toto Cup
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)- FAW Premier Cup
North America
South America
Women's league cups
Asia
North America
NWSL Challenge Cup (2020–2023, supercup from 2024)
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Basketball
Men's league cups
- LNB Pro A Leaders Cup
- LNB Pro B Leaders Cup
BBL Cup (includes only British Basketball League teams)- Icelandic League Cup (includes top two league levels)
- Israeli Basketball State Cup (includes the top two levels, the Premier League and National League)
- Israeli Basketball League Cup (separate cup for the Premier League and National League)
- Coppa Italia (Serie A)
- LNP Cup
- Portuguese League Cup
KSS Cup (Second League)- Copa Princesa de Asturias (LEB Oro) - second tier
- SBL Cup
- /
NBA Cup
Women's league cups
- Icelandic League Cup (includes top two league levels)
- WNBA Commissioner's Cup
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