PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Cascadia Cup resides in an inauspicious house in northeast Portland, shined up and ready for its Major League Soccer debut.
The silver trophy is the icon of the long-standing rivalry between the Portland Timbers, the Seattle Sounders and the Vancouver Whitecaps. Unique because it was created by fans, the award takes on greater significance this season now that all three teams are part of MLS.
The first match in the Pacific Northwest tri-valry is set for Saturday night, when the Timbers visit the Sounders. That’s apropos, because the competition is particularly intense between fans in Portland and Seattle.
The original Cascadia Cup was introduced back in 2004 when all three teams were part of the United Soccer League’s First Division.
