 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.