MLS two-team Cups

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In Major League Soccer, several teams compete for a cup between just two teams which is awarded to the team with the better regular season record between one another in a certain year. They include the Atlantic Cup between D.C. United and Red Bull New York, the Brimstone Cup between the Chicago Fire and FC Dallas, the Rocky Mountain Cup between the Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake, and the Texas Derby between FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo.

The Atlantic Cup was created in 2002 by the two clubs, and is the least popular with the fans because of this. D.C. United has won the cup four times, and Red Bull New York has won once (as MetroStars). The Brimstone Cup started in 2001 by fan groups of the two teams. The two main catalysts leading to the cup between two distant cities were that at the time FC Dallas was known as Dallas Burn, so they had similar names (Fire and Burn), and that in 2001 both were in the Central Division. FC Dallas has won the cup four times, and the Chicago Fire has won the cup once. The Rocky Mountain Cup was created the same year Real Salt Lake joined MLS, 2005 to give Real Salt Lake extra excitement for their first year. The Colorado Rapids won the cup in 2005 and 2006, and Real Salt Lake has thus not won the cup yet. The Texas Derby was created the same year the San Jose Earthquakes franchise moved to Houston, Texas.