Tonight, two teams with very different origin stories will face off for one of the newest trophies in American soccer – the Minnesota Super Cup.
Yet as Minneapolis City SC and St. Croix Legends prepare to lace up their boots, it’s easy to forget how this new tournament model came to be.
Before any team took the field or schedules were laid out, the Minnesota Super Cup was just an idea thrown around between friends over a couple of beers at the bar.
Years ago, Jon Martinson, now Managing Director of the tournament, was chatting with folks at Minneapolis City as the group was kicking around ideas about how to grow soccer in the state. All it took was a fleeting comment to change everything – “Wouldn’t it be cool if we had a competition for local teams that don’t always have a chance to interact and play against one another?”
That’s when everyone’s wheels got turning. And out of that, the idea for a Minnesota-only tournament was born.
Shared Jon, “I would love to see us one day build up soccer in this country like you see elsewhere, with small local clubs creating their own communities of diehard supporters. In putting this tournament together, I hope we can foster some of that growth.”
Established in 2023, the Minnesota Super Cup brings together teams from across the state from multiple divisions and leagues, including USL League Two, NPSL, and UPSL. Over the course of two months, the teams compete in a World Cup-style round-robin tournament that culminates in a final between the top two clubs.
As Jon describes, the Minnesota Super Cup represents the best parts of grassroots soccer that we’re witnessing across the U.S. soccer landscape.
“It’s accessible and it’s attainable,” said Jon.
The Minnesota Super Cup also comes amid the backdrop of a massive sea change within U.S. soccer. Last year, Major League Soccer made moves to cripple the main cross-league tournament in this country, the U.S. Open Cup. Spurred on in large part by the allure of more marketing dollars and more control, the nation’s first division decided that it would not commit all of its top talent to the U.S. Open Cup. The move created shockwaves within American soccer and many are worried, if not expecting, that this will lead to the slow decline of the U.S. Open Cup. In fact, many of the country’s supporter groups, including plenty from Major League Soccer clubs, are boycotting tournament matches that are not the U.S. Open Cup as a form of protest to save what they believe is one of the truest forms of the sport.
Bruce Eaton and Shawn Levy of the Timbers Army wrote on Timbers Army Blog, “The Open Cup is a true open cup — every team, from a Sunday league 11 to the highest professional squad, is eligible to play in it. Because of that small-d democratic nature, it has long been a way for small soccer communities to make their presence known on a national stage.”
That’s why tournaments like the Minnesota Super Cup are starting to gain traction.
“Too often we drive past really great clubs, big and small, in Minnesota in order to play other teams,” shared Dan Hoedeman, Co-founder of Minneapolis City SC, “We rarely get the opportunity to connect with and compete against teams outside our league.”
Continued Dan, “What’s so special about the Minnesota Super Cup is that it’s bringing people together across leagues to have meaningful games. That’s especially important for our supporters. It gives them a chance to build relationships and have bragging rights if their team wins.”
For Dan and his peers in the space, more soccer is better for everyone. Plus, as he notes, competitions create a unique style of rivalry that is great for supporters.
“I would much rather beat the teams from St. Paul or Wisconsin than the teams from California because those are the people you see more often,” explained Dan. “You want to beat the teams in your neighborhood. You want those bragging rights.”
The Minnesota Super Cup stands out by embracing teams from all divisions of U.S. soccer, from amateur clubs to semi-professional squads. This inclusive approach not only democratizes the sport but also creates a melting pot of talent and passion. Teams that might never meet on the field due to their differing league statuses now have the chance to clash, learn, and grow together. For supporters, this means witnessing thrilling matchups and discovering new teams to cheer for.
“Tournaments like the Minnesota Super Cup help create local rivalries and provide an opportunity for away days that give more visibility into the culture of those who follow the game,” said Melanie Birke, longtime supporter of local clubs Minneapolis City SC, Minnesota Aurora, and Minnesota United.
So when Minneapolis City SC and St. Croix Legends take the field tonight, it’s not just a symbol of who’s best in Minnesota. It’s a foreshadowing of what the future of U.S. soccer could look like in the years to come.
The Minnesota Super Cup organizers just announced that they’ll be launching a women’s version of the tournament next year and Jon noted that they’re starting to hear from more and more people across the country who want to replicate what they’re doing in Minnesota.
With the changes to the U.S. Open Cup, it’s only a matter of time before state-based and regional tournaments become the norm. Who knows, maybe as those local tournaments grow they might create enough buzz for a national cross-league tournament. 😉