Name variations of soccer leagues, cups and tournaments

Soccer league names can be confusing. The breadth and depth of leagues within separate countries can be challenging to keep up with. Moreover, this is the case for new fans or existing fans. American Sports tend to follow one name for each league. However, soccer league names often switch around. Sponsorship titles only make the changes harder to keep up with.

For instance, England’s EFL Cup, sometimes also called the League Cup, has also been labeled the Coca-Cola Cup, Worthington Cup, Carling Cup, Milk Cup, Capital One Cup, and finally the Carabao Cup over the last 40 years. However, sponsorship change is not the only reason for confusion.

Sports fans, in general, tend to come up with nicknames for things. Whether it’s for certain players, coaches, or competitions, we sometimes refer to things in a way that seems to just make more sense to us. Also, leagues and governing bodies (like the FA in England) can change the official names to leagues/cup tournaments as well. This is perhaps most notable in Brazil, as their top division has officially changed names multiple times over the years.

Soccer League names that have different monikers

England

• English Premier League (England’s top division) – Premier League, EPL, Barclays Premier League, BPL
• FA Cup (England’s primary cup competition) – Emirates FA Cup, Football Association Challenge Cup
• Carabao Cup (England’s secondary cup competition) – League Cup, EFL Cup
• English Football League Championship (England’s second division) – EFL Championship, The Championship, Sky Bet Championship

Spain

• La Liga (Spain’s top division) – Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Primera División, La Liga Santander
• Copa del Rey (Spain’s primary cup competition) – Campeonato de España–Copa de Su Majestad el Rey, La Copa

France

• Ligue 1 (France’s top division) – Ligue 1 Uber Eats
• Coupe de France (France’s primary cup competition) – Coupe Charles Simon

Portugal

• Primeira Liga (Portugal’s top division) – Liga NOS

Belgium

• Belgian First Division A (Belgium’s top division) – Jupiler Pro League, Belgian Pro League

Sweden

• Allsvenskan (Sweden’s top division) – Fotbollsallsvenskan

Scotland

• Scottish League Cup (Scotland’s secondary cup competition) – Betfred Cup

Mexico

• Liga MX (Mexico’s top division) – Liga BBVA MX

Brazil

• Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A (Brazil’s top division) – Brasileirão, Brazilian Championship A Series

Argentina

• Primera Division (Argentina’s top division) – Liga Profesional de Fútbol

Colombia

• Categoría Primera A (Colombia’s top division) – Liga BetPlay Dimayor
• Copa Colombia (Colombia’s primary cup competition) – Copa BetPlay Dimayor

Ecuador

• Liga Pro Banco Pichincha (Ecuador’s top division) – Liga Pro, Serie A
• Copa Ecuador (Ecuador’s primary cup competition) – Copa FEF Ecuador

Paraguay

• Primera División (Paraguay’s top division) – Copa de Primera TIGO-Visión Banco, División Profesional de la Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol

Peru

• Liga 1 (Peru’s top division) – Peruvian Primera División, Liga 1 Betsson

Venezuela

• Primera División (Venezuela’s top division) – Liga Venezolana