The Carolina Challenge Cup is a four-team round robin pre-season competition hosted by the Charleston Battery. It was started in 2004 and features teams from Major League Soccer and the United Soccer Leagues. The 2009 Carolina Challenge Cup was won by Real Salt Lake.
Four clubs competed in the tournament:
| Team | League | Appearance | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Charleston Battery (co-hosts) | USL-1 | 6th | |
| D.C. United | MLS | 4th | |
| Real Salt Lake | MLS | 1st | |
 Toronto FC | MLS | 3rd | |
| 2009-Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Salt Lake | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | |
| Toronto FC | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | +1 | |
| D.C. United | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | -2 | |
| Charleston Battery | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | -4 |