Betway Cup Explained

Betway Cup
Number Of Teams:2
Current Champions: West Ham United
(3rd title)
Most Successful Club: West Ham United
(3 titles)

The Betway Cup is a pre-season friendly competition hosted by Premier League club West Ham United. It is sponsored by betting company Betway, who also serve as West Ham United's principal sponsors.

The inaugural tournament was held in 2015 at West Ham's previous home Upton Park, with the second tournament taking place at the London Stadium in 2016.

Background

Prior to Betway's sponsorship of West Ham United, the club hosted the Out Performance Display Cup, sponsored by the Essex-based signage company of the same name[1] at Southend United, beating Dutch club 1–0 Vitesse on 9 August 2002.[2] In August 2003, West Ham played PSV Eindhoven at the Boleyn Ground in the second edition, losing 1–2.[3] The cup ran for two more seasons, against Anderlecht and Osasuna respectively.

In 2008, West Ham hosted Villarreal in the Bobby Moore Cup in aid of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK[4], as well as facing Napoli in August 2009.

During SBOBET's sponsorship of the club, the bookmaker sponsored West Ham's pre-season tournament ahead of the 2010–11 season, with the first edition seeing West Ham host Deportivo La Coruña.[5] In 2014, Marathonbet sponsored West Ham's annual pre-season home cup game, a 3–2 win against Sampdoria, before Betway's sponsorship of the club.[6]

History

2016

West Ham United played reigning Italian champions Juventus at the London Stadium in the official opening of the stadium after being handed to West Ham following the 2012 Summer Olympics, despite playing Slovenian side NK Domžale in the first game at the stadium three days prior in the UEFA Europa League.[7] Juventus striker Simone Zaza scored the winner for the Italian club and signed for West Ham on loan later in August.[8]

2020

The 2020 edition of the Betway Cup was contested behind closed doors as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

2024

Performances by club

scope=colClubscope=colWinnersscope=colRunners-up
scope=row West Ham United35
scope=row Werder Bremen20
scope=row Juventus10
scope=row Athletic Bilbao10
scope=row AFC Bournemouth10
scope=row Mainz01
scope=row Atalanta01
scope=row Celta Vigo01

References

  1. Web site: Fobbing, Maldon: Philip's an instant millionaire!. Daily Gazette. 2 May 2002. 31 May 2020.
  2. Web site: 2002-03 Friendlies. West Ham United Football Programmes. 31 May 2020.
  3. Web site: 2003-04 Friendlies. West Ham United Football Programmes. 31 May 2020.
  4. Web site: 2008-09 Friendlies. West Ham United Football Programmes. 31 May 2020.
  5. Web site: 2010-11 Friendlies. West Ham United Football Programmes. 31 May 2020.
  6. Web site: 2014-15 Friendlies. West Ham United Football Programmes. 31 May 2020.
  7. Web site: West Ham United 3–0 NK Domzale. BBC Sport. 4 August 2016. 17 July 2021.
  8. Web site: Simone Zaza signs for West Ham on loan from Juventus. Sky Sports. 28 August 2016. 17 July 2021.
  9. Web site: West Ham United to face AFC Bournemouth in 2020 Betway Cup. West Ham United F.C.. 20 August 2020. 17 July 2021.