The KSL Cup, or Kansai Soccer League Cup, is a soccer tournament held every year between October and December, organised by the Kansai Soccer League.
Format of the Competition The KSL Cup is a football tournament involving clubs from the Kansai Soccer League (Divisions 1 and 2). Initially, all 16 clubs are divided into four groups of four teams each for a group-stage round-robin phase. The top two clubs from each group (eight in total) advance to a knockout stage that continues through to the final. In some years, however, the tournament skips the group stage and is held entirely in a single-elimination format from the first round.
The competition occasionally allows for matchups between Division 1 and Division 2 teams, offering a unique experience different from the regular league format. Prize money is awarded to the top three teams: ¥300,000 to the champion, ¥200,000 to the runner-up, and ¥100,000 to the third-place team.
The KSL Island Shield of Awaji From 2013, the KSL Cup winner played a special match called the KSL Island Shield of Awaji against the Kansai Soccer League Division 1 champion. However, due to scheduling conflicts with other tournaments, such as Emperor's Cup prefectural qualifiers, this event has not been held since 2017.
Changes Due to COVID-19 The tournament was suspended from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It resumed in 2023 with an expanded format that included youth teams from the Kansai Club Youth Soccer Federation, such as J.League academy sides and town club youth teams. The tournament increased to 20 teams, with 16 league clubs divided into four groups for a round-robin phase. The four group winners and the two best-performing runners-up (six teams) advanced to the final stage, along with two youth teams recommended by the Kansai Club Youth Soccer Federation. These eight teams then competed in a knockout format, including a third-place playoff. With the new format, the tournament was officially titled The KSL Ast Enji Cup, sponsored by Ast Enji Co., for both the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Tournament Results EditionYearChampionScoreRunner-upThird placeScoreFourth placeReference12007Hannan University Soccer Club5–0Sanyo Electric SumotoFC Mi-O Biwako Kusatsu5–1Kyoto Shiko SC22008FC Kyoto BAMB19931–0Banditonce KakogawaShiga FC3–1Kobe FC197032009AS Laranja Kyoto0–0 (Pen. 6–5)Ain FoodHannan University Soccer Club2–2 (Pen. 9–8)Sanyo Electric Sumoto42010Banditonce Kakogawa3–2Diablossa Takada FCAin Food2–0Amitie SC52011Ain Food1–0Amitie SCHannan University Soccer Club2–2 (Pen. 3–1)Nara Club62012Nara Club7–1Reilac Shiga FCBIWAKO S.C. HIRA1–0Hannan University Soccer Club72013Hannan University Soccer Club2–1Nara ClubArterivo Wakayama2–0Amitie SC82014Nara Club1–0Banditonce KakogawaFC Osaka4–3Reilac Shiga FC92015Kandaidai FC20082–1AS Laranja KyotoHannan University Soccer Club3–2Banditonce Kakogawa102016Hannan University Soccer Club1–1 (Pen. 4–3)AS Laranja KyotoReilac Shiga FC0–0 (Pen. 5–4)Ain Food112017Amitie Kyoto SC3–1Hannan University Soccer ClubKandaidai FC20080–0 (Pen. 9–8)AS Laranja Kyoto122018Kyoto Shiko Club0–0 (Pen. 5–4)Amitie SCBanditonce Kakogawa3–0FC EASY02132019Amitie SC2–1Arterivo WakayamaPorvenir Asuka2–1Hannan University Soccer Club142023Kandaidai FC20082–2 (Pen. 5–4)Cento Cuore Harima FCReilac Shiga FC2–1Amitie SC152024Asuka FC1–0Kandaidai FC2008Arterivo Wakayama2–1FC.AWJ
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