Reviving the Yale Cup: A Tradition Reborn
After joining the Yale SOM soccer team, Matthew Golden ’25 and fellow club members decided to revive a beloved tournament that disappeared during COVID.
When the Yale Cup was last held in 2019, prior to the global pandemic, the event was more than just a soccer tournament. Founded decades ago and historically welcoming over a dozen of America’s elite business schools, it was a cherished tradition that fostered community, camaraderie, and competitive spirit among students from across the country. The weekend-long event featured social events, lectures from soccer industry titans, networking mixers, and opportunities for students to connect outside the competitive field. For many players, it was their first chance to forge lasting relationships and professional connections with peers outside their immediate programs. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic put the Cup on pause in 2020, and a combination of organizational challenges and funding constraints kept the tradition dormant in the following years.
Its revival began in the wake of a remarkable 2023-2024 season for Yale SOM United. When I arrived on campus in 2023 and joined SOM United, I had only heard bits and pieces about the Yale Cup. As I became more involved with the team, I learned about its rich tradition from second-year students, various staff members, and a handful of alumni. By the second semester of my first year, the outgoing leadership—likely fueled by a strong sense of nostalgia and a desire to stay connected to SOM—strongly advocated for reviving the tournament. (Now, as I prepare to graduate myself, I totally understand this sentiment).
As we embarked on the journey to revive this once-beloved event, it quickly became clear that bringing the Yale Cup back wasn’t just about organizing matches or handling logistics. It was about rekindling a community that had, in some ways, drifted apart. After five years of stagnation, the challenge lay in overcoming inertia and inspiring enthusiasm for a tradition that had (almost) faded into memory. As soon as the spring ’24 semester ended, co-leaders Michael and Kirsten Yanagisawa and I began coordinating with Yale Athletics, working through budgeting details, and assembling lessons learned and materials from previous tournaments in the hope of putting on a best-in-class event in the coming months.
Reviving a storied event like the Yale Cup came with unique obstacles. From coordinating schedules, to securing field space, to rallying volunteers, the logistical challenges were daunting—particularly for a busy MBA student juggling coursework, a fall internship, and countless other commitments. One of the toughest tasks was re-engaging other MBA programs. With the tournament absent for five years, most people aware of its existence had graduated from their programs, meaning it had disappeared from the radar on most campuses.
Many were unfamiliar with the Yale Cup’s legacy or the thrill of participating, making the task of building enthusiasm a significant uphill battle. Having participated in three MBA soccer tournaments in the previous academic year—and having 27 years of soccer experience—I was well aware of the unique excitement these events bring. Soccer tournaments have a special way of fostering camaraderie and competition, and there is an extra sense of pride and responsibility that comes with being a tournament host. At one point, I was in contact with 29 soccer club leaders across nearly 15 business schools to generate interest and rebuild the excitement surrounding the Yale Cup.
By late August, we had recruited roughly several teams with over 150 total players, and locked in four fields for a weekend-long tournament to take place in late October. Stakeholder management added another layer of complexity. Once we settled on a date, we pivoted to coordinating with local businesses that provided food, trophies, and shirts; negotiating field reservations through Yale Athletics and Connecticut Sportsplex; and managing countless other details that required meticulous planning and persistence. Reviving the Yale Cup meant rallying SOM United alumni, an effort essential to bridging the gap between past and present. And to top it all off, I broke my foot just three weeks before the tournament.
Despite these challenges, moments of doubt were outweighed by messages of support from peers, growing interest among students, and the hard work of the other SOM United club leaders. Michael and Kirsten Yanagisawa, Dennis Jacobsen, Santiago Vega, Nick Page, and our staff advisor Rob Bartholomew facilitated jersey and t-shirt orders, budget refinement, catering and restaurant reservations, team organization, and all the demands that came with putting on such a large intercollegiate event. I also took inspiration from SOM United’s remarkable spring 2024 season, which culminated in our club winning both the Harvard Cup and Yale’s own Intramural Championship. Even the occasional naysayer became a source of renewed motivation.
The 2024 Yale Cup ultimately boasted six teams: two SOM student teams, one SOM alumni team, and teams from business schools at Harvard, Columbia, and Babson. While everyone went home with a tournament t-shirt designed by one of our very own SOM classmates and club members, Harvard ended up winning the first place trophy and the Yale SOM Alumni team hoisted the second place trophy. Once we put our rivalries aside, we enjoyed post-game pizza on the field on a beautiful autumn day, followed by cold beer.
This journey has deepened my connection to Yale and underscored the value of community. Working alongside my peers to revive this tradition has been an immensely rewarding experience, not just for the soccer itself but for the friendships forged and memories made along the way.
The Yale Cup is more than a tournament; it is a symbol of resilience, teamwork, and the enduring spirit of our student body. It celebrates a sport that transcends boundaries and unites us, reminding us that soccer is not just a game—it’s a way of life and a great equalizer.
With the tournament in the rear-view mirror, I am struck by how far we’ve come. Reviving the Yale Cup has reaffirmed its importance to our community. It’s a testament to the power of determination, shared vision, and the unwavering belief that traditions can be rebuilt stronger than before. The Yale Cup is no longer a distant memory—it is now a vibrant tradition reborn, strengthening our bonds as a community and inspiring us to dream even bigger.
