Vermont Green FC Women will host reigning Ligue2 Quebec Féminine Champions Lakeshore SC in the third annual Maple Cup. For the first time, the international competition will be played by women’s teams in 2026. The match will take place on Friday, May 29 at 7pm on Virtue Field in Burlington, VT.
The Maple Cup is an annual single-match cup contest—hosted in Burlington—played between the Green and a prominent opponent from Quebec. The Maple Cup is separate from the USL W League schedule, but included in the Women’s Season Ticket.
“It is a true honor for our club to be part of such a meaningful tradition with our neighbors in Vermont. The Maple Cup represents more than just a match—it symbolizes the strong relationship between our communities and our shared passion for the game,” said Paymon Kabiri, Lakeshore SC’s sporting director. “Opportunities like this provide valuable high-level competitive experiences for our players and continue to elevate the women’s game. We are proud to contribute to something that strengthens the sport and deepens the connection between our programs.”
Vermont Green FC Men are the current holders of the Maple Cup, defeating FC Laval 4-2 in 2025, and CS Saint-Laurent 5-0 in 2024. While the 2026 edition will be the first official Maple Cup contested by Vermont Green FC Women, the Green have defeated Quebec clubs twice in friendlies over the last two seasons, besting FC Laval in penalties in 2024, and AS Blainville 2-1 in 2025.
Lakeshore SC is from Kirkland, Québec, a suburb of Montreal. In 2026, the club’s senior women’s team will compete in Ligue1 Québec Féminine—the regionalized second tier of women’s soccer in Canada—after earning promotion last season.
“We are excited to take part in the tradition that is the Maple Cup, not only because it continues our pursuit of elevating the women’s game internationally, but also because it is an energizing prospect to add a match of this caliber early on in our first season-long campaign,” said Vermont Green FC Head Coach Abby Carchio. “The W League season is compressed and will move quickly, the opportunity to put our players against quality international competition in the first few games of the season could make a big difference for us down the stretch. Lakeshore will be coming to win and those are the types of games we want to play in.”
The winner of the match will receive a gallon of Vermont maple syrup and lift the Maple Cup trophy, created in 2024 by D’Aversa Furniture. The unique trophy is made from ambrosia maple wood sourced in Vermont.
“The Maple Cup is built on the spirit of collaboration across international borders, and celebrates the enduring friendship between the soccer communities of Vermont and Quebec,” added Vermont Green FC cofounder Patrick Infurna. “In this current climate, it’s important that this friendship with our northern neighbors is reaffirmed, reinforced, and celebrated. We believe soccer is a beautiful way to show this.”
Tickets to the Maple Cup, and all Vermont Green single match tickets, will go on sale on March 14. The Women’s Season Ticket Lottery is open from February 16 to February 22. The Maple Cup is included in the Women’s Season Ticket.