U.S. Open Cup

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Founded1914
RegionUnited States (CONCACAF)
Number of teams100 (2023)
Current championsHouston Dynamo FC (2nd title)
Most successful club(s)Bethlehem Steel F.C. and Maccabee Los Angeles (5 titles each)
Television broadcastersMLS Season Pass (QFs, SFs, and final only)
Websiteussoccer.com/us-open-cup
2024 U.S. Open Cup

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, commonly known as the U.S. Open Cup (USOC), is a knockout cup competition in men's soccer in the United States of America. It is the country's oldest ongoing national soccer competition.[1] The competition was first held during the 1913–1914 season as the National Challenge Cup, with Brooklyn Field Club winning a trophy donated by Thomas Dewar for the promotion of American soccer.[2] It was renamed and dedicated to North American Soccer League (NASL) and Major League Soccer (MLS) executive Lamar Hunt by the United States Soccer Federation in 1999.

The 2022 U.S. Open Cup marked the return of the competition after the 2020 and 2021 tournaments were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ending 106 years of consecutive play.[3][4]

In its current format, the U.S Open Cup is contested by approximately 100 clubs from the professional leagues sanctioned by the United States Soccer FederationMajor League Soccer (MLS), the United Soccer League's Championship and League One divisions, the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), and MLS Next Pro – as well as amateur clubs in the earlier rounds of the tournament that qualify through their respective leagues. The overall champion is awarded $300,000 in prize money and a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, while the runner-up receives $100,000, and the furthest-advancing team from each lower-division league receives $25,000.[5][6]

MLS teams have dominated the competition since the league began play in 1996. No lower division team has won the Open Cup since the Rochester Rhinos in 1999, and the most recent lower division team to reach the final was Sacramento Republic FC in 2022. The most recent champions of the competition, Houston Dynamo FC, won their second title after defeating Inter Miami CF in the 2023 final. From 1996 to 2023, MLS teams had participated in every Open Cup competition.

On December 15, 2023, MLS announced that affiliated reserve teams from MLS Next Pro would be sent in place of MLS teams for the 2024 edition. U.S. Soccer subsequently denied the request, ruling that MLS teams must compete in the 2024 edition of the U.S. Open Cup.

  1. ^ Parker, Graham (October 1, 2013). "The US Open Cup: A quiet century of soccer history". Al Jazeera America. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  2. ^ "100 Moments: The First U.S. Open Cup Winner". USsoccer.com. Chicago, Illinois: United States Soccer Federation. May 16, 2013. Archived from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  3. ^ "2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Cancelled Due to COVID-19" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. August 17, 2020. Archived from the original on October 11, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  4. ^ "Schedule announced for next edition of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2022" (Press release). United States Soccer Federation. July 20, 2021. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "100th Edition of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Includes Increased Number of Teams and Prize Money". USsoccer.com. Chicago, Illinois: United States Soccer Federation. March 5, 2013. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  6. ^ "Qualifying Format Unveiled for 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League" (Press release). New York City: Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football. May 14, 2008. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2014.

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