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U.S. Open Cup
 | |
| Founded | 1914 |
|---|---|
| Region | United States (CONCACAF) |
| Number of teams | 95 (2024) |
| Current champions | Los Angeles FC (1st title) |
| Most successful club(s) | Bethlehem Steel F.C. and Maccabee Los Angeles (5 titles each) |
| Television broadcasters | MLS Season Pass (QFs, SFs, and final only) |
| Website | ussoccer.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. 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.
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 Federation – Major 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.[3][4]
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.[5] The most recent champions of the competition, Los Angeles FC, won their first title after defeating Sporting Kansas City in the 2024 final.[6] From 1996 to 2023, MLS teams had participated in every Open Cup competition.
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.[7][8]
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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Nguyen, Kevin V. (September 7, 2022). "Sacramento Republic's unlikely journey to US Open Cup glory". The Guardian. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Baxter, Kevin (September 25, 2024). "LAFC rallies to beat Sporting Kansas City, wins U.S. Open Cup in extra time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
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