Everything You Need To Know About The US Open Cup

If you’re like me, you’ve been waiting on pins and needles for the details about this year’s Centennial Edition of the US Open Cup.

Well now the details are in and you can start circling your calendars. Here’s everything you need to know…

Qualifying Deadline

April 28

Play-In Round

Number of games: 2

Date: May 7

Teams: One National Premier Soccer League team will take on the US Club Soccer representative. A second NPSL team will face the US Special Sports Association representative.

First Round

Number of games: 18

Date: May 14

Teams: The winners of both Play-In Round games will enter the field with the remaining 30 Adult Council category teams as well as four USL Pro teams; the Dayton Dutch Lions, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and expansion sides Phoenix FC Wolves & VSI Tampa Bay FC.

Second Round

Number of games: 16

Date: May 18

Teams: The 18 winners from the First Round will meet the eight remaining USL Pro clubs (Charleston Battery, Charlotte Eagles, Harrisburg City Islanders, Los Angeles Blues, Orlando City, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Rhinos, Wilmington Hammerheads) as well as the six NASL participants (Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Minnesota United FC, San Antonio Scorpions, Tampa Ba Rowdies)

Third Round

Number of games: 16

Date: May 28

Teams: The 16 winners from the Second Round will meet the 16 MLS sides represented (Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy,  New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, Sporting Kansas City)

Fourth Round

Number of games: 8

Date: June 12

Teams: The 16 winners from the Third Round.

Quarterfinals

Date: June 26

Semifinals

Date: August 7 or 21

Final

Date: October 1 or 2

Some miscellaneous notes on the tournament this year…

-All home sites for all rounds will be determined by a coin flip

-The USL Premier Development League (PDL) will contribute 16 of the First Round participants: Carolina Dynamo, GPS Portland Phoenix, Ocean City Nor’ Easters, Reading United, Austin Aztex, Laredo Heat, Ocala Stampede, Orlando City U-23, Des Moines Menace, Michigan Bucks, Real Colorado Foxes, River City Rovers, FC Tucson, Portland Timbers U-23, Seattle Sounders U-23, Ventura County Fusion

-This year’s field of 68 teams is the largest since the “modern era” began in 1995

-The 32 Amateur teams is also the largest since the “modern era” began in 1995.

-The tournament champions will receive $250,000 while the runners up will receive $60,000 and the last remaining team from each divisional level will receive $15,000

 

Keep an eye out for some more information on this year’s individual participants as the Play-In Round approaches!