2024 U.S. Open Cup Format: Are MLS Clubs Planning To Enter? What’s The Next Move?

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for 2024 has been completed by U.S. Soccer. It will have 95 games from March to September, with 96 clubs from amateur and professional categories competing.

2024 U.S. Open Cup Format: Are MLS Clubs Planning To Enter? What’s The Next Move?

The upcoming First Round will be a historic change for the competition as all 32 encounters will be only of amateur and professional teams for the first time since 2008.

In all, about twice as many First Round matches involving amateur and professional clubs as in the tournament’s 109-year history will take place in this year’s edition of the competition.

2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule

First Round
Tuesday, March 19 – Thursday, March 21
Second Round Tuesday, April 2 – Wednesday, April 3
Third Round Tuesday, April 16 – Wednesday, April 17
Round of 32 Tuesday, May 7 – Wednesday, May 8
Round of 16 Tuesday, May 21 – Wednesday, May 22
Quarterfinal Tuesday, July 9 – Wednesday, July 10
Semifinal  Tuesday, Aug. 27 – Wednesday, Aug. 28
Final Wednesday, Sept. 25

Only eight MLS clubs intend to enter their first teams in the MLS section of the competition, according to a tweet sent out by ESPN soccer writer Jeff Carlisle on Wednesday.

There has been discussion in the past about clubs sending many MLS Next Pro teams to compete for the trophy. Many believe this would eventually drive away interest because, in essence, amateur and semi-professional clubs would be pitted against second-tier MLS lineups.

The 2024 U.S. Open Cup First Round will include 32 matches between 32 professional teams from Division III and 32 amateur clubs from the Open Division. Eleven Qualifying Round winners, eleven USL League Two clubs, eight NPSL teams, the USASA National Amateur Cup winner, and the UPSL Spring Champion are among the members in the Open Division.

Eleven MLS Next Pro clubs, nine NISA teams, and twelve USL League One teams are among the Division III representatives. In the tournament’s Second Round, the victors of the First Round will square off against one another.

In the Third Round of the tournament, the 16 Division II professional clubs from the USL Championship will play the champions of the Second Round.

Along with the Third Round winners, the remaining eight USL Championship clubs and eight MLS teams will compete in the Round of 32.

When the Leagues Cup was announced in July of last year, there was a lot of curiosity. The enthusiasm increased even further when Lionel Messi of Inter Miami stormed past opponents in his debut season to win the cup.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has a long and well-documented connection with MLS. Seattle and Kansas City have won the most Open Cup championships (four) in the MLS history. Since 2000, an MLS team has emerged victorious in the event each year.

We’re hoping for the latter and speculating that it’s the former. The supporters of non-MLS clubs that are vying for entry into the tournament will have to wait and see whether MLS teams are selected to field the No. 2 squad.

 

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