U.S. Soccer has finally responded to need to reorganize and revitalize the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the country’s oldest knockout tournament, which has crowned a champion every year since 1914 and is uniquely possible in soccer where it isn’t in other major professional sports.
First, the field has been expanded to a record 64 teams. But what’s better is where those teams are coming from. Done and dusted is the ridiculous MLS qualifying structure. Instead, all 16 U.S.-based MLS teams will be in the field. In the lower tiers, all six U.S.-based NASL teams and all 10 U.S.-based USL PRO teams will also participate, while 32 amateur teams fill out the other half of the total number of entries.
Next, the USSF also finally took on the perception-is-its-not-fair bidding process to host home games. D.C. United hasn’t played on the road since a 1-0 loss to the Harrisburg City Islanders in 2007, famously outbidding the Seattle Sounders, who fill CenturyLink Field with 35,000 fans on a regular basis, for rights to host the 2009 U.S. Open Cup final. The Sounders, by the way, have won the title three years running. This year the home-site selection will be random from the first round through the quarterfinals among clubs that have applied to host. (It’s interesting that the semifinals and the final have been omitted – we may have to revisit that one later.)
The tournament schedule has also been tackled, with all matches until the final are scheduled for Tuesdays, with the championship taking place on either Tuesday, Aug. 7, or Wednesday, Aug. 8. After the 32 amateur teams beat up each other in the first round on May 15 and winners face USL PRO and NASL clubs in round two on May 22, the 16 winners will then get paired against MLS teams on May 29.
The round of 16 happens on June 5, the quarterfinals take place June 26 and the semifinals July 10 before the final in August, a schedule meant to have minimal overlap with CONCACAF Champions League play.
The 2012 champion will earn a $100,000 cash prize, while the runner-up will collect $50,000. The top Division II, Division III and amateur clubs will each receive a $10,000 prize.
2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule:
April 29: Qualifying deadline
May 15: First Round
May 22: Second Round
May 29: Third Round
June 5: Fourth Round
June 26: Quarterfinals
July 10: Semifinals
Aug. 7 or 8: Final
Participating Professional Teams (32 total)
Major League Soccer (Division I – 16 teams): Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, D.C. 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 FC, Sporting Kansas City.
North American Soccer League (Division II – 6 teams): Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, NSC Minnesota Stars, San Antonio Scorpions, Tampa Bay Rowdies.
USL PRO (Division III – 10 teams): Charleston Battery, Charlotte Eagles, Dayton Dutch Lions, Harrisburg City Islanders, Los Angeles Blues, Orlando City, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Rhinos, Wilmington Hammerheads.
Distribution of Amateur-Level Places (32 total):
U.S. Adult Soccer Association Regional Qualifiers – 9 places: USASA regional qualifiers will increase their number of places in the tournament by one compared to 2011.
United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League – 16 places: The PDL will have the largest increase in representation among the amateur leagues since 2011, growing from nine slots.
National Premier Soccer League – 6.5 places: The NPSL is a national amateur league affiliated with the USASA. In previous years, its teams participated via USASA regional qualifying.
US Club Soccer – 0.5 place: U.S. Club Soccer is an organization member of U.S. Soccer.
Note: One team from the National Premier Soccer League will face a US Club Soccer representative for the final place in the tournament.
