The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is back, as it has been for 97 years in a row. Loved by many because it’s the closest thing this country has to England’s single-elimination FA Cup yet chronically under marketed, under attended and oddly constructed, it’s both a punching bag and a staple of the yearly American soccer scene.
This year, all matches will be played on Tuesdays. And no Division II clubs will participate. So there.
D.C. United has won the tournament twice (1996, 2008), but because of where it finished in last year’s MLS regular season standings, it gets to participate in the yearly mini MLS tournament that produces the final two of the league’s eight entries in the competition. At least the amateur teams that similarly have to qualify know that there’s a $10,000 prize is awaiting them if they’re the last ones standing from their respective league. A similar incentive, beyond extra matches for younger players, doesn’t seem to exist for MLS clubs that have to go through the qualifying process.
The final tournament champion will earn a $100,000 cash prize, while the runner-up will collect $50,000. The Seattle Sounders have won the last two tournaments, defeating D.C. United in 2009. D.C. lost in last year’s semifinals to Columbus.
2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
May 30: Qualifying Deadline
June 14: First Round (32 teams from USL PRO and Amateur Division)
June 21: Second Round (First round winners)
June 28: Third Round (Second round winners paired against eight MLS teams)
July 12: Quarterfinals
Aug. 30: Semifinals
Oct. 4: Final
Participating Teams
Major League Soccer (Division I – 8 teams): Six automatic qualifiers based on the 2010 regular season standings and two qualifiers from a play-in competition that features 10 teams.
Automatic Qualifiers (6 berths): Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders
Play-in Qualifiers (2 berths): Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, D.C. United, Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, Sporting Kansas City
United Soccer Leagues PRO (Division III – 11 teams): All U.S.-based clubs automatically qualify.
Automatic Qualifiers (11 berths): Charleston Battery, Charlotte Eagles, Dayton Dutch Lions, Harrisburg City Islanders, Los Angeles Blues, FC New York, Orlando City, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Rhinos, Wilmington Hammerheads
United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (Amateur – 9 teams): The top U.S.-based clu b from each of nine PDL divisions will qualify based on the results of four pre-selected 2011 regular season games. Each of the 54 teams eligible will play two home and two away matches that will serve as qualifiers.
U.S. Adult Soccer Association (Amateur – 8 teams): The first and second place teams from each of the four U.S. Soccer regions will advance to the tournament. Approximately 50 teams entered qualifying at the local or state level.
National Premier Soccer League (Amateur – 4 teams): The process for determining NPSL qualifying teams will be announced in the coming weeks. The 36-team national amateur league is affiliated with the USASA. In previous years its teams participated via USASA regional qualifying.
