2014 U.S. Open Cup Format Announced

U.S. Soccer News Release -- www.ussoccer.com

Thursday, April 24, 2014

CHICAGO – The competition format and pairings for the first two rounds of the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup are set with the largest field in the tournament’s modern era (1995-present), kicking off on May 7 with eight matches.

The 101st edition of the tournament features 80 teams, an increase from the then-record 68 that took the field last year. The expansion results in both the largest number of amateur teams (42) in the tournament proper—exceeding the previous record of 34 set last year—as well as the largest contingent of pro clubs (38, surpassing last year’s record of 34), with all Division I, II and III professional sides participating for the third consecutive year. An additional record for the competition will see 24 second-round matches played, exceeding the previous high of 18 in a single round (2013 first round).

A new feature will be the prospect that many pro teams will have to play an early-round Open Cup match on a weekend date (a first in the competition’s modern era). This scheduling opportunity for fourth round games June 14-15 is the result of a league break Division I (Major League Soccer) and II (North American Soccer League) clubs will take during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, recognized as U.S. Soccer’s National Club Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 100 consecutive years dating back to 1914. This year’s winner will earn $250,000 and have its name engraved on the historic Dewar Challenge Trophy, one of the oldest nationally contested trophies in American team sports. The runner-up will take home $60,000, while the team that advances the furthest from each lower division will earn a $15,000 cash prize. D.C. United is the defending U.S. Open Cup champion, having won its third tournament title (following triumphs in 1996 and 2008) after a tense 1-0 road victory over Real Salt Lake on Oct. 1, 2013. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.

Tournament Format and Match Dates

The 2014 U.S. Open Cup will be conducted on a single-elimination, one-game-knockout basis utilizing a tiered-bracket format. Teams will be paired geographically. In the event that three or more teams are from the same proximity, pairings for these teams will be made by random selection. Pairings will be arranged to prevent the possibility of a lower division team playing a parent club (e.g. Portland Timbers U-23s [PDL] will not be pitted against the Portland Timbers [MLS], should both teams be in the competition in the same round) except for the Final.

•             First Round—May 7 (16 amateur teams: 5 PDL, 4 USASA regional qualifiers, 5 NPSL, 1 US Club Soccer, 1 USSSA): Teams from the same qualifying pool cannot be paired with each other.

•             Second Round—May 14 (8 First Round winners, 26 remaining amateur teams [14 PDL, 6 USASA regional qualifiers, 6 NPSL], and 14 Division III [USL PRO] clubs): Teams from the same qualifying pool cannot be paired with each other.

•             Third Round—May 28 (24 Second Round winners and 8 Division II [NASL] clubs): Each Division II team will be matched geographically to play the winner of a specific Second Round pairing. The winners of the 16 remaining Second Round matches not paired with a Division II side will play each other.

•             Fourth Round—June 10-18 (16 Third Round winners vs. Division I [MLS] clubs): Each Division I team will be matched geographically to play the winner of a specific Third Round pairing. The exact date for each match will be determined by the club selected as the home team from among those dates where the visiting team doesn’t have a league game already scheduled. The date selected must allow the visiting team at least two rest days before and after the match date.

•             Fifth Round—June 24-25 (16 Fourth Round winners face each other): Each Fourth Round pair will be matched geographically with another Fourth Round pair to determine the Fifth Round possibilities.

•             Quarterfinal (Sixth) Round—July 8-9: Each Fifth Round pair will be matched geographically with another Fifth Round pair to determine the Quarterfinal Round possibilities.

•             Semifinal Round—Aug. 12-13: Each Quarterfinal Round pair will be matched geographically with another Quarterfinal Round pair to determine the Semifinal Round possibilities.

•             Final—Sept. 30-Oct. 1

2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Participating Teams

Major League Soccer (Division I): All 16 U.S.-based teams, entering in the Fourth Round:

Chicago Fire
Houston Dynamo
Portland Timbers
Chivas USA
LA Galaxy
Real Salt Lake
Colorado Rapids
New England Revolution
San Jose Earthquakes
Columbus Crew
New York Red Bulls
Seattle Sounders FC
D.C. United
Philadelphia Union
Sporting Kansas City
FC Dallas

North American Soccer League (Division II): All eight U.S.-based teams, entering in the Third Round

Atlanta Silverbacks
Indy Eleven
San Antonio Scorpions
Carolina RailHawks
Minnesota United FC
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
New York Cosmos

USL PRO (Division III): All 14 teams, entering in the Second Round

Arizona United
LA Galaxy II
Richmond Kickers
Charleston Battery
Oklahoma City Energy
Rochester Rhinos
Charlotte Eagles
Orange County Blues
Sacramento Republic
Dayton Dutch Lions
Orlando City SC
Wilmington Hammerheads
Harrisburg City Islanders
Pittsburgh Riverhounds

PDL (Amateur Division): Nineteen of 56 U.S.-based teams, with 14 entering in the Second Round and five in the First Round. Clubs from each of nine regional divisions qualified based on 2013 regular season records

Austin Aztex
LA Misioneros
Portland Timbers U-23s
Baltimore Bohemians
Michigan Bucks
Reading United A.C.
Carolina Dynamo
Ocala Stampede
Real Colorado Foxes
Fresno Fuego
Ocean City Nor’easters (N.J.)
Ventura County Fusion
GPS Portland Phoenix (Maine)
Orlando City U23s
Vermont Voltage
Jersey Express
Panama City Beach Pirates
Western Mass. Pioneers
Laredo Heat

U.S. Adult Soccer Association regional qualifiers: Ten teams from qualifying competitions held in each of the four U.S. Soccer regions from 63 participating at the local and state levels, with six clubs entering in the Second Round and four in the First Round.

Icon FC (New Jersey)
NTX Rayados (N. Texas)
Cal FC (Cal. South)
N.Y. Greek Americans
Red Force (Florida)
PSA Elite (Cal. South)
Des Moines Menace (Iowa)
Mass Premier Soccer
Schwaben AC (Illinois)
RWB Adria (Illinois)

National Premier Soccer League (a USASA-affiliated national league): Eleven teams from 80 in the league, with six clubs entering in the Second Round and five in the First Round.

Brooklyn Italians
Greater Binghamton Thunder
RVA FC (Richmond, Va.)
CD Aguiluchos (Oakland)1
Jacksonville United
San Diego Flash
Chattanooga FC
FC Lehigh Valley United Sonic
Tulsa AthleticsDetroit City FC
New York Red Bulls U-23s

US Club Soccer (an amateur-level Organization Member of U.S. Soccer): A single qualifier from eight who competed will enter in the First Round.

Team TBD at time of announcement

U.S. Specialty Sports Association (an amateur-level Organization Member of U.S. Soccer): A single qualifier from eight who competed will enter in the First Round.

Colorado Rovers

2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule

FIRST ROUND

SECOND ROUND