This page describes the qualification procedure for the 2008 U.S. Open Cup. This was the first season where 8 teams from each level of the American Soccer Pyramid competed in the tournament proper. As a result, each level trimmed its ranks to its 8 team delegation before entering the full tournament.
| First Round (April 30) | ||||
| 1 | Real Salt Lake | 4 | ||
| 2 | San Jose Earthquakes | 0 | ||
| Second Round (May 27) | ||||
| Second Round (May 27) | Qualification Finals (June 4/10) | Qualified | |||||||||
| Kansas City Wizards (AET/PSO) | 2 (5) | ||||||||||
| Colorado Rapids | 1 | Colorado Rapids | 2 (3) | ||||||||
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 0 | Kansas City Wizards | |||||||||
| Chicago Fire | |||||||||||
| Chicago Fire | 3 | ||||||||||
| Columbus Crew | 2 | Columbus Crew | 2 | ||||||||
| Real Salt Lake | 0 | ||||||||||
All American-based USL-1 teams qualify.
Harrisburg City Islanders (2007 USL-2 champions) and Richmond Kickers (2007 USL-2 Regular Season Champions) qualified based on their end of season performance in 2007.
Early season USL-2 games doubled as Open Cup qualification. Because teams played an uneven number of games the percentage of "Points per Points Possible" was used to rank the teams. All but the bottom-ranked team qualified for the tournament proper.
Green indicates Open Cup berth clinched
| Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts. | Pts. % | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace Baltimore | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 100% | +9 |
| Charlotte Eagles | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 72% | +10 |
| Cleveland City Stars | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 61% | +7 |
| Real Maryland Monarchs | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 50% | -2 |
| Western Mass Pioneers | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 39% | -3 |
| Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 7 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 10% | -10 |
| Wilmington Hammerheads | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7% | -6 |
Standings as of May 26.
Each conference has its own qualification process.
All teams play 4 designated regular season games that double as Open Cup qualification
Green indicates Open Cup berth clinched
Top two teams qualify
| Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts. | GD* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Bucks | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | +9 |
| St. Louis Lions | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | +3 |
| Chicago Fire Premier | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | +5 |
| Cleveland Internationals | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | +5 |
| Des Moines Menace | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | +3 |
| Colorado Rapids U23's | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | +2 |
| Kalamazoo Outrage | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | +1 |
| Cincinnati Kings | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -2 |
| Kansas City Brass | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Fort Wayne Fever | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -4 |
| West Michigan Edge | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -5 |
| West Virginia Chaos | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -4 |
| Indiana Invaders | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | -5 |
| Springfield Demize | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -8 |
*maximum goal differential of +/- 3 per game
Standings as of May 26.
Top two teams qualify
| Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts. | GD* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericksburg Gunners | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | +7 |
| Brooklyn Knights | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | +5 |
| Cape Cod Crusaders | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | +6 |
| Reading Rage | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | +4 |
| Ocean City Barons | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | +5 |
| Newark Ironbound Express | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | +4 |
| New Hampshire Phantoms | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | +2 |
| Westchester Flames | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | +2 |
| Long Island Rough Riders | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | +1 |
| Vermont Voltage | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -4 |
| Northern Virginia Royals | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -6 |
| Virginia Legacy | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -5 |
| Richmond Kickers Future | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | -4 |
| Hampton Roads Piranhas | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | -5 |
| Rhode Island Stingrays | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | -5 |
| New Jersey Rangers | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | -7 |
*maximum goal differential of +/- 3 per game
Standings as of May 26.
Top team in each division qualifies
| Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts. | GD* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Aztex U23 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | +6 |
| Laredo Heat | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | +1 |
| New Orleans Shell Shockers | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -1 |
| Houston Leones | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | +2 |
| El Paso Patriots | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Mississippi Brilla | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 |
| Baton Rouge Capitals | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -1 |
| DFW Tornados | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -4 |
*maximum goal differential of +/- 3 per game
Standings as of May 26.
| Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts. | GD* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradenton Academics | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | +7 |
| Carolina Dynamo | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | +4 |
| Central Florida Kraze | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 | +2 |
| Atlanta Silverbacks U23's | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | +2 |
| Nashville Metros | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -1 |
| Cary RailHawks U23's | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -2 |
| Panama City Pirates | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | -3 |
| Palm Beach Pumas | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -9 |
*maximum goal differential of +/- 3 per game
Standings as of May 26.
Top team in each division qualifies
| Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts. | GD* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima Reds | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | +5 |
| BYU Cougars | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | +3 |
| Tacoma Tide | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | +3 |
| Ogden Outlaws | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -1 |
| Spokane Spiders | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -4 |
| Cascade Surge | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -6 |
*maximum goal differential of +/- 3 per game
Standings as of May 26.
| Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts. | GD* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Legends | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | +7 |
| San Jose Frogs | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | +5 |
| San Francisco Seals | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | +2 |
| Fresno Fuego | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | +1 |
| Bakersfield Brigade | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | +1 |
| Orange County Blue Star | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| San Fernando Valley Quakes | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 |
| Southern California Seahorses | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -3 |
| Ventura County Fusion | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -2 |
| Lancaster Rattlers | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -8 |
*maximum goal differential of +/- 3 per game
Standings as of May 26.
| First Round (April 27) | Qualification Semifinals (May 4) | Qualification Finals (May 18) | Qualified (June 22) | ||||||||||||||||
| Queen City FC | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Danbury United | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Danbury United | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Boston Olympiakos | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| SC Vistula Garfield (forfeit) | L | ||||||||||||||||||
| Boston Olympiakos | W | ||||||||||||||||||
| Boston Olympiakos | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pancyprian-Freedoms | |||||||||||||||||||
| Baltimore Colts FC | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sport Club Portuguese | 0 | Aegean Hawks | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Aegean Hawks | 1 | Aegean Hawks | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Pancyprian-Freedoms | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Pancyprian-Freedoms | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| United German-Hungarians | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Qualification Semifinals (May 3) | Qualification Finals (May 17) | Qualified (June 27) | |||||||||
| Carpathia Kickers | 0 (5) | ||||||||||
| RWB Adria (AET, PSO) | 0 (6) | RWB Adria | 2 | ||||||||
| Bloomington Cutters (forfeit) | L | Princeton 56ers | 0 | ||||||||
| Princeton 56ers | W | RWB Adria | |||||||||
| Bavarian SC | 2 | AAC Eagles | |||||||||
| AAC Eagles | 3 | AAC Eagles | 2 | ||||||||
| WC Arsenal Soccer | 0 | Des Moines Menace Reserves | 1 | ||||||||
| Des Moines Menace Reserves | 2 | ||||||||||
Group winners qualify
All times in Eastern Daylight Time
Green indicates Open Cup berth clinched
Group A
| Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts. | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearwater Galactics | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | +6 |
| Atlanta FC | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | +4 |
| Dallas Roma F.C. | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | +2 |
| LA Mudbugs | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -12 |
Group B
| Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts. | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASC New Stars | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | +5 |
| Mustang Legends FC | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | +1 |
| Lynch's F.C. | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | +3 |
| Greenwood Wanderers | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -9 |
| Dallas Roma F.C. | 5 – 0 | LA Mudbugs |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta FC | 3 – 4 | Clearwater Galactics |
|---|---|---|
| Lynch's F.C. | 1 – 2 | Mustang Legends FC |
|---|---|---|
| ASC New Stars | 4 – 4 | Greenwood Wanderers |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Roma F.C. | 0 – 0 | Clearwater Galactics |
|---|---|---|
| Mustang Legends FC | 0 – 3 | ASC New Stars |
|---|---|---|
| LA Mudbugs | 1 – 3 | Atlanta FC |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwood Wanderers | 1 – 7 | Lynch's F.C. |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Roma F.C. | 0 – 3 | Atlanta FC |
|---|---|---|
| LA Mudbugs | 1 – 6 | Clearwater Galactics |
|---|---|---|
| Lynch's F.C. | 1 – 3 | ASC New Stars |
|---|---|---|
| Mustang Legends FC | 4 – 1 | Greenwood Wanderers |
|---|---|---|
| Clearwater Galactics | 2 – 1 | ASC New Stars |
|---|---|---|
Group winners qualify
All times in Eastern Daylight Time
Green indicates Open Cup berth clinched
Group A
| Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts. | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Sahuaros | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | +5 |
| Sonoma County Sol | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | +4 |
| Rockstar United | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Salinas Valley Samba | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -9 |
Group B
| Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts. | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood United F.C. | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | +5 |
| Santa Cruz County Breakers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | +2 |
| San Diego United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | +1 |
| Banat Arsenal | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -8 |
| Arizona Sahuaros | 4–0 | Salinas Valley Samba |
|---|---|---|
| Rockstar United | 0–1 | Sonoma County Sol |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego United | 4–1 | Banat Arsenal |
|---|---|---|
| Hollywood United F.C. | 2–0 | Santa Cruz County Breakers |
|---|---|---|
| Salinas Valley Samba | 0–3 | Sonoma County Sol |
|---|---|---|
| Banat Arsenal | 1–5 | Santa Cruz County Breakers |
|---|---|---|
| Rockstar United | 1–2 | Arizona Sahuaros |
|---|---|---|
| Hollywood United F.C. | 2–0 | San Diego United |
|---|---|---|
| Sonoma County Sol | 0–0 | Arizona Sahuaros |
|---|---|---|
| Salinas Valley Samba | 0–2 | Rockstar United |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County Breakers | 1–1 | San Diego United |
|---|---|---|
| Banat Arsenal | 2–3 | Hollywood United F.C. |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Sahuaros | 1–0 | Hollywood United F.C. |
|---|---|---|