2026 U.S. Open Cup

Last updated

2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
DatesMarch 17 – October 21
Teams80
Defending champions Nashville SC
←  2025
2027 →

The 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the 111th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, the knockout domestic cup competition of American soccer, organized by the United States Soccer Federation. It will involve 80 teams, including 48 teams from all three professional tiers of the United States soccer league system, and 32 amateur teams in the "Open Division". The competition begins on March 17 and culminate in the final on October 21. [1]

Contents

The full format was announced on January 27, 2025. U.S. Soccer changed several elements of the contest, such as reducing the number of rounds by one, altering the qualifying requirements to ensure the highest-level professional team of a club enters the tournament as well as removing the National League qualifying track. Participation in the tournament is limited to teams that played a league season in 2025, removing new professional clubs from fielding a team. [1]

Of the 27 American clubs in Major League Soccer, 16 will participate, with teams that did not qualify for either the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup or 2026 Leagues Cup. [2] Being the only Division 1 league, all eligible MLS teams will enter in the round of 32 (third round). Depending on Supporter's Shield standings, one half of the MLS first team entrants will host their first matches, while the rest will begin with an away game. Because of the rule changes for this year, only two MLS Next Pro teams will appear in the competition (Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC). The USL Championship will send 17 of its teams, which includes all teams entered in the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs plus the next team outside of playoff consideration (North Carolina FC is not competing due to not fielding a team this year). These teams will enter the competition in the first round. USL League One will send their 13 eligible teams. Championship, League One, and Next Pro, along with the 32 Open Division teams, will enter in the first round. [1]

Due to qualifying for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup the winner, Nashville SC, are unable to defend their title.

Schedule

Schedule for 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup [1]
RoundDraw dateMatch dayEntrantsTeams entered to date
First RoundJanuary 27March 17–196 local qualifiers
1 National Amateur Cup champion
1 UPSL Spring Champion
1 2025 John Motta Trophy winner
8 United Premier Soccer League teams
5 National Premier Soccer League teams
10 USL League Two teams
13 USL League One teams
2 MLS Next Pro teams
17 USL Championship teams		64 teams
Second RoundTBDMarch 31 – April 132 winners from First Round
Round of 32April 2April 14–1516 winners from Second Round
16 Major League Soccer teams		80 teams
Round of 16April 28–2916 winners from round of 32
QuarterfinalsMay 19–208 winners from round of 16
SemifinalsSeptember 15–164 winners from quarterfinals
FinalOctober 212 winners from semifinals

Teams

Table

Enter in First RoundEnter in Round of 32
Open Division [1] Division IIIDivision IIDivision I
USASA/USSSA
17 teams		 NPSL/USL2
15 teams		 MLS Next Pro/USL1
15 teams		 USL Championship
17 teams		 MLS
16 teams
National Amateur Cup
UPSL Spring Champions
Local Qualifiers
John Motta Trophy Winner
NPSL
USL2
MLS Next Pro
USL1
  1. 1 2 Due to Hickory FC leaving the NPSL for USL2, Cruizers FC took their place. [5]

Map

    Usa edcp location map.svg
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    Badgers FC
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    Laredo Heat SC
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    Michigan Rangers
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    Ristozi FC
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    Tennessee Tempo FC
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    Valley 559 FC
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    Vermont Green FC
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    West Chester United SC
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    Cruizers FC
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    Atlanta
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    Boston
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    Chattanooga
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    Charlotte
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    Denver
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    Houston
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    Los Angeles
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    Louisville
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    NYC
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    Orlando
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    Pittsburgh
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    San Francisco Bay Area
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    St. Louis
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    Washington D.C.
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    Locations of teams in the tournament proper.
    • Red pog.svg MLS
    • Orange pog.svg USLC
    • Yellow pog.svg Division 3 (MLSNP/USL1)
    • Green pog.svg Open Division (USL2/NPSL)
    • Blue pog.svg Open Division (USASA/USSSA)
    • Purple pog.svg Multiple Teams

    Metro areas with multiple teams:

    Number of teams by state

    A total of 34 states and D.C. were represented by clubs in the U.S. Open Cup this year.

    States NumberTeams
    Flag of California.svg California10 AV Alta FC, Cruizers FC, El Farolito SC, Laguna United FC, Orange County SC, Sacramento Republic FC, San Jose Earthquakes, San Ramon FC, Ventura County Fusion, Valley 559 FC
    Flag of Texas.svg Texas6ASC New Stars, Austin FC, El Paso Locomotive FC, Houston Dynamo FC, Laredo Heat SC, San Antonio FC
    Flag of Florida.svg Florida5 Orlando City SC, FC Naples, Badgers FC, Red Force, FC America CFL Spurs
    Flag of North Carolina.svg North Carolina4 Asheville City SC, Carolina Core FC, Charlotte FC, Charlotte Independence, Hickory FC
    Flag of New York.svg New York New York City FC, Westchester SC, NY Renegades FC, Flower City Union
    Flag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee One Knoxville SC, Tennessee Tempo FC, Chattanooga FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
    Flag of Virginia.svg Virginia Loudoun United FC, Virginia Dream FC, Northern Virginia FC, Richmond Kickers
    Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado3 Colorado Rapids, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Azteca FC
    Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Georgia Atlanta United FC, South Georgia Tormenta FC, Kalonji Pro-Profile
    Flag of Kentucky.svg Kentucky Louisville City FC, Lexington SC, Southern Indiana FC
    Flag of Michigan.svg Michigan Detroit City FC, Flint City Bucks, Michigan Rangers
    Flag of New Jersey.svg New Jersey New York Red Bulls, FC Motown, SC Vistula Garfield
    Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Steel City FC, West Chester United SC
    Flag of Indiana.svg Indiana2 Indy Eleven, Southern Indiana FC
    Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts New England Revolution, CD Faialense
    Flag of Missouri.svg Missouri St. Louis City SC, BOHFS St. Louis
    Flag of South Carolina.svg South Carolina Charleston Battery, Greenville Triumph SC
    Flag of Arizona.svg Arizona1 Phoenix Rising FC
    Flag of Arkansas.svg Arkansas Little Rock Rangers
    Flag of Connecticut.svg Connecticut Hartford Athletic
    Flag of Illinois.svg Illinois Chicago Fire
    Flag of Iowa.svg Iowa Des Moines Menace
    Flag of Kansas.svg Kansas Sporting Kansas City
    Flag of Maine.svg Maine Portland Hearts of Pine
    Flag of Maryland.svg MarylandRistozi FC
    Flag of Minnesota.svg Minnesota Minnesota United FC
    Flag of Nebraska.svg Nebraska Union Omaha
    Flag of New Mexico.svg New Mexico New Mexico United
    Flag of Ohio.svg Ohio Columbus Crew
    Flag of Oklahoma.svg Oklahoma FC Tulsa
    Flag of Rhode Island.svg Rhode Island Rhode Island FC
    Flag of Vermont.svg Vermont Vermont Green FC
    Flag of Washington.svg Washington Spokane Velocity FC
    Flag of Washington, D.C.svg Washington D.C. DC United
    Flag of Wisconsin.svg Wisconsin Forward Madison FC

    Open Cup debuts

    8 teams made their Open Cup debuts in the 2026 tournament.

    Early rounds

    The first round of the tournament was drawn on January 27, 2026. [7]

    First round
    March 17–19
    USL1 Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg South Georgia Tormenta FC
    UPSL Flag of Florida.svg FC America CFL Spurs
    USL1 Flag of Virginia.svg Richmond Kickers
    USL2 Flag of Virginia.svg Northern Virginia FC
    USLC Flag of Rhode Island.svg Rhode Island FC
    BSSL Flag of Massachusetts.svg CD Faialense
    USL2 Flag of Vermont.svg Vermont Green FC
    USL1 Flag of Maine.svg Portland Hearts of Pine
    USLC Flag of Michigan.svg Detroit City FC
    NPSL Flag of Michigan.svg Michigan Rangers
    USL2 Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Steel City FC
    USLC Flag of Pennsylvania.svg Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
    USLP Flag of Pennsylvania.svg West Chester United SC
    USLC Flag of Virginia.svg Loudoun United FC
    USLC Flag of Colorado.svg Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
    UPSL Flag of Colorado.svg Azteca FC
    USLC Flag of Indiana.svg Indy Eleven
    USL2 Flag of Iowa.svg Des Moines Menace
    USLC Flag of Arizona.svg Phoenix Rising FC
    LFC Flag of California.svg San Ramon FC
    MLSNP Flag of Tennessee.svg Chattanooga FC
    UPSL Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Kalonji Pro-Profile
    USL2 Flag of North Carolina.svg Asheville City SC
    USL1 Flag of South Carolina.svg Greenville Triumph SC
    USLC Flag of South Carolina.svg Charleston Battery
    UPSL Flag of Florida.svg Badgers FC
    USLC Flag of Kentucky.svg Louisville City FC
    UPSL Flag of Indiana.svg Southern Indiana FC
    USL1 Flag of Florida.svg FC Naples
    NPSL Flag of Florida.svg Red Force FC
    NPSL Flag of New Jersey.svg FC Motown
    USLC Flag of Connecticut.svg Hartford Athletic
    APSL Flag of New Jersey.svg SC Vistula Garfield
    USL1 Flag of Tennessee.svg One Knoxville SC
    MPL Flag of Missouri.svg BOHFS St. Louis
    USL1 Flag of Nebraska.svg Union Omaha
    USL2 Flag of Arkansas.svg Little Rock Rangers
    USLC Flag of Oklahoma.svg FC Tulsa
    USLC Flag of Texas.svg San Antonio FC
    HFA Flag of Texas.svg ASC New Stars
    USLC Flag of New Mexico.svg New Mexico United
    NPSL Flag of California.svg Cruizers FC
    USLC Flag of California.svg Sacramento Republic FC
    NPSL Flag of California.svg El Farolito
    USL1 Flag of California.svg AV Alta FC
    UPSL Flag of California.svg Valley 559 FC
    USL2 Flag of California.svg Ventura County Fusion
    USL1 Flag of Washington.svg Spokane Velocity FC
    USLC Flag of California.svg Orange County SC
    UPSL Flag of California.svg Laguna United FC
    MLSNP Flag of North Carolina.svg Carolina Core FC
    VSSL Flag of Virginia.svg Virginia Dream FC
    USL1 Flag of North Carolina.svg Charlotte Independence
    NPSL Flag of Maryland.svg Ristozi FC
    USL2 Flag of Michigan.svg Flint City Bucks
    USL1 Flag of Wisconsin.svg Forward Madison FC
    USLC Flag of Kentucky.svg Lexington SC
    NPSL Flag of New York.svg Flower City Union
    USL1 Flag of New York.svg Westchester SC
    UPSL Flag of New York.svg NY Renegades FC
    UPSL Flag of Tennessee.svg Tennessee Tempo FC
    USL1 Flag of Tennessee.svg Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
    USL2 Flag of Texas.svg Laredo Heat
    USLC Flag of Texas.svg El Paso Locomotive FC

    Broadcasting

    As part of the second year of a two-year deal with U.S. Soccer, CBS Sports will broadcast games on Paramount+, with select games on the CBS Sports Golazo Network and CBS Sports Network. [1] All remaining games will be broadcast on U.S. Soccer's YouTube channel.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Format, Schedule and Participating Teams Finalized for 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup" (Press release). U.S. Soccer. December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
    2. ↑ Ashton, Alex (December 4, 2025). "US Open Cup Scales Back for 2026" . Beyond the 90'. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
    3. ↑ Battista, Michael (July 27, 2025). "2025 National Amateur Cup Final: West Chester United's late OT winner books spot in 2026 US Open Cup". TheCup.us. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
    4. ↑ Padilla, Kathryne (August 11, 2025). "Dominic Oduro's late goal gives Tennessee Tempo UPSL spring title, spot in 2026 US Open Cup". TheCup.us. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
    5. ↑ Battista, Michael (January 27, 2026). "2026 US Open Cup First Round draw announced". TheCup.US. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
    6. 1 2 3 "Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tournament Kicks Off Today; Increased Investment Leads to Record Purse of $1 Million". United States Soccer Federation. March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
    7. ↑ "2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Kicks Off with 32-Game First Round Pitting Amateur vs. Pro Clubs". ussoccer.com. U.S. Soccer. January 27, 2026. Retrieved January 31, 2026.
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