U.S. Open Cup

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**U.S. Open Cup**
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The U.S. Open Cup is a knockout cup competition in men's soccer in the United States. It was first established in 1914 as the National Challenge Cup and was renamed to its current name, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, in 1999.

**History**
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The U.S. Open Cup is the oldest official football competition in the United States and the second oldest in North America, after the Canadian national cup, the Open Canada Cup. It has been uninterruptedly played annually from 1914 to 2019. The competition was organized by the US Soccer Federation and saw all U.S. teams of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the United Soccer Leagues (USL) aligned with the starting line.

**Format**
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The competition is contested by approximately 100 clubs from professional leagues sanctioned by the USSF, MLS, the USL Championship, and League One divisions, as well as amateur clubs in earlier rounds of the tournament that qualify through their respective leagues. The most recent champions of the competition are Nashville SC, who won their first title after defeating Austin FC in the 2025 final.

**Pre-2023 Formats**
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Prior to 2013, the competition had a different format. Eight teams from each level of the American Soccer Pyramid took part in the competition proper, with each league narrowing its participation down to six places plus the possibility of a seventh team in a playoff against a team from the amateur US Club Soccer setup. The National Premier Soccer League received six places, and 16 teams from the USL Premier Development League competed.

**Eligibility**
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Open Cup is contested by professional clubs sanctioned by the USSF, MLS, the USL Championship, and League One divisions, as well as lower-division professional clubs that are staffed but not owned by higher-divisional clubs. However, those clubs were banned effective with the 2016 competition.

**Recent Developments**
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In 2013, the competition was expanded to 68 teams, and all U.S.-based Division I, II, and III teams participated in the tournament proper. The process for determining the site for the Open Cup tournament semifinals and final was changed in 2013. In 2020 and 2021, the tournaments were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ending 106 years of consecutive play.

**Trophy and Prize**
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The victory in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup allows the defending team to access the CONCACAF Champions League. The record of titles won belongs to five trophies each, with a total of sixty-four different teams claiming the title throughout its history.

**Notable Winners**
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Two of the best teams in the league have won the Open Cup since 1999, and the most recent lower division team to reach the final was Sacramento Republic FC. The most recent champions of the competition are Nashville SC, who won their first title after defeating Austin FC in the 2025 final.

**Criticisms and Controversies**
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The National Premier Soccer League received six places, plus the possibility of a seventh in a playoff against a team from the amateur US Club Soccer setup. However, this format was changed in 2013 to ensure that MLS clubs were represented in all secondary competitions without overloading fixture congestion.

**Conclusion**
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The U.S. Open Cup is an important competition in American soccer, with a rich history and a strong following. Its current format and eligibility criteria have been refined over the years to ensure that it remains a premier tournament for teams from across the United States.