FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (Sept. 2, 2026) – U.S. Soccer today confirmed the format for the 112th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which will feature all 27 U.S.-based Major League Soccer (Division I) clubs.
U.S. Soccer’s historic national club championship, which brings together professional and amateur soccer in communities across the country, begins with the First Round in April and concludes with the Final, scheduled for Dec. 15. The tournament’s final five rounds will all take place after Labor Day to accommodate the evolving U.S. professional soccer calendar.
The 96-team field, comprising teams from Division I, II and III professional leagues, as well as 32 amateur clubs from the Open Division, will compete for a $1 million purse and a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
All U.S.-based MLS clubs will enter the competition in the Round of 64 and will join five seeded clubs from the USL Championship (Division II). Teams entering in the Round of 64 will have hosting priority in that round, while any lower-division teams that advance will have hosting priority for the Round of 32.
An additional 32 teams from the USL Championship, USL League One (Division III) and MLS NEXT Pro (Division III) will enter in the First Round, with each professional club facing off against a team from the Open Division. With the field of eligible Division II and Division III teams remaining exceeding 32 teams, qualification criteria based on 2026 results will be applied to narrow the field. For a professional team to be eligible, they must have played in the most recent competition year of their league starting prior to Jan. 1, 2027.
The U.S. Open Cup adheres to “one club, one entry,” meaning professional clubs will enter their highest-level professional team. Teams may roster any player of that club with no numerical cap on the number of eligible players. For 2027, game day rosters are expanding from 18 to 20 players.
First Round matchups will be announced in early 2027 with each pairing geographically matched with a team entering in the Round of 64. The first live draw will be held following the Round of 64, when the matchups and hosting scenarios for the Round of 32 and Round of 16 will be revealed.
The overall format, draw groups and pairings will be based on geography, along with the basic mathematic principles of a single-elimination competition. Random selection will be used to solve a lack of logical geographic fit. Draw groups may be constructed to account for venue availability in any round, based on the league schedule of competing teams or other conditions per tournament regulations.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has crowned U.S. Soccer’s national club champion since 1914. The history-filled tournament is conducted on a single-game-knockout basis and is open to professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer, making it the only U.S. team sport competition in which amateurs have the chance to compete directly against professionals. As the longest running national soccer competition in the United States and the world's third longest continuously run national cup tournament, the U.S. Open Cup is supported by partners Marriott, Michelob Ultra, New York Life, and Nike, who help bring this iconic competition to life.
Quotes
"The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is one of the most powerful platforms we have to showcase what makes American soccer special," said Dan Helfrich, U.S. Soccer Chief Operating Officer. "When you bring various levels of the soccer community together, you create a connected, competitive environment that moves the sport forward and gives fans the drama of knockout soccer. Along with MLS, USL and all of the Member Organizations represented in the Open Division, the U.S. Open Cup reflects our shared commitment to strengthen the future of the game in this country."
“The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup connects all leagues, clubs and fans in a unique way,” said Nelson Rodriguez, MLS Executive Vice President of Sporting and Matchday. “For MLS clubs, it’s a chance to write a special chapter in the tournament’s history and earn qualification to the Concacaf Champions Cup.”
“The U.S. Open Cup gives clubs from every level of American soccer the opportunity to compete on the same stage, and that’s what has always made this tournament special,” said Brett Luy, USL President of Competition & Administration. “We’re excited about what the 2027 competition will bring for our clubs, supporters and communities, and we look forward to continuing to work with U.S. Soccer to make the Open Cup as strong and successful as it can be.”
2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
First Round: April 13-14 & 20-21, 2027
Round of 64: July 8-11, 2027
Round of 32: Sept. 14-15, 2027
Round of 16: TBC
Quarterfinals: Nov. 23-24, 2027
Semifinals: Dec. 1, 2027
Final: Dec. 15, 2027
(dates subject to change)
2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Field
Entering in First Round
- 32 teams from Division II & III
- If field of eligible teams exceeds 32, USL Championship and USL League One standings will determine qualifying criteria
- All eligible* MLS NEXT Pro teams will enter:
- Carolina Core FC
- Chattanooga FC
- Connecticut United FC
*MLS NEXT Pro teams that are part of a club that plays in Division I MLS are not eligible based on the one club, one entry principle. Players from MLS NEXT Pro teams affiliated with Division I entrants may appear in the competition for their MLS Division I affiliate (subject to competition roster regulations)
- 32 teams from Open Division
Entering in Round of 64
- 27 MLS (Division I) teams
- Five (5) seeded teams from USL Championship (Division II)
- Players’ Shield winner
- USL Championship Playoffs winner
- Eastern Conference top seed
- Western Conference top seed
- Prinx Tires USL Cup champion*
*the 2026 Prinx Tires USL Cup champion is guaranteed to come from the USL Championship
About U.S. Soccer
Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer is the national governing body for soccer in the United States and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In service to soccer, U.S. Soccer works to grow the game at every level, from local communities to the world stage. The Federation oversees 27 National Teams, supports players, coaches, referees, and member organizations nationwide, and is committed to expanding access to the sport, strengthening pathways, and creating better environments for every participant. Through initiatives such as Soccer Forward, the U.S. Way, and the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center, U.S. Soccer is building the foundation for long-term success on and off the field. The Federation's ambition is to help make soccer a leading sport in the United States, and to build teams capable of consistently competing for and winning major international championships, including FIFA World Cups. For more information, visit ussoccer.com/ourvision.
About the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has crowned U.S. Soccer’s national champion since 1914. The history-filled tournament is conducted on a single-game-knockout basis and is open to professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. In 1999, the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt. The 2026 U.S. Open Cup winner will earn a berth in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup and have its name engraved on the Dewar Challenge Trophy – one of the oldest nationally contested trophies in American team sports – now on permanent display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas. Nashville SC of MLS is the defending U.S. Open Cup Champion. The 110th edition of the tournament concluded on October 1, 2025, with NSC defeating Austin FC to claim the Tennessee club’s first piece of major silverware.
The official website of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is ussoccer.com/us-open-cup. Fans can also follow the competition on X/Twitter and Instagram @OpenCup and Facebook @OfficialOpenCup.
