The 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup represents the 111th edition of America’s oldest national soccer competition and the world’s third-longest continuously run cup tournament. This year’s 2026 U.S. Open Cup competition features a modified format with 80 total teams, reducing the number of rounds by one to accommodate the 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule.
Beginning March 17 and culminating in the final on October 21, this historic single-elimination knockout competition brings together 80 teams—from elite MLS clubs to amateur sides—competing for a $1 million prize purse and a coveted berth in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
The 2026 U.S. Open Cup edition features significant format changes to accommodate the FIFA Men’s World Cup, reducing the tournament from eight to seven rounds and the professional field from 64 to 48 teams.
CBS Sports returns as the multimedia rights partner, ensuring comprehensive national coverage of America’s domestic cup championship.
Tournament Highlights:
- 80 Teams: 48 professional clubs (3 divisions) + 32 amateur teams
- $1 Million Prize Purse: Distributed among advancing teams
- Concacaf Champions Cup: Winner earns 2027 continental berth
- Defending Champion: Nashville SC (defeated Austin FC 2-1 in 2025 final)
- Historic Significance: Dewar Challenge Trophy, contested since 1914
2026 2026 U.S. Open Cup Format
Seven-Round Structure
The 2026 U.S. Open Cup features seven rounds (reduced from eight) to avoid overlap with the FIFA Men’s World Cup taking place June-July 2026 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Round Breakdown:
- First Round: 32 matches (March 17-19)
- Second Round: 16 matches (March 31 – April 1)
- Round of 32: 16 matches (April 14-15) – MLS enters
- Round of 16: 8 matches (April 28-29)
- Quarterfinals: 4 matches (May 19-20)
- Semifinals: 2 matches (September 15-16) – Break for World Cup
- Final: 1 match (October 21) – Championship
Tournament Calendar
First Round: Tuesday, March 17 – Thursday, March 19, 2026
Second Round: Tuesday, March 31 – Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Round of 32: Tuesday, April 14 – Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Round of 16: Tuesday, April 28 – Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Quarterfinals: Tuesday, May 19 – Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Mid-Tournament Break: June-August (FIFA Men’s World Cup period)
Semifinals: Tuesday, September 15 – Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Final: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Broadcast Partner: CBS Sports (all rounds nationally televised)
Complete Team List (80 Teams)
Division I – MLS (16 Teams)
Entry Point: Round of 32 (April 14-15)
Qualifying Criteria:
- Teams NOT participating in 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup
- Teams NOT participating in 2026 Leagues Cup
- Based on 2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings
16 MLS Teams Competing:
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|
| St. Louis CITY SC Colorado Rapids Minnesota United FC Real Salt Lake San Jose Earthquakes Portland Timbers Austin FC Houston Dynamo FC | D.C. United Columbus Crew FC Cincinnati Chicago Fire FC Atlanta United FC New York Red Bulls New York City FC Toronto FC |
Seeding: Top 4 from each conference (based on 2025 standings) seeded as home teams for Round of 32 draw
MLS Teams Excluded (Concacaf Champions Cup participants):
- LA Galaxy
- LAFC
- Inter Miami CF
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Philadelphia Union
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Nashville SC (defending Open Cup champion – CCL qualification)
- San Diego FC
- FC Cincinnati
Division II – USL Championship (17 Teams)
Entry Point: First Round (March 17-19) – face Open Division amateur teams
All 17 Teams:
| Club | State |
|---|---|
| Charleston Battery | South Carolina |
| Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC | Colorado |
| Detroit City FC | Michigan |
| El Paso Locomotive FC | Texas |
| FC Tulsa | Oklahoma |
| Hartford Athletic | Connecticut |
| Indy Eleven | Indiana |
| Lexington SC | Kentucky |
| Loudoun United FC | Virginia |
| Louisville City FC | Kentucky |
| New Mexico United | New Mexico |
| Orange County SC | California |
| Phoenix Rising FC | Arizona |
| Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC | Pennsylvania |
| Rhode Island FC | Rhode Island |
| Sacramento Republic FC | California |
| San Antonio FC | Texas |
Notable: Louisville City FC won back-to-back Players’ Shields (2024-2025) and seeks first Open Cup title.
Division III – USL League One & USL League Two (15 Teams)
Entry Point: First Round (March 17-19)
USL League One (13 teams):
| Club | State |
|---|---|
| AV ALTA FC | California |
| Charlotte Independence | North Carolina |
| Chattanooga Red Wolves SC | Tennessee |
| FC Naples | Florida |
| Forward Madison FC | Wisconsin |
| Greenville Triumph SC | South Carolina |
| One Knoxville SC | Tennessee |
| Portland Hearts of Pine | Maine |
| Richmond Kickers | Virginia |
| South Georgia Tormenta FC (Withdrew (Feb 23, 2026)) | Georgia |
| Spokane Velocity FC | Washington |
| Union Omaha | Nebraska |
| Westchester SC | New York |
USL League Two (10 teams) – TBD based on 2025 league standings
Note: South Georgia Tormenta FC announced they will not participate in 2026 USL League One season or U.S. Open Cup.
MLS NEXT Pro (2 Independent Teams)
MLS NEXT Pro Participation:
- 17 MLS NEXT Pro teams represented
- 2 independent teams enter First Round directly:
| Carolina Core FC | Chattanooga FC |
- 15 MLS-affiliated teams: Players may represent their Division I parent club in Round of 32
One Club, One Entry Rule: MLS-affiliated MLS NEXT Pro teams cannot enter separately; players integrate with parent MLS squad.
Open Division – Amateur Teams (32 Teams)
Entry Point: First Round (March 17-19)
Qualifying Method:
- 17 teams: USASA/USSSA
- 16 teams: NPSL/USL2
USASA/USSSA First Round Teams
| Category | Club | League |
|---|---|---|
| John Motta Trophy Winner | El Farolito | NPSL |
| NPSL | Flower City Union | NPSL |
| Hickory FC | NPSL | |
| Cruizers FC | NPSL | |
| Michigan Rangers | NPSL | |
| Ristozi FC | NPSL | |
| USL2 | Asheville City SC | USL2 |
| Des Moines Menace | USL2 | |
| FC Motown | USL2 | |
| Flint City Bucks | USL2 | |
| Laredo Heat SC | USL2 | |
| Little Rock Rangers | USL2 | |
| North Virginia FC | USL2 | |
| Steel City FC | USL2 | |
| Ventura County Fusion | USL2 | |
| Vermont Green FC | USL2 |
USASA/USSSA First Round Teams
The League for Club Representatives:
| Category | Club | League |
|---|---|---|
| National Amateur Cup | West Chester United SC | USLP |
| UPSL Spring Champions | Tennessee Tempo FC | UPSL |
| Local Qualifiers | ASC New Stars | HFA |
| Azteca FC | CPL | |
| Badgers FC | UPSL | |
| BOHFS St. Louis | MPL | |
| CD Faialense | BSSL | |
| FC America CFL Spurs | UPSL | |
| Kalonji Pro-Profile | UPSL | |
| Laguna United FC | UPSL | |
| NY Renegades FC | UPSL | |
| Red Force | PFL | |
| San Ramon FC | LFC | |
| SC Vistula Garfield | APSL | |
| Southern Indiana FC | UPSL | |
| Valley 559 FC | UPSL | |
| Virginia Dream FC | VSSL |
How the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tournament Works
First Round (March 17-19) – 32 Matches
- Format: 32 amateur Open Division teams vs. 32 professional teams (17 USLC + 15 Division III)
- Home/Away: Geographic pairings based on logistics; random selection used when necessary
- Advancement: 32 winners advance to Second Round
- Matchups: Amateur clubs get chance to face professional opponents in direct competition—unique in American team sports
Second Round (March 31 – April 1) – 16 Matches
- Format: 32 First Round winners face off
- Advancement: 16 winners advance to Round of 32 to face MLS teams
- Significance: Last round before MLS entry; surviving teams earn right to face Division I opponents
Round of 32 (April 14-15) – MLS ENTERS – 16 Matches
Format: 16 Second Round winners vs. 16 MLS teams
Seeding:
- 8 MLS teams seeded HOME (top 4 from each conference based on 2025 standings)
- 8 MLS teams seeded AWAY
Home Advantage Criteria: Based on 2025 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings, pending venue availability
Draw Groups: Geographic-based pairings when possible
Historic Upset Potential: Lower-division and amateur teams have historically defeated MLS opponents at this stage
Round of 16 through Final (April-October)
- Round of 16 (April 28-29): 8 matches → 8 winners
- Quarterfinals (May 19-20): 4 matches → 4 winners
- Semifinals (September 15-16): 2 matches → 2 finalists
- Final (October 21): 1 match → 2026 U.S. Open Cup Champion
- Single-Elimination: All matches decided in regulation time or extra time + penalty kicks if necessary
No Replays: One-match knockout format throughout
2026 U.S. Open Cup standings
First Round Results
17 March 2026 Schedule
| Match | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| South Georgia Tormenta FC vs FC America CFL Spurs | 0 – 1 | Tormenta Stadium, Statesboro, Georgia |
| Richmond Kickers vs Northern Virginia FC | 2 – 0 | City Stadium, Richmond, Virginia |
| Rhode Island FC vs CD Faialense | 4 – 0 | Centreville Bank Stadium, Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
| Vermont Green vs Portland Hearts of Pine | 1 – 0 | Virtue Field, Burlington, Vermont |
| Detroit City FC vs Michigan Rangers FC | 5 – 1 | Legacy Center |
| West Chester vs Loudoun United FC | 1 – 2 | YSC Sports, Wayne, Pennsylvania |
| Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs Azteca FC | 3 – 0 | Weidner Field, Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Indy Eleven vs Des Moines Menace | 3 – 0 | Grand Park Sports Campus |
| Phoenix Rising FC vs San Ramon FC | 4 – 0 | Phoenix Rising Stadium at 38th St/Washington, Phoenix, Arizona |
18 March 2026 Schedule
| Match | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga FC vs Kalonji Pro Profile | 3:30 AM | Finley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Asheville City SC vs Greenville Triumph | 4:00 AM | Greenwood Soccer Field, Asheville, North Carolina |
| Charleston Battery vs Florida Badgers FC | 4:00 AM | Patriots Point Soccer Stadium, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
| FC Motown vs Hartford Athletic | 4:30 AM | Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium, Newark, New Jersey |
| FC Naples vs Red Force | 4:30 AM | Paradise Coast Sports Complex, Naples, Florida |
| Louisville City FC vs Southern Indiana FC | 4:30 AM | Lynn Family Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky |
| SC Vistula Garfield vs One Knoxville | 5:00 AM | Garfield High School Stadium |
| BOHFS St. Louis vs Union Omaha | 5:30 AM | Harlen C. Hunter Stadium, St. Charles, Missouri |
| Little Rock Rangers vs FC Tulsa | 5:30 AM | Episcopal Collegiate School, Little Rock, Arkansas |
| San Antonio FC vs ASC New Stars | 6:00 AM | Toyota Field, San Antonio, Texas |
| New Mexico United vs Cruizers FC | 7:00 AM | UNM Soccer Complex, Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Sacramento Republic FC vs El Farolito | 7:30 AM | Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California |
| AV Alta FC vs Valley 559 FC | 8:00 AM | Lancaster Municipal Stadium, Lancaster, California |
| Orange County SC vs Laguna United FC | 8:00 AM | Championship Soccer Stadium, Irvine, California |
| Ventura County Fusion vs Spokane Velocity FC | 8:00 AM | Ventura College Sportsplex, Ventura, California |
19 March 2026 Schedule
| Match | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Core FC vs Virginia Dream FC | 3:30 AM | Truist Point Stadium, High Point, North Carolina |
| Charlotte Independence vs Ristozi FC | 4:00 AM | Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews, Matthews, North Carolina |
| Flint City Bucks vs Forward Madison FC | 4:00 AM | Don Batchelor Field |
| Lexington vs Flower City Union | 4:30 AM | Lexington Stadium, Lexington, Kentucky |
| Westchester SC vs NY Renegades FC | 5:00 AM | The Stadium at Memorial Field, Mount Vernon, New York |
| Tennessee Tempo FC vs Chattanooga Red Wolves | 5:30 AM | Richard Siegel Soccer Complex |
| Laredo Heat vs El Paso Locomotive FC | 6:00 AM | PEG Energy Stadium |
Second Round Results
The Second Round is scheduled for March 31 and April 1, featuring the 32 winners from the First Round.
Prize Money Distribution ($1 Million Total)
The $1 million prize purse is distributed among teams advancing through rounds:
Estimated Distribution (based on previous years):
- Champion: $300,000
- Runner-Up: $100,000
- Semifinalists: $50,000 each
- Quarterfinalists: $25,000 each
- Round of 16: $15,000 each
- Round of 32: Lower amounts distributed
Additional Incentive: Winner earns berth in 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup, providing continental competition opportunity and potential path to 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.
Defending Champion: Nashville SC
- 2025 Final: Nashville SC 2-1 Austin FC (October 1, 2025)
- Historic Achievement: Nashville SC’s first-ever major trophy in club history
- 2026 Status: Nashville SC will NOT defend their title; they qualified for 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup through their Open Cup victory, making them ineligible for 2026 Open Cup participation.
Previous Winners:
- 2024: Sporting Kansas City
- 2023: Houston Dynamo FC
- 2022: Orlando City SC
- 2021: Not held (COVID-19)
- 2020: Not held (COVID-19)
- 2019: Atlanta United FC
Key Players to Watch
MLS Stars
Cucho Hernández (Columbus Crew)
- Position: Forward
- 2025 MLS Golden Boot winner
- Colombian international, explosive striker
Christian Benteke (D.C. United)
- Position: Forward
- Premier League veteran, aerial threat
- 2025 standout performer
Tim Melia (Sporting Kansas City) – NOT participating (CCL)
- Position: Goalkeeper
- 2024 U.S. Open Cup champion
- Veteran shot-stopper
Eduard Löwen (St. Louis CITY SC)
- Position: Midfielder
- German playmaker, set-piece specialist
Chicho Arango (Real Salt Lake)
- Position: Forward
- 2025 MLS scoring leader contender
USL Championship Stars
Solomon Asante (Phoenix Rising FC)
- Position: Forward/Winger
- USL Championship legend, all-time leading scorer
- Multiple Golden Boot winner
Danny Griffin (Louisville City FC)
- Position: Midfielder
- 2025 championship-winning captain
- Louisville native, fan favorite
Dane Kelly (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC)
- Position: Forward
- USL Championship all-time leading scorer (previous record holder)
- 2025 playoff hero
Jorge Hernández (Sacramento Republic FC)
- Position: Midfielder
- Captain, Republic FC legend
Lower Division/Amateur Breakout Candidates
Open Division Wildcards: Amateur standouts emerge every year—watch for surprise performers from NPSL, UPSL, and regional leagues.
Historic Moments and Upset Potential
Amateur vs. Professional Magic
The U.S. Open Cup is the only American team sports competition where amateurs face professionals in direct competition. Historic upsets include:
- 2022: Detroit City FC (USL Championship) defeated Columbus Crew (MLS) in Round of 32
- 2019: Atlanta Silverbacks (amateur) nearly upset Charleston Battery (USLC)
- Multiple instances: Lower-division teams eliminating MLS opponents
Giant-Killing Potential
2026 Upset Watch:
- Round of 32: Amateur survivors facing MLS teams
- Geographic Rivalries: Local amateur clubs vs. nearby MLS sides
- Veteran Leadership: Experienced lower-division teams with tournament know-how
Tournament Rules and Regulations
Player Eligibility
Key Rules:
- All players from a club eligible to participate
- Players can be added up to one day before a match
- Subject to league and U.S. Soccer registration regulations
- Competition rules regarding cup-ties, loan length, disciplinary action apply
MLS NEXT Pro Integration: Players from 15 MLS-affiliated MLS NEXT Pro teams may appear for their Division I parent club in Round of 32 (subject to roster regulations)
Match Format
- Regulation: 90 minutes (two 45-minute halves)
- Extra Time: 30 minutes (two 15-minute periods) if tied after regulation
- Penalty Kicks: Sudden-death shootout if still tied after extra time
- No Replays: Single-elimination format; one match determines winner
Home/Away Determination
Draw Process:
- Geography-based pairings when possible
- Random selection used when logistics dictate
- Venue availability considerations (MLS league schedule, other events)
- Home advantage based on seeding (higher-division teams, league standings)
Broadcasting and How to Watch
CBS Sports Partnership
Coverage: CBS Sports returns as multimedia rights partner for 2026
Platforms:
- CBS (main network) – Select matches, semifinals, final
- CBS Sports Network (cable) – Early rounds, select matches
- Paramount+ (streaming) – All matches available
- CBS Sports Digital – Select streaming matches
National Coverage: Over 120 matches broadcast/streamed nationally
official Cover –US Soccer website
Local Coverage
Individual teams may arrange local broadcast partnerships for early-round home matches.
What’s New in 2026
Format Changes
- Seven Rounds (reduced from eight) – Avoid FIFA World Cup overlap
- 48 Professional Teams (reduced from 64) – Streamlined field
- One Club, One Entry Rule – Professional clubs must enter highest-level team
- 2025 League Season Requirement – Only teams that played 2025 league season eligible
- National League Qualifying Track Eliminated – All amateurs enter via Open Division
Rule Modifications
One Club, One Entry: Professional clubs can only enter their highest-level team. For example, MLS-affiliated MLS NEXT Pro teams cannot enter separately; players may join parent MLS squad.
League Season Requirement: Participation limited to teams that played league season in 2025, excluding new professional clubs from fielding teams.
Qualifying Criteria Emphasis: League standings determine professional team qualification (versus past years’ more complex criteria).
Tournament Venues
MLS Venues (Round of 32 onward)
Confirmed Host Cities (based on qualifying teams):
- Atlanta: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta United FC)
- Chicago: Soldier Field (Chicago Fire FC)
- Cincinnati: TQL Stadium (FC Cincinnati)
- Columbus: Lower.com Field (Columbus Crew)
- Houston: Shell Energy Stadium (Houston Dynamo FC)
- New York: Red Bull Arena (NY Red Bulls), Yankee Stadium (NYCFC)
- Portland: Providence Park (Portland Timbers)
- St. Louis: CITYPARK (St. Louis CITY SC)
- Washington D.C.: Audi Field (D.C. United)
USL and Amateur Venues
First/Second Round Venues: Determined by draw; professional and amateur home grounds across United States
Notable Stadiums:
- Louisville: Lynn Family Stadium (Louisville City FC)
- Pittsburgh: Highmark Stadium (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC)
- Sacramento: Heart Health Park (Sacramento Republic FC)
- Charleston: Patriots Point (Charleston Battery)
U.S. Open Cup History and Significance
The Dewar Challenge Trophy
The U.S. Open Cup winner’s name is engraved on the Dewar Challenge Trophy—one of the oldest nationally contested trophies in American team sports. The trophy is now permanently displayed at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas.
Historic Tournament
Founded: 1914 (111 years of history)
Original Name: National Challenge Cup
Renamed: 1999 (honoring American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt)
Longest Running: United States’ longest-running national soccer competition
Global Standing: Third-longest continuously run national cup tournament worldwide (after England’s FA Cup and Scotland’s Scottish Cup)
COVID-19 Exception: Tournament not held in 2020 and 2021
Most Successful Clubs
All-Time Winners (Top 5):
- Maccabee Los Angeles / Los Angeles Kickers – 5 titles (1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978)
- Bethlehem Steel FC – 5 titles (1915, 1916, 1918, 1919, 1926)
- Greek American AA – 4 titles
- Sporting Kansas City – 4 titles (most recent: 2024)
- Chicago Fire FC – 4 titles
Recent MLS Dominance: Since MLS entry in 1996, MLS teams have won majority of titles, though lower-division upsets still occur.
Path to 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup
Continental Qualification
Prize: 2026 U.S. Open Cup winner earns automatic berth in 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup
Significance:
- Continental competition against Liga MX (Mexico), Canadian teams, Central American clubs
- Potential path to 2029 FIFA Club World Cup
- International exposure and prestige
Recent U.S. Open Cup Winners in CCL:
- Nashville SC (2027 CCL participant via 2025 Open Cup win)
- Sporting Kansas City (2025 CCL participant via 2024 Open Cup win)
Key Storylines to Watch
1. MLS Upsets
Can lower-division or amateur teams shock MLS opponents in Round of 32? History shows it’s possible.
2. Louisville City FC Quest
Back-to-back USL Championship champions seek first-ever U.S. Open Cup title.
3. Amateur Cinderella Stories
Which Open Division team will make the deepest run? Watch for NPSL, UPSL standouts.
4. Columbus Crew’s Golden Boot Winner
Cucho Hernández leads Crew’s charge for another trophy after 2025 MLS Cup.
5. Geographic Rivalries
Local amateur clubs facing nearby MLS teams create electric atmospheres.
6. First-Time Winners
Can a club win their first-ever U.S. Open Cup title (like Nashville SC in 2025)?
Tournament Statistics & Records
All-Time Statistics
Most Titles: Maccabee Los Angeles / Bethlehem Steel FC (5 each)
Most Finals Appearances: Greek American AA, Maccabee LA (multiple)
Largest Winning Margin: Various blowouts in early rounds amateur vs. pro
Recent Finals
2025: Nashville SC 2-1 Austin FC
2024: Sporting Kansas City 2-0 Indy Eleven
2023: Houston Dynamo FC 2-1 Inter Miami CF
2022: Orlando City SC 3-0 Sacramento Republic FC
2019: Atlanta United FC 2-1 Minnesota United FC
Division Breakdown (2026)
80 Total Teams:
- Division I (MLS): 16 teams (20%)
- Division II (USLC): 17 teams (21.25%)
- Division III (USL1/USL2): 15 teams (18.75%)
- Open Division (Amateur): 32 teams (40%)
Geographic Reach: 34 states + D.C. represented
