UPDATE: The match between Harpo’s FC and the Kansas City Athletics in the Preliminary Round will no longer be played at Prentup Field in Boulder, Colo. due to field maintenance that will be taking place. The game will now be played at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Field No. 20 at 4 p.m. local time. Schedule below is updated as of Apr. 16, 2015.
The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) conducted the initial draw for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, officially revealing the schedule for the Preliminary Round, First Round and the potential matchups for Round 2. The 102nd edition of the second-longest continuously-running soccer tournament in the world will begin Saturday, April 25 with a pair of Preliminary Round games kicking off the largest field in the modern era. The 2015 competition will feature 91 teams battling for the United States’ national championship.
The championship game, which will be hosted by one of the two participating teams on either Sept. 29 or 30, will be broadcast by Fox Sports, according to a report on TheCup.us.
The Preliminary Round will kick off in the Bay Area with San Francisco City FC (US Club Soccer) hosting Cal FC (United States Adult Soccer Association). Cal FC made a name for itself in the 2012 tournament when it upset a pair of professional teams, including Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers. Later that afternoon, Harpo’s FC (United States Specialty Sports Association) will welcome the Kansas City Athletics (USASA) to Boulder, Colo. in a rematch from the USSSA qualifying tournament.
The winners of those two games will advance to Round 1 where they will join 40 other amateur clubs from across the country from the Premier Development League (PDL), National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and the USASA. All 21 of the First Round games are scheduled to take place May 13 with a number of local teams squaring off against each other. Some highlights include a New York battle between the Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) and two-time Open Cup champions Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) and a much-anticipated Metro Detroit derby between Detroit City FC (NPSL) and the Michigan Bucks (PDL), two of the marquee clubs of their respective leagues. The Bucks are the only amateur club to upset two MLS teams, and DCFC has attracted nationwide attention for its large, passionate following.
The 21 winners from Round 1 will advance to Round 2 which will take place a week later on May 20. The Second Round will see 21 US-based professional teams from the United Soccer League joining the competition, including 1995 Open Cup champion Richmond Kickers, 2008 runner-up Charleston Battery and 1999 champion Rochester Rhinos.
The North American Soccer League (Division II) will enter the competition in Round 3, which is scheduled for May 27. The draw for that round will take place after Round 1 is complete. The Third Round winners will all earn dates with Major League Soccer teams, which will enter the tournament in the Fourth Round, which is scheduled for the week of June 16-17.
As previously announced, the biggest change with the US Open Cup this year is that in Round 5 (Round of 16), the remaining teams will be separated geographically in a set bracket and the tournament will play out. For the first time in the Modern Era (1995-present) teams in the Round of 16 will know their potential opponents all the way to the Final.
Another challenge in 2015 is the massive addition of MLS reserve teams in the USL. The USSF will continue to keep teams that share an ownership group from playing each other until the Final. From the beginning of the tournament through Round 4, teams will be drawn based on geography. The only restrictions for the draw are that teams cannot play their opening match against a team from their own league (with the exception of one all-MLS matchup in Round 4). A random draw will take place in the event that three or more conflicted teams are in the same area. If two teams with the same ownership should meet in the Semifinal, then the final four will be re-drawn to avoid that.
The winner of the US Open Cup will earn $250,000 and a place in the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League. The runner-up will receive $60,000 and the team that advances the furthest among each lower division (Division II, III, IV) will be awarded $15,000.
Last year, the Seattle Sounders FC of MLS won the club’s fourth US Open Cup title, defeating the Philadelphia Union (MLS) 3-1 at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. The Sounders joined a select club of teams that have won the tournament four times: Chicago Fire (MLS), New York Green American SC (USASA), and Ukrainian Nationals (USASA). Seattle, Chicago, and Greek American SC are all competing in this year’s tournament in an attempt to tie the all-time record of five titles held by Bethlehem Steel (1915, 1916, 1918, 1919, 1926), Maccabee AC (1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981) and Fall River Marksmen (1924, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1932). (Full list of US Open Cup Finals: 1914-present)
The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, originally called the National Challenge Cup, began in 1913 as a soccer tournament, open to both amateur and professional teams in an effort to crown a true national champion for the United States. More than a century later, the single-elimination tournament remains the second-longest continually-running cup competition in the world. For all the latest news and information about the tournament follow TheCup.us on Twitter (@USOpenCup) and Facebook.
#USOC2015 Schedule (All Times Eastern)
PRELIMINARY ROUND (April 25)
Cal FC (USASA) at San Francisco City FC (US Club Soccer)
Kezar Stadium; San Francisco, CA – 5 p.m.
KC Athletics (USASA) at Harpo’s FC (USSSA)
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Field No. 20; Commerce City, CO – 6 p.m.
FIRST ROUND (May 13)
Fort Pitt Regiment (NPSL) at West Virginia Chaos (PDL)
Schoenbaum Soccer Stadium; Charleston, WV – 7 p.m.
Greater Binghamton FC Thunder (NPSL) at Western Mass. Pioneers (PDL)
Lusitano Stadium; Ludlow, MA – 7 p.m.
RWB Adria (USASA) at Lansing United (NPSL)
East Lansing Soccer Complex; East Lansing, MI – 7 p.m.
SW Florida Adrenaline (PDL) at Miami United (NPSL)
Milander Park; Hialeah, FL – 7 p.m.
Triangle Brigade (USASA) at Upward Stars (NPSL)
Star Center; Spartanburg, SC – 7 p.m.
Virginia Beach City FC (NPSL) at AC Connecticut (PDL)
Westside Athletic Complex; Danbury, CT – 7 p.m.
Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at Long Island Rough Riders (PDL)
St. Anthony’s High School; South Huntington, NY – 7:30 p.m.
Detroit City FC (NPSL) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Ultimate Soccer Arenas; Pontiac, MI – 7:30 p.m.
Ocala Stampede (PDL) at Chattanooga FC (NPSL)
Finley Stadium; Chattanooga, TN – 7:30 p.m.
New York Greek American SC (USASA) at Jersey Express (PDL)
NJIT Soccer Stadium; Newark, NJ – 8 p.m.
Reading United AC (PDL) at Maryland Bays (USASA)
Calvert Hall College High School; Towson, MD – 8 p.m.
Seacoast United Phantoms (PDL) at GPS Massachusetts (USASA)
Bennett Field; Wayland, MA – 8 p.m.
Madison Fire (USASA) at Des Moines Menace (PDL)
Valley Stadium; West Des Moines, IA – 8:30 p.m.
Tulsa Athletics (NPSL) at Midland/Odessa Sockers (PDL)
Grande Communications Stadium; Midland, TX – 8:30 p.m.
North Texas Rayados (USASA) at Laredo Heat (PDL)
Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex; Laredo, TX – 9:15 p.m.
KC Athletics (USASA)/Harpo’s FC (USSSA) winner at BYU Cougars (PDL)
BYU South Stadium; Provo, UT – 9:30 p.m.
Kitsap Pumas (PDL) at FC Tacoma 253 (NPSL)
Mount Tahoma Stadium; Tacoma, WA – 10 p.m.
Burlingame Dragons (PDL) at Sonoma County Sol (NPSL)
Santa Rosa High School; Santa Rosa, CA – 10 p.m.
Cal FC (USASA)/SF City FC (US Club Soccer) winner at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
Ventura College Sportsplex; Ventura, CA – 10 p.m.
Golden State Misioneros FC (PDL) at PSA Elite (USASA)
Weingart Stadium; Los Angeles, CA – 10 p.m.
Chula Vista FC (USASA) at FC Tucson (PDL)
Kino North Stadium; Tucson, AZ – 10:30 p.m.
SECOND ROUND (May 20)
Fort Pitt Regiment (NPSL)/West Virginia Chaos (PDL) winner at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL)
Highmark Stadium; Pittsburgh, PA – 7 p.m.
Ocala Stampede (PDL)/Chattanooga FC (NPSL) winner at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL)
Legion Stadium; Wilmington, NC – 7 p.m.
AC Connecticut (PDL)/Virginia Beach City FC (NPSL) winner at Richmond Kickers (USL)
Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, VA – 7 p.m.
Greater Binghamton FC Thunder (NPSL)/Western Mass. Pioneers (PDL) winner at Rochester Rhinos (USL)
Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, NY – 7:05 p.m.
Louisville City FC (USL) at Lansing United (NPSL)
East Lansing Soccer Complex; East Lansing, MI – 7 p.m.
OR
Louisville City FC (USL) at RWB Adria (USASA)
KROC Center; Chicago, IL – 7 p.m.
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) at Reading United AC (PDL)
Don Thomas Stadium; Reading, PA – 7 p.m.
OR
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) at Maryland Bays (USASA)
Calvert Hall College High School; Towson, MD – 8 p.m.
SW Florida Adrenaline (PDL)/Miami United (NPSL) winner at Charleston Battery (USL)
Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, SC – 7:30 p.m.
Triangle Brigade (USASA)/Upward Stars (NPSL) winner at Charlotte Independence (USL)
Ramblewood Sports Complex; Charlotte, NC – 7:30 p.m.
Portland Timbers 2 (USL) at Detroit City FC (NPSL)
Ferndale High School; Ferndale, MI – 7:30 p.m.
OR
Portland Timbers 2 (USL) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Ultimate Soccer Arenas; Pontiac, MI – 7:30 p.m.
Real Monarchs SLC (USL) at Long Island Rough Riders (PDL)
St. Anthony’s High School; South Huntington, NY – 7:30 p.m.
OR
Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at Real Monarchs SLC (USL)
Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, UT – 9 p.m.
New York Red Bulls II (USL) at Jersey Express (PDL)
NJIT Soccer Stadium; Newark, NJ – 8 p.m.
OR
New York Greek American SC (USASA) at New York Red Bulls II (USL)
Red Bull Arena; Harrison, NJ – 7:30 p.m.
Tulsa Roughnecks (USL) at GPS Massachusetts (USASA)
Bennett Field; Wayland, MA – 8 p.m.
OR
Seacoast United Phantoms (PDL) vs. Tulsa Roughnecks (USL)
Location/Time TBD
Madison Fire (USASA)/Des Moines Menace (PDL) winner at Saint Louis FC (USL)
St. Louis Soccer Park; Fenton, MO – 8 p.m.
Oklahoma City Energy (USL) at Midland/Odessa Sockers (PDL)
Grande Communications Stadium; Midland, TX – 8:30 p.m.
OR
Oklahoma City Energy (USL) at Tulsa Athletics (NPSL)
Tulsa Athletics Stadium; Tulsa, OK – 8:30 p.m.
NTX Rayados (USASA)/Laredo Heat (PDL) winner at Austin Aztex (USL)
House Park; Austin, TX – 9 p.m.
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KC Athletics (USASA)/Harpo’s FC (USSSA)/BYU Cougars (PDL) winner at Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL)
Sand Creek Stadium; Colorado Springs, CO – 9 p.m.
Orange County Blues (USL) at PSA Elite (USASA)
Weingart Stadium; Los Angeles, CA – 10 p.m.
OR
Orange County Blues (USL) vs. Golden State Misioneros FC (PDL)
Location/Time TBD
Chula Vista FC (USASA)/FC Tucson (PDL) winner at Arizona United SC (USL)
Scottsdale Stadium; Scottsdale, AZ – 10:30 p.m.
Cal FC (USASA)/SF City FC (US Club Soccer)/Ventura County Fusion (PDL) winner at LA Galaxy II (USL)
StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium; Carson, CA – 10:30 p.m.
Burlingame Dragons (PDL)/Sonoma County Sol (NPSL) winner at Sacramento Republic FC (USL)
Bonney Field; Sacramento, CA – 10:30 p.m.
Kitsap Pumas (PDL)/FC Tacoma 253 (NPSL) winner at Seattle Sounders 2 (USL)
Starfire Stadium; Tukwila, WA – 10:30 p.m.
Third Round: May 27
Fourth Round: June 16-17
Fifth Round: June 30-July 1
Quarterfinals: July 21-22
Semifinals: August 11-12
Final: Sept. 29 or 30