LISTEN: Josh Hakala from TheCup.us breaks down the 2016 US Open Cup draw on Rabble TV (41:30 mark)
At the Soccer House in Chicago, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) held the draw for the first two rounds of the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The 103rd running of the tournament, which is the second-oldest, continually-operating soccer tournament in the world. will kick off on May 11 with 23 games between amateur teams from the across the country’s fourth division.
The opening round will feature 18 teams from the Premier Development League (PDL), 14 from the National Premier Development League (NPSL) and the 14 teams from the open division qualifying tournament. The open division tournament featured teams from United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), US Club Soccer (USCS) and the United States Sports Specialty Sports Association (USSSA).
The draw for the potential matchups for the Second Round also took place. In this round, 17 USL (Div. 3 pro) teams will enter the competition, along with Chattanooga FC (NPSL) and the Kitsap Pumas (NPSL), marking just the fourth time in the Modern Era that an amateur team has begun play in Round 2 (2003, 2005, 2014). The two amateur clubs were given byes into Round 2 due to the late removal of the USL’s Rio Grande Valley FC.
The teams were separated into regional groups to minimize travel and then drawn randomly. Teams interested in hosting submitted an application to the federation. If the two teams that were drawn together met the federation’s venue standards, then the host was determined by a coin flip.
Of the 23 games, 12 PDL teams will host, followed by 7 from the NPSL and 4 Open Division clubs.
The Third Round is scheduled for June 1 when teams from the North American Soccer League (NASL) will enter. And on June 15, the Open Cup’s crown jewel, the Fourth Round, will take place as all 17 US-based Major League Soccer (MLS) teams, including the defending champion Sporting Kansas City, will join the competition.
A rematch between Detroit City FC and the Michigan Bucks highlights the opening round. The two teams met in last year’s First Round with the PDL’s Bucks cruising to a 3-0 win over their Motor City counterpart from the NPSL.
Michigan will once again play host in the contest, but instead of playing at their normal indoor home at the Ultimate Soccer Arenas in Pontiac, Mich., they will take the game outdoors to nearby Oakland University. Louisville City will take on the winner.
FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE
All games scheduled for May 11, All Times Eastern
Aromas Café FC (USASA) at Richmond Strikers (NPSL)
Striker Park; Glen Allen, VA – 5 p.m.
Kraze United SC (NPSL) at The Villages SC (PDL)
The Villages Polo Field; The Villages, FL – 5 p.m.
West Chester United (USASA) at Fredericksburg FC (NPSL)
UMW Battleground Stadium; Fredericksburg, VA – 5:30 p.m.
Atlanta Silverbacks (NPSL) at Reading United AC (PDL)
John Gorski Stadium (Wilson HS); West Lawn, PA – 7 p.m.
Jersey Express (PDL) at Clarkstown FC Eagles (NPSL)
Torne Valley Sports Complex; Hillburn, NY – 7 p.m.
Myrtle Beach Mutiny (NPSL) at Charlotte Eagles (PDL)
Charlotte Christian School; Charlotte, NC – 7 p.m.
Boca Raton FC (USASA) at Miami Fusion FC (NPSL)
Broward College South Campus; Pembroke Pines, FL – 7 p.m.
Cincinnati Dutch Lions (PDL) at Indy Eleven NPSL
Grand Park Championship Field; Westfield, IN – 7 p.m.
Lansdowne Bhoys FC (N.Y.) at Long Island Rough Riders (PDL)
St. Anthony’s High School; South Huntington, NY – 7:30 p.m.
New York Red Bulls U-23 (PDL) at New York Pancyprian Freedoms (N.Y.)
Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.); Jamaica, NY – 7:30 p.m.
Detroit City FC (NPSL) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
Oakland University; Rochester, MI – 7:30 p.m.
Seacoast United Phantoms (PDL) at Southie FC (Mass.)
Harry Della Russo Stadium; Rever, MA – 8 p.m.
AFC Cleveland (NPSL) at GPS Portland Phoenix (Maine) (PDL)
Deering High School; Portland, ME – 8 p.m.
CD Motagua of New Orleans (La.) at Mississippi Brilla (PDL)
Traceway Park; Clinton, MS – 8 p.m.
Des Moines Menace (PDL) at FC Wichita (NPSL)
Stryker Soccer Complex; Wichita, KS – 8:05 p.m.
Harpo’s FC (Colo.) at Albuquerque Sol FC (PDL)
St. Puis X High School; Albuquerque, NM – 8:30 p.m.
Corinthians FC of San Antonio (NPSL) at NTX Rayados (Texas)
Richland Community College; Dallas, TX – 9 p.m.
Burlingame Dragons (PDL) at Sacramento Gold (NPSL)
Capital Christian School; Sacramento, CA – 10 p.m.
LA Wolves FC (Calif.) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
Ventura College Sportsplex; Ventura, CA – 10 p.m.
CD Aguiluchos USA (NPSL) at San Francisco City FC (Calif.)
Beach Chalet #4; San Francisco, CA – 10 p.m.
San Nicolas FC (Calif.) at FC Tucson (PDL)
Kino North Stadium; Tucson, AZ – 10:30 p.m.
La Maquina (Calif.) at Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL)
Providence Park; Portland, OR – 10:30 p.m.
Outbreak FC (Claif.) at Sounders FC U-23s (PDL)
Panther Stadium (Bonney Lake H.S.); Bonney Lake, WA – 10:30 p.m.
SECOND ROUND POTENTIAL PAIRINGS
All games scheduled for May 18, All Times Eastern
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) at Fredericksburg FC (NPSL)
UMW Battleground Stadium; Fredericksburg, VA – 5:30 p.m.
OR
Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) at West Chester United SC (Pa.)
West Chester United Soccer Club; West Chester, PA – 7:30 p.m.
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Cincinnati Dutch Lions (PDL) / Indy Eleven NPSL winner at FC Cincinnati (USL)
Nippert Stadium; Cincinnati, OH – 7 p.m.
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Charlotte Independence (USL) at Charlotte Eagles (PDL)
Charlotte Christian School; Charlotte, NC – 7 p.m.
OR
Myrtle Beach Mutiny (NPSL) at Charlotte Independence (USL)
Ramblewood Soccer Complex; Charlotte, NC – 7 p.m.
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Richmond Strikers (NPSL) / Aromas Café FC (USASA) winner at Richmond Kickers (USL)
City Stadium; Richmond, VA – 7 p.m.
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Boca Raton FC (USASA) / Miami Fusion FC (NPSL) winner at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL)
Legion Stadium; Wilmington, NC – 7 p.m.
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Detroit City FC (NPSL) / Michigan Bucks (PDL) winner at Louisville City FC (USL)
Owsley B. Frazier Stadium Louisville, KY – 7 p.m.
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Seacoast United (PDL) / Southie FC (Mass.) winner at Rochester Rhinos (USL)
Rhinos Stadium; Rochester, NY – 7 p.m.
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Lansdowne Bhoys FC (USASA) / Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) winner at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL)
Highmark Stadium; Pttsburgh, PA – 7 p.m.
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Kraze United SC (NPSL) / The Villages SC (PDL) winner at Charleston Battery (USL)
MUSC Health Stadium; Charleston, SC – 7:30 p.m.
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Atlanta Silverbacks (NPSL) / Reading United AC (PDL) winner at Chattanooga FC (NPSL)
Finley Stadium; Chattanooga, TN – 7:30 p.m.
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Jersey Express (PDL) / Clarkstown SC Eagles (NPSL) at NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA)
Belson Stadium at St. John’s University; Jamaica, NY – 7:30 p.m.
OR
Jersey Express (PDL) at New York Red Bulls U-23s (PDL)
Red Bull Training Facility; Whippany, NJ – 7 p.m.
OR
New York Red Bulls U-23s (PDL) at Clarkstown SC Eagles (NPSL)
Torne Valley Sports Complex; Hillburn, NY – 7 p.m.
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AFC Cleveland (NPSL) / GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL) winner at Saint Louis FC (USL)
World Wide Technology Soccer Park; Fenton, MO – 8 p.m.
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Corinthians FC of San Antonio (NPSL) / NTX Rayados (USASA) winner at San Antonio FC (USL)
Toyota Field; San Antonio, TX – 8 p.m.
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OKC Energy FC (USL) at Mississippi Brilla FC (PDL)
Traceway Park; Clinton, MS – 8 p.m.
OR
OKC Energy FC (USL) vs. CD Motagua of New Orleans (USASA)
Time/Site TBA
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Tulsa Roughnecks (USL) at Des Moines Menace (PDL)
Valley Stadium; West Des Moines, IA – 8:30 p.m.
OR
Tulsa Roughnecks (USL) at FC Wichita (NPSL)
Stryker Soccer Complex; Wichita, KS – 8:05 p.m.
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Harpo’s FC (USASA) / Albuquerque Sol FC (PDL) winner at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL)
Switchbacks Stadium; Colorado Springs, CO – 9 p.m.
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Outbreak FC (USASA) / Sounders FC U-23s (PDL) winner at Kitsap Pumas (PDL)
Silverdale Stadium (Olympic High School); Bremerton, WA – 10:30 p.m.
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Orange County Blues (USL) at LA Wolves FC (USASA)
East LA College; Monterey Park, CA – 10:30 p.m.
OR
Orange County Blues (USL) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
Ventura College Sportsplex; Ventura, CA – 10 p.m.
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San Francisco City FC (USCS) / CD Aguiluchos USA (NPSL) winner at Sacramento Republic FC (USL)
Bonney Field; Sacramento, CA – 10:30 p.m.
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Burlingame Dragons (PDL) / Sacramento Gold (NPSL) winner at Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL)
Providence Park; Portland, OR – 10:30 p.m.
OR
Burlingame Dragons (PDL) / Sacramento Gold (NPSL) winner at La Maquina (USASA)
Lake Forest Sports Complex; Lake Fores, CA – 9 p.m.
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First Round: May 11 (PDL, NPSL, Open Division clubs enter)
Second Round: May 18 (USL clubs, 1 PDL, 1 NPSL club enter)
Third Round: June 1 (NASL clubs enter)
Fourth Round: June 15 (MLS clubs enter)
Round of 16: June 29
Quarterfinals: July 20
Semifinals: August 10
Final: September 21