The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) announced the broadcast plans for the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final.
For the fourth year in a row, the championship game for the United States’ oldest cup competition will air on the ESPN family of networks. In addition to being broadcast live on ESPN2, the game can also be seen on the Univision Deportes Network.
The 105th edition of the US Open Cup Final will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas as the hometown Houston Dynamo will host the Philadelphia Union. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
Both teams are seeking their first US Open Cup title, which will not only earn them $300,000 in prize money but will qualify them for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. The runner-up will receive $100,000. Both prize money amounts were increased from 2017, up from $250,000 and $60,000, respectively.
The Union are seeking to become the first Philadelphia-area team to lift the trophy since 1966, while the Dynamo are looking to become the first team from South Texas to win the tournament.
The US Open Cup Final has been broadcast on television since 1994, with the only exception being the 1996 title game. Aside from the last four years, ESPN has only held the rights to the championship game one time when the Rochester Raging Rhinos pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest surprises when they became the only lower division team to win the tournament since Major League Soccer joined the competition in 1996.
US Open Cup Championship Match Broadcast Networks
(Since 1994)
2018 – ESPN2 / Univision Deportes
2017 – ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes
2016 – ESPN2 / Univision Deportes
2015 – ESPN2 / Univision Deportes
2014 – GolTV
2013 – GolTV
2012 – GolTV
2011 – Fox Soccer Channel
2010 – Fox Soccer Channel
2009 – Fox Soccer Channel
2008 – Fox Soccer Channel
2007 – Fox Soccer Channel
2006 – Fox Soccer Channel
2005 – GolTV
2004 – GolTV
2003 – Fox Sports World
2002 – Fox Sports World
2001 – Fox Sports World
2000 – Fox Sports World
1999 – ESPN2
1998 – Fox Sports Net
1997 – Fox Sports Net
1996 – No broadcast
1995 – Prime Network
1994 – Prime Network