While the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is still in progress, with the semifinals taking place in about a month, the qualifying for the 2024 competition has been underway all summer in the national leagues.
The format for the 2024 edition of the tournament has yet to be released, however the method in which teams can reach the tournament proper have been finalized including the Open Division National League Track. One of these leagues, USL League Two, formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), has held a fairly consistent qualifying process since 2012 where the league determines its entries based on the previous year’s results. The only changes have been the number of teams that the US Soccer Federation has allocated to it among the rest of the open division.
Tuesday night finished the regular season of USL League Two, which means the “priority list” of teams for determining who qualifies is (almost) complete.
Beginning in 2012 and continuing in 2013, the top 16 US-based USL League Two teams qualified for the tournament directly based on how well they did the previous season. That number increased to 19 from 2014-16 and in 2017 the top 21 teams got in. Since then the number of slots awarded has gone down with 20 allocated in 2018 and 10 slots allocated in 2019. It’s stayed at about that number since, with 11 slots allocated in the cancelled 2020 tournament, then 10 slots allocated in 2022 and 2023 tournaments.
Now, for the 2024 Open Cup, the 17 division winners won by US based teams will be prioritized first, followed by the rest of the league’s teams sorted by Points-Per-Game (PPG). Different divisions played different numbers of games meaning average points per game will be used to sort the teams (followed by average goal difference and average goals scored).
There is one exception to this. The USL League Two champion in the playoffs that are underway this weekend will receive the #1 overall priority for the league, ahead of all division champions. This was added by the league for the 2021 USL-2 season. Ventura County Fusion benefitted greatly from this as 2022 champion, moving up from well outside the spots to qualify to being first in line.
The teams that qualify will join other Open Division teams, such as those from the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and local amateur qualifiers in the opening round of next year’s competition. There will also be a first round spot given to the USASA National Amateur Cup champion and the UPSL Spring Season National champion.
Below is the overall USL League Two standings. y-denotes division champion. After the playoffs conclude, this post will be updated and z- denotes the playoff champion. Bold denotes teams still alive in the playoffs.
| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | PTS | PTS/GP | GD/GP | GF/GP |
| 1 | z-Ballard FC | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 13 | 28 | 31 | 2.583 | 2.333 | 3.417 |
| 2 | y-Chicago City SC | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 9 | 27 | 33 | 2.750 | 2.250 | 3.000 |
| 3 | y-Texas United | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 72 | 5 | 67 | 32 | 2.667 | 5.583 | 6.000 |
| 4 | y-Fort Wayne FC | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 31 | 3 | 28 | 32 | 2.667 | 2.333 | 2.583 |
| 5 | y-Long Island Rough Riders | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 9 | 35 | 37 | 2.643 | 2.500 | 3.143 |
| 6 | y-Asheville City SC | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 36 | 9 | 27 | 31 | 2.583 | 2.250 | 3.000 |
| 7 | y-AHFC Royals | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 11 | 22 | 31 | 2.583 | 1.833 | 2.750 |
| 8 | y-Monterey Bay FC 2 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 12 | 20 | 31 | 2.583 | 1.667 | 2.667 |
| 9 | y-Flint City Bucks | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 9 | 20 | 31 | 2.583 | 1.667 | 2.417 |
| 10 | y-Seacoast United Phantoms | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 18 | 16 | 34 | 2.429 | 1.143 | 2.429 |
| 11 | y-Park City Red Wolves SC | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 2.400 | 1.100 | 1.800 |
| 12 | y-Lionsbridge FC | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 31 | 10 | 21 | 28 | 2.333 | 1.750 | 2.583 |
| 13 | y-NC Fusion | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 2.286 | 1.429 | 2.286 |
| 14 | y-The Villages SC | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 24 | 7 | 17 | 27 | 2.250 | 1.417 | 2.000 |
| 15 | y-Redlands FC | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 26 | 2.167 | 0.750 | 1.833 |
| 16 | y-Ocean City Nor’easters | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 28 | 15 | 13 | 29 | 2.071 | 0.929 | 2.000 |
| 17 | y-Weston FC | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 23 | 1.917 | 0.250 | 1.167 |
| 18 | South Carolina United FC | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 8 | 19 | 31 | 2.583 | 1.583 | 2.250 |
| 19 | Des Moines Menace | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 42 | 11 | 31 | 30 | 2.500 | 2.583 | 3.500 |
| 20 | Western Mass Pioneers | 14 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 36 | 9 | 27 | 33 | 2.357 | 1.929 | 2.571 |
| 21 | Vermont Green FC | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 38 | 12 | 26 | 31 | 2.214 | 1.857 | 2.714 |
| 22 | Hudson Valley Hammers | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 37 | 18 | 19 | 31 | 2.214 | 1.357 | 2.643 |
| 23 | Little Rock Rangers | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 7 | 35 | 26 | 2.167 | 2.917 | 3.500 |
| 24 | Nona FC | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 7 | 23 | 26 | 2.167 | 1.917 | 2.500 |
| 25 | Charlotte Eagles | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 38 | 21 | 17 | 30 | 2.143 | 1.214 | 2.714 |
| 26 | Ventura County Fusion | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 33 | 14 | 19 | 25 | 2.083 | 1.583 | 2.750 |
| 27 | FC Tucson | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 30 | 14 | 16 | 25 | 2.083 | 1.333 | 2.500 |
| 28 | RKC Third Coast | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 35 | 20 | 15 | 25 | 2.083 | 1.250 | 2.917 |
| 29 | San Francisco Glens SC | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 25 | 2.083 | 1.000 | 1.917 |
| 30 | Twin City Toucans | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 37 | 12 | 25 | 24 | 2.000 | 2.083 | 3.083 |
| 31 | West Chester United SC | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 37 | 21 | 16 | 28 | 2.000 | 1.143 | 2.643 |
| 32 | Manhattan SC | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 29 | 25 | 4 | 27 | 1.929 | 0.286 | 2.071 |
| 33 | Northern Virginia FC | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 19 | 4 | 23 | 1.917 | 0.333 | 1.917 |
| 34 | New Jersey Copa FC | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 32 | 22 | 10 | 26 | 1.857 | 0.714 | 2.286 |
| 35 | New Mexico United U23 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 18 | 1.800 | 0.300 | 1.700 |
| 36 | Christos FC | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 33 | 20 | 13 | 21 | 1.750 | 1.083 | 2.750 |
| 37 | Florida Elite Soccer Academy | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 21 | 1.750 | 0.750 | 1.583 |
| 38 | Miami AC | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 1.750 | 0.667 | 1.417 |
| 39 | East Atlanta Dutch Lions | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 20 | 1.667 | 0.333 | 1.583 |
| 40 | Oly Town FC | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 24 | -1 | 20 | 1.667 | -0.083 | 1.917 |
| 41 | Louisiana Krewe FC | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 26 | 15 | 11 | 19 | 1.583 | 0.917 | 2.167 |
| 42 | Cleveland Force SC | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 1.583 | 0.750 | 2.250 |
| 43 | AFC Ann Arbor | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 19 | 1.583 | 0.750 | 2.000 |
| 44 | FC Miami City | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 19 | 1.583 | 0.250 | 1.333 |
| 45 | Toledo Villa FC | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 19 | 1.583 | 0.167 | 1.750 |
| 46 | Virginia Beach United | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 19 | -6 | 19 | 1.583 | -0.500 | 1.083 |
| 47 | Cedar Stars | 14 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 29 | 22 | 7 | 22 | 1.571 | 0.500 | 2.071 |
| 48 | Reading United AC | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 26 | 19 | 7 | 22 | 1.571 | 0.500 | 1.857 |
| 49 | Peoria City | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 17 | 10 | 18 | 1.500 | 0.833 | 2.250 |
| 50 | Corpus Christi FC | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 30 | 21 | 9 | 18 | 1.500 | 0.750 | 2.500 |
| 51 | Oakland County FC | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 18 | 1.500 | 0.083 | 1.917 |
| 52 | Boulder County United | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 18 | -1 | 15 | 1.500 | -0.100 | 1.700 |
| 53 | St. Charles FC | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 23 | 31 | -8 | 18 | 1.500 | -0.667 | 1.917 |
| 54 | Sarasota Paradise | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 17 | 1.417 | 0.333 | 1.500 |
| 55 | San Francisco City FC | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 1.417 | 0.083 | 1.500 |
| 56 | Mississippi Brilla FC | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 27 | -7 | 17 | 1.417 | -0.583 | 1.667 |
| 57 | FC Motown STA | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 41 | 33 | 8 | 19 | 1.357 | 0.571 | 2.929 |
| 58 | FC Carolinas | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 25 | 22 | 3 | 19 | 1.357 | 0.214 | 1.786 |
| 59 | West Virginia United | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 25 | 26 | -1 | 19 | 1.357 | -0.071 | 1.786 |
| 60 | Pathfinder FC | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 23 | -3 | 19 | 1.357 | -0.214 | 1.429 |
| 61 | United PDX | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 16 | 1.333 | 0.000 | 2.167 |
| 62 | St. Croix Legends | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 22 | -6 | 16 | 1.333 | -0.500 | 1.333 |
| 63 | Lansing City Football | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 21 | -6 | 16 | 1.333 | -0.500 | 1.250 |
| 64 | Capital FC Atletico | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 21 | 28 | -7 | 16 | 1.333 | -0.583 | 1.750 |
| 65 | Wake FC | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 27 | 25 | 2 | 18 | 1.286 | 0.143 | 1.929 |
| 66 | Midwest United FC | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 18 | 4 | 15 | 1.250 | 0.333 | 1.833 |
| 67 | St. Petersburg FC | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 22 | 21 | 1 | 15 | 1.250 | 0.083 | 1.833 |
| 68 | Kalamazoo FC | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 26 | 29 | -3 | 15 | 1.250 | -0.250 | 2.167 |
| 69 | Marin FC Legends | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 20 | 24 | -4 | 15 | 1.250 | -0.333 | 1.667 |
| 70 | Project 51O | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 23 | -4 | 15 | 1.250 | -0.333 | 1.583 |
| 71 | Real Central NJ | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 17 | 1.214 | 0.214 | 1.643 |
| 72 | Tobacco Road FC | 14 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 27 | 28 | -1 | 17 | 1.214 | -0.071 | 1.929 |
| 73 | North Carolina FC U23 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 22 | 29 | -7 | 17 | 1.214 | -0.500 | 1.571 |
| 74 | Salt City SC | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 1.200 | 0.300 | 1.800 |
| 75 | Flatirons Rush | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 12 | 1.200 | 0.200 | 1.500 |
| 76 | Rochester FC | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 25 | -10 | 14 | 1.167 | -0.833 | 1.250 |
| 77 | Westchester Flames | 14 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 25 | 29 | -4 | 16 | 1.143 | -0.286 | 1.786 |
| 78 | Dalton Red Wolves SC | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 13 | 1.083 | 0.333 | 1.500 |
| 79 | Lane United FC | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 19 | 2 | 13 | 1.083 | 0.167 | 1.750 |
| 80 | Southern California Seahorses | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 19 | 21 | -2 | 13 | 1.083 | -0.167 | 1.583 |
| 81 | Tennessee SC | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 16 | -2 | 13 | 1.083 | -0.167 | 1.167 |
| 82 | AC Houston Sur | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 18 | -4 | 13 | 1.083 | -0.333 | 1.167 |
| 83 | Academica SC | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 21 | 26 | -5 | 13 | 1.083 | -0.417 | 1.750 |
| 84 | Boston Bolts | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 15 | 1.071 | 0.071 | 1.500 |
| 85 | Albany Rush | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 22 | 29 | -7 | 15 | 1.071 | -0.500 | 1.571 |
| 86 | AC Connecticut | 14 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 19 | 29 | -10 | 15 | 1.071 | -0.714 | 1.357 |
| 87 | Southern Soccer Academy | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 17 | 19 | -2 | 12 | 1.000 | -0.167 | 1.417 |
| 88 | FC Wichita | 12 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 22 | 28 | -6 | 12 | 1.000 | -0.500 | 1.833 |
| 89 | Houston FC | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 21 | -8 | 12 | 1.000 | -0.667 | 1.083 |
| 90 | Minneapolis City SC | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 26 | -9 | 12 | 1.000 | -0.750 | 1.417 |
| 91 | Black Rock FC | 14 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 18 | -6 | 13 | 0.929 | -0.429 | 0.857 |
| 92 | Tampa Bay United | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 19 | -5 | 11 | 0.917 | -0.417 | 1.167 |
| 93 | Brevard SC | 12 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 32 | -15 | 11 | 0.917 | -1.250 | 1.417 |
| 94 | Kings Hammer FC | 11 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 17 | -5 | 10 | 0.909 | -0.455 | 1.091 |
| 95 | Philadelphia Lone Star FC | 14 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 21 | 33 | -12 | 11 | 0.786 | -0.857 | 1.500 |
| 96 | Morris Elite SC | 14 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 16 | 37 | -21 | 11 | 0.786 | -1.500 | 1.143 |
| 97 | Dayton Dutch Lions FC | 12 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 24 | -13 | 9 | 0.750 | -1.083 | 0.917 |
| 98 | Chicago Dutch Lions FC | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 35 | -23 | 9 | 0.750 | -1.917 | 1.000 |
| 99 | Arizona Arsenal SC | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 14 | 28 | -14 | 8 | 0.667 | -1.167 | 1.167 |
| 100 | FA Euro New York | 14 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 32 | -20 | 8 | 0.571 | -1.429 | 0.857 |
| 101 | FC Buffalo | 11 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 32 | -21 | 6 | 0.545 | -1.909 | 1.000 |
| 102 | Patuxent Football Athletics | 12 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 19 | -9 | 6 | 0.500 | -0.750 | 0.833 |
| 103 | PDX FC | 12 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 34 | -22 | 6 | 0.500 | -1.833 | 1.000 |
| 104 | LA Parish AC | 12 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 33 | -23 | 6 | 0.500 | -1.917 | 0.833 |
| 105 | Springfield Athletic SC | 12 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 40 | -31 | 6 | 0.500 | -2.583 | 0.750 |
| 106 | Lehigh Valley United | 14 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 37 | -27 | 6 | 0.429 | -1.929 | 0.714 |
| 107 | Bavarian United SC | 12 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 30 | -16 | 5 | 0.417 | -1.333 | 1.167 |
| 108 | Altitude Rush | 12 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 13 | 32 | -19 | 5 | 0.417 | -1.583 | 1.083 |
| 109 | Davis Legacy SC | 12 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 15 | 35 | -20 | 5 | 0.417 | -1.667 | 1.250 |
| 110 | Virginia Marauders FC | 12 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 33 | -23 | 5 | 0.417 | -1.917 | 0.833 |
| 111 | Capo FC | 12 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 40 | -28 | 5 | 0.417 | -2.333 | 1.000 |
| 112 | Swan City SC | 12 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 38 | -29 | 5 | 0.417 | -2.417 | 0.750 |
| 113 | CISA | 10 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 24 | -18 | 4 | 0.400 | -1.800 | 0.600 |
| 114 | Round Rock SC | 12 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 51 | -44 | 4 | 0.333 | -3.667 | 0.583 |
| 115 | Blue Goose SC | 12 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 87 | -83 | 4 | 0.333 | -6.917 | 0.333 |
| 116 | Charlotte Independence 2 | 14 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 48 | -33 | 4 | 0.286 | -2.357 | 1.071 |
| 117 | South Bend Lions | 12 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 33 | -25 | 3 | 0.250 | -2.083 | 0.667 |
| 118 | Ironbound SC | 14 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 48 | -38 | 3 | 0.214 | -2.714 | 0.714 |
| 119 | North Alabama SC | 12 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 54 | -50 | 1 | 0.083 | -4.167 | 0.333 |
| 120 | Boston City FC | 14 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 52 | -44 | 1 | 0.071 | -3.143 | 0.571 |