The 2024 National Amateur Cup has continued over the last few weeks, with more regional tournaments nearing their final stages. Only one region, Region III (South), has yet to kick a ball.
Since 2018, the champion of the National Amateur Cup, the highest tournament in the United States Adult Soccer Association, receives direct qualification to the following year’s U.S. Open Cup. For the last few years, TheCup.us has tracked the National Amateur Cup from its regional stages all the way up until the national final. These updates have been provided on Twitter / X and stats have been kept internally.
USASA is broken into four regions, each holding their own amateur cup tournament respectively. The champions of these four tournaments qualify for the national finals later this summer.
You can find a brief summary of every from this past weekend below. Additionally, here are links to the Twitter threads and articles made over the two months regarding other results:
FULL 2024 NATIONAL AMATEUR CUP SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Region I (Northeast)
Semifinals
SUNDAY, MAY 19
Providence City FC Rogues (MA – Bay State Soccer League)
1:7
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (NY – Eastern Premier Soccer League)
Rhode Island College Alumni Stadium – Providence, RI
Three-time US Open Cup champions New York Pancyprian-Freedoms cruised past Providence City FC Rogues, 7-1, to reach the regional final in June. The visitors took a one goal lead into half but took advantage of a lacking host. PCFC suffered a red card and then allowed six goals. A consolation was the only solace for the home side.
Goal scorers
PCFC:
- Pedro Ferreira
NYPF:
- Joe Holland
- Matt Forster (x2)
- Sebastian Ruiz (x2)
- James Thristino
- Arsen Demetriou
Christos FC (MD – Maryland Super Soccer League)
2:0
Steel Pulse FC (MD – Maryland Super Soccer League)
Cedar Lane Park Field #6 – Columbia, MD
Christos FC advanced to the regional final past rival Steel Pulse FC, 2-0, with two late game penalty kicks. The match was back and forth with both teams knowing each other very well. This was a rematch of the 2023-24 Maryland Stewart Cup final, which qualified both teams for the regional tournament and which Christos won. This was also a rematch from the Third qualifying round of 2024 US Open Cup qualifying, which Christos also won on route to a tournament berth.
Goalscorers
CFC:
- Anthony Dragisics (PK) 88’
- Dominic Colon (PK) 90+5’
Match video:
Region II (Midwest)
Round 3
SATURDAY, MAY 11
Michigan Stars Semi Pro U23 (MI – Midwest Premier League)
0:2
Northern Indiana FC (IN – Midwest Premier League)
Michigan Stars Sports Center – Washington, MI
Northern Indiana FC scored twice late to beat hosts Michigan Stars Semi Pro U23, 2-0. The leaders of the Great Lakes West Division in the MWPL have been rolling since joining the league earlier this year. With the win, the team will return to Ohio, the site of its win last round, to play NPSL side Akron City FC.
Goal scorers
NIFC:
- Leo Mendez 80′
- Julian Vargas 84′
Match video:
Match highlights:
SUNDAY, MAY 12
Green Bay Glory (IL – Midwest Premier League)
0:1
Vlora FC (MN – Minnesota Amateur Soccer League)
Aldo Santaga Stadium – Green Bay, WI
Joseph Giron’s stoppage time goal advanced Vlora FC past Green Bay Glory, 1-0, in a game that looked destined for extra time. Vlora’s second time in regional quarterfinals (2021) sets up a road trip to play a multi-time national champion in RWB Adria.
Goal scorers
VFC
- Joseph Giron 90+4′
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15
SAC Wisla Chicago (IL – Premier Soccer League of Chicagoland)
1:3
Wisloka Chicago (IL – Premier Soccer League of Chicagoland)
After Extra Time
Loyola Academy Munz Field – Glenview, IL
A heated match between league rivals saw Wisloka Chicago beat SAC Wisla Chicago, 3-1 AET. The home side took the lead midway in the second half thanks to Konrad Malinowski corner finding Alex Lulek. Former Polish professional player Daniel Lukaszczyk equalized late in the second half to force extra time. Late in the first ET, Lukasz Sulka put the visitors ahead with what would be the game winning goal before former USL Championship player Wojciech Wojcik scored in his second straight Amateur Cup game. Wisloka will now hit the road to play multi-time national champion and one-time US Open Cup runner-up Bavarian United SC.
Goal scorers
Wisla
- Alex Lulek (Asst: Konrad Malinowski) 57’
Wisloka
- Daniel Łukaszczyk 84’
- Łukasz Sulka 104’
- Wojciech Wójcik 108’
MONDAY, MAY 20
Czarni Jaslo Chicago (IL – Midwest Premier League)
1:3
Chicago House AC (IL – Midwest Premier League)
Redmond Soccer Field – Bensenville, IL
2024 US Open Cup participant Chicago House AC advanced, 3-1, past Czarni Jaslo Chicago. Nico Williams scored for a second straight Region II match before Kikis Avalos doubled the lead just before halftime. Hosts CJC cut the deficit in half, but House responded a few minutes later to make it a two goal lead once again. After being one and done in its first Amateur Cup last year, CHAC is now heading on the road for a Quarterfinal match against NPSL side FC Milwaukee Torrent.
Goal scorers
CJC:
- Paul Urban 64’
CHAC:
- Nico Williams 20’
- Kikis Avalos 42’
- Lalo Aguilera 69’
Region III (South)
Region III, encompassing 11 states and 12 associations across the southern United States, will hold its tournament on June 7–9 at MESA Soccer Complex in Greer, South Carolina.
Qualifications is typically decided by teams winning their respective state cups (for example the on-going Georgia Adult State Cup). However, open entry has been allowed in the past to make up numbers.
Region IV (West)
Round 1
SUNDAY, MAY 12
Peak XI FC (CO – Mountain Premier League)
1:1
Timbers SC (CO – Mountain Premier League)
Timbers SC advances 4-3 on penalty kicks
Fairview High School – Boulder, CO
The first game of the USASA Region IV Amateur Cup did not disappoint on thrills as Timbers SC beat fellow Mountain Premier League side Peak XI FC, 1-1 (4:3 on pks). The game was scoreless after 90 minutes meaning the two teams would need to play at least two more 15 minute halves. In the second extra time, a run by Peak up the left side ended with a shoulder tackle by a Timbers player in the box. The subsequent penalty kick was converted by Taylor Smyser to give the home side the lead. However Timbers responded a few minutes later, with a team play up the right side ending with Alex Molchan equalizer. In the penalty kick shootout, Timbers’ keeper Kyle Lanham made two huge saves in the first two rounds as his team went four for five to win, 4-3, in the fifth round.
Goal scorers
Peak:
- Taylor Smyser 113′ (PK)
TSC:
- Alex Molchan 118′
Match Video:
- Video 1: https://www.facebook.com/peakxi/videos/6740214276081047/
- Video 2: https://www.facebook.com/peakxi/videos/1019124812908431/
- Video 3 (Second half + ET + Shootout): https://www.facebook.com/peakxi/videos/1083951045999312
Azteca FC (CO – Colorado Soccer Association)
W:L
Young Gunz FC (CO – Mountain Premier League)
Azteca FC advanced past Young Gunz FC via forfeit. When reached for comment, Gunz cited the team’s current schedule congestion between Mountain Premier League and another competition it was in. The team also criticized the region’s planning of the event, noting it had signed up for the tournament in March and only heard about scheduling two barely squeezing two games in May at the last minute.
Quarterfinals
SATURDAY, MAY 18
Boise Alpha FC (ID – Southern Idaho Soccer League)
1:4
J.M. United FC (UT – Utah Adult Soccer League)
Sunway Soccer Complex – Twin Falls, ID
J.M. United FC beat Boise Alpha FC, 4-1, In a battle of teams from states that aren’t often talked about on this website. J.M., which stands for Jersey Mike’s United FC, is a reserve/second team for USL League Two side Salt City SC. The group is in the process of changing its name to “Salt City FC” but there’s no chance we’re not capitalizing on this name while we have the chance to report on it.
Goal scorers
BAFC:
- Alain Clement (Musab Bwana)
JMUFC:
- Nathan Reginato (Youri Joseph)
- Teddy Chester (Youri Joseph)
- Moses Ruiz (Ian Nielson)
- Ian Nielson (Moses Ruiz)
THURSDAY, MAY 23
Azteca FC (CO – Colorado Soccer Association)
4:0
Timbers SC (CO – Mountain Premier League)
Lowry Sports Complex – Denver, CO
Azteca FC beat Timbers SC, 4-0, to advance to the regional semifinals in Las Vegas. The experienced multi-time US Open Cup qualifier overpowered the barely year old club. Timbers had chances to turn the tides but had two goals called back, preserving Azteca’s clean sheet.
Goal scorers
AFC:
- Luis Reyes
- Jovany Herrera
- Alan Salgado
- George Martinez
SATURDAY, MAY 25
UNM Club Soccer (NM – Albuquerque Soccer League)
0:4
FC Arizona (AZ – National Premier Soccer League)
New Mexico Soccer Complex – Bernalillo, NM
Experience heavy FC Arizona knocked off sentimental favorite UNM Club Soccer, 4-0, on the road. Hosts UNM are the only men’s soccer representing their university cut the varsity men’s soccer program in 2018. The NPSL side took a one goal lead into half time thanks to a Dino Redzic goal before scoring three more unanswered to advance to Las Vegas.
Goal scorers
FCA:
- Dino Redzic
- Josue Murillo (x2)
- Justin Provenzano
Temecula FC (CA – NISA Nation)
W:L
The Olympic Club (CA – San Francisco Soccer Football League)
Temecula FC advanced past The Olympic Club via forfeit. When reached for comment, OC and the region cited the team’s current schedule congestion with San Francisco Soccer Football League commitments and the travel to SoCal. The team, like Young Gunz prior, also criticized the region’s planning of the event. A team official noted the original date of the Las Vegas Semifinals & Final was supposed to be June 17-18 and OC was supposed to just qualify for that without a play-in (Quarterfinal) match. The date of the final four switched two more times, giving Olympic Club little space to organize travel to a game.
Note: This was announced the same day as the Young Gunz FC forfeit/withdrawal.
National Amateur Cup Finals
Once all four regional champions have been crowned, each will take part in the national finals on July 25 to 28 in DeKalb, Illinois. This event is officially being hosted by DeKalb County United, who oddly enough did not even enter the tournament.