The US Soccer Federation announced the 114 clubs that will take part in Open Division Local qualifying for the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. These teams, a record amount for the qualifying tournament since it began in the fall of 2015, come from 24 states and the District of Columbia.
The previous record for most teams in the qualifying tournament was 108 teams, which was set in the fall of 2017 in the leadup to the 2018 US Open Cup. This year’s total is also seven more than the 107 that attempted to qualify for the 2024 tournament proper.
The most represented league for yet another year is the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), comprising nearly half of the field with 50 entrants. The only other league with double digit entrants is the Eastern Premier Soccer League (EPSL) with 13. Coincidentally, both of these leagues had teams earn spots in the tournament proper via other means.
The four rounds of single elimination matches will take place over the rest of 2024 with 14 qualifiers being determined. Match-ups will be geographical to minimize travel for all teams. To achieve this, the 114 teams will be grouped into 14 regional pools from which the Qualifying Round draw will be conducted. The schedule for the qualifying rounds is as follows:
- October 5-6, 2024 – First Qualifying Round
- October 26-27, 2024 – Second Qualifying Round
- November 16-17, 2024 – Third Qualifying Round
- December, 7-8, 2024 – Fourth Qualifying Round
The pairings for the first round will be linked to here once that information becomes available.
This year’s tournament features a number of returning teams. Eight teams that qualified for the 2024 tournament are back seeking a repeat appearance, including Miami United FC who beat two professional teams earlier this year. Another team from this group is Azteca FC from Colorado, which has the most wins (17-1-1) of the new qualifying tournament era. They are seeking their fifth qualification in seven attempts, and also looking to forget an early exit from the 2024 tournament against Colorado Rapids 2 (MLS NEXT Pro).
Two teams have already qualified for next year’s tournament and bypassed the qualifying phase. Three-time US Open Cup champion New York Pancyprian Freedoms won the 2024 USASA National Amateur Cup in July to qualify. Likewise, Soda City FC from South Carolina won the 2024 UPSL Spring Championship to qualify for 2025.
Two other Open Division national leagues will bypass qualifying and enter in the First Round as well, using 2024 season results to determine entrants. USL League Two (USL-2) and National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) will each receive their own slots in the competition. As with last year the UPSL, although it meets Open Cup national league status, chose not to go down this qualifying route. Instead, it let each team in the league choose on its own if they want to participate or not in local qualifying.
In the announcement, US Soccer explained that a change by the US Open Cup committee have made additional slots available to teams that compete in the Open Division. Of the 32 slots reserved for Open Division teams, half (16) will be allocated to the two National Leagues (how many each league will receive is still to be determined). The other half will be allocated to the designated UPSL and USASA champions and the Qualifying Round entrants.
Here are the entries for the 2025 Open Division Local qualifying tournament:
ARIZONA (1)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- Next Level Soccer; Gilbert, Ariz.
CALIFORNIA (20)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- Acoreano Sport; Hilmar, Calif.
- Bay Valley Suns Sports Club; Pleasanton, Calif.
- City SC San Diego; Carlsbad, Calif.
- FC Balboa; San Diego, Calif.
- FC Folsom; Folsom, Calif.
- Independiente Los Angeles Futbol Club; Los Angeles, Calif.
- Irvine FC; Irvine, Calif.
- Laguna United FC; Laguna Nigel, Calif.
- Napa Valley 1839 FC; Napa, Calif.
- Real Galt FC; Galt, Calif.
- San Diego Internacional; San Diego, Calif.
- Trojans FC; Los Angeles, Calif.
- Valley 559 FC; Fresno, Calif.
Southwest Premier League (United States Specialty Sports Association-Soccer)
- Chula Vista FC; Chula Vista, Calif.
- Desert FCJ; La Quinta, Calif.
- ASA RWC; Redwood City, Calif.
- Playmaker FC; Orange County, Calif.
San Francisco Soccer Football League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
- International San Francisco; San Francisco, Calif.
- SF Vikings SC; San Francisco, Calif.
NISA Nation (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
- Modesto City Football Club; Modesto, Calif.
COLORADO (7)
Colorado Premier League (United States Specialty Sports Association-Soccer)
- Azteca FC; Denver, Colo.
- Boulder United FC; Boulder, Colo.
- Colorado Rovers; Golden, Colo.
- FC Denver; Denver, Colo.
- Harpos FC; Longmont, Colo.
Mountain Premier League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
- Peak Eleven Football Club; Broomfield, Colo.
- Timbers SC; Denver, Colo.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (3)
American Premier League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
- Aegean Hawks FC; Washington, D.C.
DC Premier League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
- Guerrilla FC; Washington, D.C.
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- DC Hyper; Washington, D.C.
FLORIDA (18)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- City Soccer FC; West Palm Beach, Fla.
- Deportivo Lake Mary FC; Lake Mary, Fla.
- Harbor City FC; Melbourne, Fla.
- Hodler Miami FC; Doral, Fla.
- International Soccer Association; Boca Raton, Fla.
- Kissimmee Soccer Club; Kissimmee, Fla.
- Miami United FC; Miami Beach, Fla.
- Palm Beach Flames SC; Palm Beach, Fla.
- Pinecrest Premier SC; Pinecrest, Fla.
United States Soccer League (United States Specialty Sports Association-Soccer)
- FC America CFL Spurs; Sanford, Fla.
- Fenix United; Miami, Fla.
- Inter Nona Soccer Club; Kissimmee, Fla.
- Miami Soccer Academy; Miami Beach, Fla.
- O’Shea’s FC; West Palm Beach, Fla.
- River Miami FC; Miami, Fla.
Florida Gold Coast League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
- Hurricane FC; Boynton Beach, Fla.
Premier Futbol League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
- Red Force, Miami, Fla.
Sunshine Conference Soccer League (United States Specialty Sports Association-Soccer)
- Naples United U23; Naples, Fla.
GEORGIA (1)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- Dalton United; Dalton, Ga.
ILLINOIS (5)
Midwest Premier League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
- Chicago House AC; Chicago, Ill.
- Edgewater Castle FC; Chicago, Ill.
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- Chicago Strikers; Chicago, Ill.
- Wisloka Chicago; Chicago, Ill.
Greater Chicago Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
- United SC; Chicago, Ill.
INDIANA (2)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- Southern Indiana FC; Jeffersonville, Ind.
- Southern Indiana Guardians FC; Floyds Knobs, Ind.
KANSAS (1)
The Select League (US Club Soccer)
- Woodland Football Club; Shawnee, Kan.
KENTUCKY (1)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- Bowling Green FC; Bowling Green, Ken.
MARYLAND (4)
Eastern Premier Soccer League (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- Maryland Bobcats II; Boyds, Mary.
- Patuxent FA; Patuxent River, Mary.
Maryland Super Soccer League (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- Steel Pulse FC; Windsor Mill, Mary.
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- MSI Pro; Rockville, Md.
MASSACHUSETTS (4)
Bay State Soccer League (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- CD Faialense; Cambridge, Mass.
- FC Omens; Boston, Mass.
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- Boston Street FC; Revere, Mass.
- Project Football; Salem, Mass.
NEVADA (2)
NISA Nation (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
- Las Vegas Legends FC, Las Vegas, Nev.
- Soccer Academy Nevada; Las Vegas, Nev.
NEW JERSEY (3)
Eastern Premier Soccer League (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- Oaklyn United FC; Oaklyn, N.J.
- SC Vistula Garfield; Garfield, N.J.
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- New Jersey Alliance FC; Lyndhurst, N.J.
NEW MEXICO (1)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- UDA Soccer; Las Cruces, N.M.
NEW YORK (10)
Eastern Premier Soccer League (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- Central Park Rangers FC, New York City, N.Y.
- KidSuper Samba AC; Bronx, N.Y.
- Lansdowne Yonkers FC; Yonkers, N.Y.
- New York Greek American SC; Astoria, N.Y.*
- Zum Schneider FC 03; Roosevelt Island, N.Y.
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- FCY New York; Buffalo, N.Y.
- NY Empire FC; Hauppauge, N.Y.
- NY Renegades FC; Hicksville, N.Y.
Long Island Soccer Football League (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- Leros SC; Roslyn, N.Y.
NISA Nation (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
- Roc City Boom; Rochester, N.Y.
NORTH CAROLINA (1)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- Mint Hill FC; Mint Hill, N.C.
OHIO (1)
Ohio Valley Premier League (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- Valhalla FC; Cincinnati, Ohio.
OKLAHOMA (2)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- FC Bartlesville Buffaloes; Bartlesville, Okla.
- Tulsa Athletic; Tulsa, Okla.
OREGON (1)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- Deportivo Rose City; Portland, Ore.
PENNSYLVANIA (9)
United Soccer League of Pennsylvania (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- Colonial SC; Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
- Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals; North Wales, Pa.^
- United German Hungarians; Ambler, Pa.
- Vereinigung Erzgebirge; Warminster, Pa.
- West Chester United SC; West Chester, Pa.
Eastern Premier Soccer League (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- Alloy Soccer Club; Lancaster, PA
- Kensington Soccer Club; Philadelphia, Pa.
- Vidas United FC; Philadelphia, PA
Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- Pittsburgh Dynamo; Pittsburgh, Pa.
SOUTH CAROLINA (1)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- South Carolina United Heat; Lexington. S.C.
TENNESSEE (1)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- Pre-College Development Academy; Nashville, Ten.
TEXAS (7)
Dallas Soccer Alliance (United States Specialty Sports Association-Soccer)
- D’Feeters Kicks Soccer Club; Dallas, Texas
- StrikerZ DFW Soccer Club; Celena, Texas
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- 210 FC; San Antonio, Texas
- Foro SC; Dallas, Texas
Austin Men’s Soccer Association (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- Austin Thunder; Austin, Texas
Houston Football Association (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- ASC New Stars; Houston, Texas
United States Soccer League (United States Specialty Sports Association-Soccer)
- Houston Regals SC; Houston, Texas
VIRGINIA (4)
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- Alexandria Reds; Alexandria, Va.
- VA Revolution Pro; Leesburg, Va.
Eastern Premier Soccer League (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- Nova FC; Centreville, Va.
Virginia Super Soccer League (US Adult Soccer Assn)
- Virginia Dream FC; Falls Church, Va.
WASHINGTON (3)
Recreational Adult Team Soccer (United States Specialty Sports Association-Soccer)
- Sharktopus Football Club; Seattle, Wash.
- Washington Athletic Club; Seattle, Wash.
United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- Bellevue Athletic FC; Snohomish, Wash.
- Holac FC; Seattle, Wash.
* Four-time U.S. Open Cup Champion (1967-69, 1974)
^ Four-time U.S. Open Cup Champion (1960-61, 1963, 1966)