2016 US Open Cup

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

UPDATE: Rio Grande Valley FC has been removed from the tournament by the request of the Houston Dynamo. Chattanooga FC (NPSL) and Kitsap Pumas (PDL) receive byes into Round 2 as a result.

UPDATE: The draw for Round 1 and the Round 2 scenarios was released

The US Soccer Federation has released the format and schedule for the 103rd edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The tournament kicks off on Wednesday, May 11 and will feature a Modern Era (1995 to present) record 92 participating teams from Division 1 all the way down to the amateur level (Division 4). A record 48 Open Division teams will participate after the Third Qualifying Round was eliminated due to a reduction in professional teams entering the competition. Also new this year, once the Round of 16 matchups are determined, the bracket will remain fixed until the Final, which takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

First Round matchups and potential Second Round possibilities will be announced on Wednesday, April 6. 14 local amateur qualifiers, 19 PDL teams, and 15 NPSL clubs will begin play in the First Round with 18 USL sides entering in the Second Round on Wednesday, May 18. The nine eligible NASL teams will join the action on Wednesday, June 1 when the Third Round takes place. The Fourth Round, which is slated for Wednesday, June 15, will see MLS teams enter the fray. Upon its completion, the field for the Round of 16 will be set and a fixed bracket will be determined for the remainder of the tournament.

There have been rumors of a possible national broadcast for the Final this year and US Soccer is preparing for that possibility by noting that “any game chosen by US Soccer to be broadcast nationally is subject to being moved up a day”.

Check out the full field, schedule, and all other pertinent details below…

Tournament Format, Schedule and Other Key Dates:

Initial Pairings Announcement – April 6

First Round games as well as Second Round possibilities announced.

First Round – May 11

Number of Games: 24
Participants: 48 Open Division teams (14 local qualifiers, 19 PDL sides and 15 NPSL clubs).
Description: Teams will be paired geographically with the restriction that teams from the same qualifying pool (e.g. local qualifiers, PDL, NPSL, etc.) cannot be paired to play each other.

Second Round – May 18

Number of Games: 21
Participants: Winners of 24 First Round games are joined by 18 USL clubs.
Description: At the time the First Round pairings are made, each USL team will be matched geographically to a specific First Round pairing and be scheduled to play its winner. The remaining First Round matchups not paired with a Division III side will be paired up geographically, with the winners playing each other to complete the round.

Third Round – June 1

Number of Games: 15
Participants: Winners of 21 Second Round games are joined by nine NASL sides.
Description: After each Second Round matchup has been determined, each NASL team will be paired geographically to a specific Second Round matchup and be scheduled to play its winner. The 12 remaining Second Round matchups not paired with a Division II side will be paired up geographically, with the winners playing each other to complete the round.

Fourth Round – June 15

Number of Games: 16
Participants: Winners from 15 Third Round games are joined by 17 MLS clubs.
Description: After each Third Round matchup has been determined, 15 of 17 MLS teams will be paired geographically to a specific Third Round matchup and be scheduled to play these winners, while two MLS teams will face each other to complete the bracket.

Round of 16 Draw – June 16

The Fourth Round winners will be divided geographically (regardless of league affiliation) into groups of four, with teams who are precluded from playing each other until the Final (see list elsewhere) placed in different groups. A random draw will determine the pairings within each group, resulting in a fixed bracket for the remainder of the tournament. Should a precluded pair of teams reach the Semifinal Round and be scheduled to face each other, the matches will be re-drawn after the quarterfinals to avoid this outcome.

Round of 16 – June 29

Number of Games: 8
Fourth Round winners face each other as determined by the Round of 16 Draw.

Quarterfinals – July 20

Semifinals – Aug. 10

Final – Sept. 21

Note: The day following each of the dates listed above is reserved as a make-up date in the event of a weather postponement. Additionally, any game from the Fourth Round until the Semifinals where one of the participants has a league game the following Friday will be moved up a day (exception to this is when the team’s opponent is scheduled for a league game the preceding Sunday; in this case, the provisions in the Open Cup Handbook to resolve such an issue prevail). Finally, any game chosen by U.S. Soccer to be broadcast nationally is subject to being moved up a day.

2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Participating Teams
Division I, II and III Professional Teams Eligible to Participate (44 total):

Division I – Major League Soccer (17 teams, entering in the Fourth Round): Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew SC, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City

Division II – North American Soccer League (9 teams, entering in the Third Round): Carolina RailHawks, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Indy Eleven, Jacksonville Armada, Miami FC, Minnesota United FC, New York Cosmos, Rayo OKC, Tampa Bay Rowdies

Division III – United Soccer League (17 teams, entering in the Second Round): Arizona United, Charleston Battery, Charlotte Independence, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, FC Cincinnati, Harrisburg City Islanders, Louisville City FC, Oklahoma City Energy, Orange County Blues, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Rhinos, Sacramento Republic, Saint Louis FC, San Antonio, Tulsa Roughnecks, Wilmington Hammerheads

Division IV, Open Division Teams (48 total, all entering in the First Round, except Chattanooga FC & Kitsap Pumas will enter in Round 2):

Local Qualifiers (14 places, listed alphabetically by state): California (5): La Maquina, LA Wolves FC, Outbreak FC, San Francisco City Football Club*, San Nicolas FC; Colorado (1): Harpo’s FC*; Florida (1): Boca Raton Football Club; Louisiana (1): CD Motagua of New Orleans; Massachusetts (1): Southie FC; New York (2): Lansdowne Bhoys FC, New York Pancyprian Freedoms; Pennsylvania (1): West Chester United; Texas (1): NTX Rayados*; Virginia (1): Aromas Cafe FC

Premier Development League (19 places): Division Winners: Burlingame Dragons* (Calif.), Charlotte Eagles (N.C.), Des Moines Menace* (Iowa), FC Tucson* (Ariz.), GPS Portland Phoenix (Maine), Kitsap Pumas* (Wash.), Michigan Bucks*, Mississippi Brilla, New York Red Bulls U-23, The Villages SC* (Fla.); At-Large Berths previously awarded: Jersey Express* (N.J.), Long Island Rough Riders* (N.Y.), Reading United* (Pa.), Seacoast United Phantoms* (N.H.), Ventura County Fusion* (Calif.); At-Large Berths newly awarded: Albuquerque Sol FC (N.M.), Cincinnati Dutch Lions (Ohio), Portland Timbers U-23, Sounders FC U-23. The PDL is a nationwide league affiliated with the U.S. Adult Soccer Association and opted to use 2015 league results to determine its qualifiers for the 2016 Open Cup.

National Premier Soccer League (15 places): Qualified via 2015 NPSL playoffs: AFC Cleveland (Ohio), CD Aguiluchos USA (Calif.), Chattanooga FC* (Tenn.), Clarkstown SC Eagles (N.Y.), Indiana Fire, Myrtle Beach Mutiny (S.C.), Sacramento Gold (Calif.); At-Large Berths previously awarded: Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves, FC Wichita (Kan.), Fredericksburg FC (Va.), Miami Fusion FC; At-Large Berths newly awarded: Chesterfield United FC (Va.), Corinthians FC of San Antonio (Texas), Detroit City FC*, Kraze United (Florida). New York Cosmos B and New York Athletic Club, previously awarded places in the 2016 competition, have withdrawn. The NPSL is a nationwide league affiliated with the U.S. Adult Soccer Association and opted to use 2015 league results to determine its qualifiers for the 2016 Open Cup.

* Participated in 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (The Villages SC played as Ocala Stampede)

Teams not eligible to play each other until the Final
(result of ownership affiliation or level of control over another squad participating in the tournament)

New York Red Bulls (MLS), New York Red Bulls U-23 (PDL)
Portland Timbers (MLS), Portland Timbers U-23 (PDL)
Seattle Sounders FC (MLS), Sounders FC U-23 (PDL)

In the instances listed above, the lower-division teams are allowed to participate per Section 202(d) of the Open Cup Policy (which limits an organization to fielding its top professional team when owning more than one pro side) because the teams either do not share an ownership affiliation or are not professional teams (in the case of PDL squads).

A little more than two months after it was initially posted on their website and reported by TheCup.us, the United States Soccer Federation confirmed on Thursday via press release that all Major League Soccer-owned teams that compete in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) will not be eligible for the 2016 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and beyond.

This would keep the following teams from competing in next year’s tournament: Seattle Sounders 2, Portland Timbers 2, LA Galaxy 2, New York Red Bulls 2, Real Monarchs (RSL) and 2016 expansion teams Orlando City B, Bethlehem Steel and Swope Park Rangers (Sporting KC).

This policy change was originally discovered on the federation’s Bylaws and Policies page in November where the 2015 Policy Amendments document states that on Sept. 8, 2015, the Board of Directors passed an amendment that will ban all Major League Soccer-owned USL teams from next year’s tournament.

The amendment reads:

“Any Outdoor Professional League Team that is majority owned by a higher-level Outdoor Professional League Team shall be ineligible to participate in the Open Cup. The Open Cup Committee shall review and determine team eligibility annually pursuant to this provision and report its decisions to the National Board of Directors.”

Questions had arisen about the status of 2016 USL expansion side Rio Grande Valley FC (RGVFC), who will be affiliated with MLS’ Houston Dynamo. The announcement by the USSF confirms that RGVFC will be allowed to compete in the tournament because while the two clubs will be sharing staff and coaches, they do not share an ownership group. RGVFC are owned by Lone Star FC. According to the Dynamo website, “Lone Star, as they do with the Houston Rockets, will manage and operate the club, including a new stadium, while Houston’s technical staff will select the players and coaching staff.”

Concerns arose last year that reserve teams under MLS control were fielding weakened rosters due, in large part, to the fact that the senior teams didn’t want to cup tie players with a USL team, thus making them unavailable for their own tournament run. One could speculate that was one of the motivating factors that led to this change.

A prime example of this comes from this past tournament’s second round match between the New York Red Bulls 2 and the PDL’s Jersey Express. All of the players on loan from the Red Bulls senior club did not dress for the match and seven players from the team’s Under-18 and Under-16 development academy squads were on the gameday roster. Two of those academy players found their way into the starting lineup. The Express won the match 1-0.

Now, with this news, the number of professional teams has been reduced by eight teams, which will change the number of teams that will enter the 2016 competition. The deadline for professional teams to register for the tournament was Dec. 31, 2015 and in the coming weeks, the federation will announce the finalized number of teams for the 103rd edition of the US Open Cup.