This article is part of TheCup.us’ National Amateur Cup coverage.
The 102nd edition of the National Amateur Cup has kicked off in the Northeast and Midwest. For the eighth straight tournament, the crown jewel of the United Adult Amateur Soccer Association (USASA) plays a part in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Whichever team is left standing as national champion will automatically qualify for the 2027 US Open Cup.
For the tournament, the United States is divided into four regions. Region I in the Northeast, Region II in the Midwest, Region III in the South, and Region IV in the West. All regions hold their own Amateur Cup tournaments with their own formats. The winners from each region play in a four-team national tournament.
For a more in-depth primer on the tournament, you can read our “What is the National Amateur Cup?” article.
Let’s get a quick update about where we are right now at the start.
REGION I (NORTHEAST)
Of the four, the USASA Region I Amateur Cup is the one with the highest competitive caliber. The competition is, for the most part, highly selective in terms of what teams qualify for it. The 16 teams taking part represent eight state soccer associations and the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). Five of these state associations sent both their state cup champion and finalist to the tournament, while one sent two teams that qualified through a separate slate of knockout games. These associations are:
- Eastern New York
- Eastern Pennsylvania
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Metropolitan DC-Virginia Soccer Association
- New Jersey
Both Western Pennsylvania and New Hampshire sent one team each, with no stated qualification method listed. The NPSL sent two teams into the tournament, once again with no listed qualification method. All of these teams can be found on our schedule page.
Of the last ten National Amateur Cup champions, six have come from the Northeast – including four which directly qualified for the Open Cup.
This includes defending National Amateur Cup champion West Chester United SC, who are coming off a Round 1 exit in the 2026 US Open Cup last month.
The tournament is set to run between this Sunday, March 22 to June 6, 2026. The format is single elimination knockout, with the bracket of 16 teams split between North and South. The American Premier Soccer League (formerly known as the Eastern Premier Soccer League) is the most represented league in the region with six teams participating. Maryland, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are the most represented states in the tournament with each having three teams taking part. The last two teams will play the regional final at the Ukrainian American Sport Center in Horsham, PA.
The schedule is as follows:
- Round 1 – March 22-29
- Quarterfinals – April 19-26th
- Semifinals – May 10-17
- Final – Saturday, June 6
A complete Round 1 recap of the tournament can be found here: *LINK When Ready later today*
REGION II (MIDWEST)
Registration for the USASA Region II Amateur Cup, also known as the Bill Davey Amateur Cup, closed on March 8. Teams from the region’s 14 state associations and National Premier Soccer League were eligible to sign up. The region uses open admission, meaning any eligible team may enter the tournament. The format is a single-elimination knockout bracket.
In total, 18 teams representing six state associations are taking part in the tournament. The Midwest Premier Soccer League is the most represented league in the region with seven teams participating. Wisconsin is the most represented state in the tournament with five teams taking part.
Regional began in late March, with each round expected to have a two week window periods set for each round. The final will be hosted by Ft. Wayne Sport Club, which is the same as 1927 SC that is taking part in the tournament, in Fort Wayne, IN.
- Round 1 – Competition window closes Sunday, April 5, 2026
- Round 2 – Competition window closes Sunday, April 19, 2026
- Quarterfinals – Competition window closes Sunday, May 3, 2026
- Semifinals – Competition window closes Sunday, May 17, 2026
- Final – Sunday, May 31, 2026
Of the 18 teams taking part, 16 will compete in Round 1 before the winners of those games meet in Round 2. Defending regional champion RWB Adria (IL, MWPL) and regional finalist FC Milwaukee Torrent (WI, NPSL) will enter in the Quarterfinal Round.
Round 1 matchups are as follows;
(Home team listed first)
- Goshen City FC (IN, MWPL) vs Steel City FC (IL, MWPL)
- Valhalla FC (OH, OVPL) vs 1927 SC (IN, MWPL)
- Ypsilanti Athletic FC (MI, MUSL) vs Drita Soccer Club (MI, APSL)
- Monroe United (MI, APSL) vs Livonia City FC (MI, APSL)
- Bavarian United SC (WI, MWPL) vs United Serbian Soccer Club (WI, WSL)
- Chicago House AC (IL, MWPL) vs RKC Third Coast FC (WI, MWPL)
- Green Bay Glory (WI, MWPL) vs Camargo FC (MN, MASL)
- Vlora FC (MN, MASL) vs Minnesota Blizzard FC (MN, NPSL)
* Blizzard also has a team in the Minnesota Amateur Soccer League (MASL). That team goes by the name Blizzard FC II, so this is the NPSL first team.
A full round recap for this round will be published to TheCup.us soon. Please check our schedule page for updated results, game locations, and kickoff times.
REGION III (SOUTH)
The USASA Region III Amateur Cup is scheduled to take place between Friday May 29 and Sunday, May 31, 2026 at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro, TN.
No format has been announced at this time. However, Region III typically involves a group stage and single elimination knockout style tournament. In years past, teams have been broken up into groups before playing three games over the course of two days (Friday and Saturday). The top performing teams in these groups advance to a knockout round on Sunday, with either four semifinalists playing two games in one day to determine a champion or only the top teams from each group playing in a final.
Teams that compete in leagues that are part of the following state associations are permitted to enter;
- Alabama Soccer Association
- Arkansas Soccer Association
- Florida Adult Soccer Association
- Georgia State Soccer Association
- Louisiana Soccer Association
- Mississippi Soccer Association
- North Carolina Adult Soccer Association
- North Texas Soccer Association
- Oklahoma Soccer Association
- South Carolina Soccer Association
- Tennessee State Soccer Association
- Texas State Soccer Association South
Teams that compete in the National Premier Soccer League from one of the above states are also permitted to enter.
REGION IV (WEST)
The USASA Region IV Amateur Cup is scheduled to take place between Friday June 26 and Sunday, June 28, 2026 at the Western Sports Park in Farmington, UT.
The region looks to be using the same format it implemented last year, which is similar to Region III with a group stage and single elimination knockout style tournament.
Teams will likely be broken up into groups before playing three games over the course of two days (Friday and Saturday). The top performing teams in these groups advance to a knockout round on Sunday, with either four semifinalists playing two games in one day to determine a champion or only the top teams from each group playing in a final.
In the meantime, interested teams from the following state associations, and the National Premier Soccer League, may sign up prior to the deadline of Monday, May 25, 2026:
- Alaska State Soccer Association
- Arizona State Soccer Association
- California Soccer Association – North
- California State Soccer Association – South
- Colorado Soccer Association
- Hawaii Soccer Association
- Idaho State Soccer Association
- Montana State Soccer Association
- Nevada Adult Soccer Association
- New Mexico State Soccer Association
- Oregon Adult Soccer Association
- Utah Soccer Association
- Washington State Adult Soccer Association
- Wyoming Soccer Association
National Amateur Cup Finals
According to USASA Region II, the 2026 National Amateur Cup Finals will be held in Milwaukee, WI between Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25. The exact hosting venue is unknown at this time.
The four regional champions will play a semifinal match on Friday, with the two winners advancing to Saturday’s national championship game. The winner of that will take home the Fitz Marth Amateur Cup, prize money, and automatic qualification to the 2027 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.