NPSL

UPDATE: The USSF released the format for the 2019 US Open Cup and Chattanooga FC decided to withdraw from the tournament, which pushed Midland-Odesssa Sockers FC up to 12th place, and earned them a spot in the 106th edition of the tournament.

The National Premier Soccer League’s (NPSL) 2018 season was filled with first-year clubs reaching for the brass ring, historic clubs looking to show they’re still a powerful force, former professional clubs looking for a league of their own, and much more. With everything settled down, we now have a better idea which teams have the best chance to qualify for the 2019 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

How this list is made is determined by using the 2019 US Open Cup Handbook, which can be downloaded here.

When the NPSL was founded in 2003, teams were required to qualify through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). It wasn’t until 2011 when the league was awarded national league status and received their own spots in the competition. What started with only four berths in 2011 has gradually grown to a Modern Era (1995-present) high of 22 teams last year.

With the changing soccer structure, including the creation of new Division III league (USL League One) and new teams being added to both professional leagues (MLS & USL Championship), it’s currently unknown how many berths will be allocated to the NPSL teams. This information is expected to be announced by the US Soccer Federation some time this month.

This sort of change isn’t anything new to the tournament. Back in 2011, the inaugural seasons of the North American Soccer League (NASL) (then Division II) and USL Pro (then Division III) added some interest to United States Soccer Federation sanctioning process. The federation’s decision to not sanction the NASL in January 2011, due to concerns regarding the league’s financial stability, meant teams from it were not able to compete in the 2011 US Open Cup despite provisional sanctioning later being given in February. USL League One has already been given sanctioning as a Division III league as of Dec. 14, 2018.

Recent announcements might lead some to conclude that the number of NPSL teams that will qualify for the 106th edition of the US Open Cup will be reduced. The US Soccer Federation announced on social media that a fourth round of qualifying would be needed for the Open Division Local Qualifying tournament, which is expected to trim the number of teams to eight clubs (2018 USASA Amateur Cup champion Bavarian SC and the seven fourth round winners), which is down from 13 teams in 2018. With the increase in the number of teams entering from the professional leagues (MLS, USL Championship, USL League One), it seems as though the number of amateur teams may be getting cut to make room.

NPSL’s CLASSIFICATION RULES

Heading into the 2019 US Open Cup, the NPSL has 98 teams that are eligible for the competition divided into four regions: Northeast (26), South (30), Midwest (22), and West (20). Tournament bids are staggered in a way to reward regions with more teams – for example, the South Region would get a sixth team into the tournament before any of the other three regions get a fifth.

The first eight possible berths are awarded to teams that advanced deep into the 2018 NPSL playoffs. Slots one and two are reserved for the champion and runner-up, respectively. Slots three and four are given to the teams that reached the semifinals and teams four through eight are held by the remaining quarterfinalists.

NPSL ranks largely by points per game, but prioritizes at least one Open Cup bid for every division. It’s important to consider where a team plays (conference and division) when you read the teams listed and take extraneous factors into consideration such as teams folding, declaring themselves ineligible, changing leagues, or more.

It’s near certain that teams listed in the top eight are all but guaranteed a spot in the 2019 US Open Cup. After that, teams are ranked based on criteria that the NPSL has come up with in accordance with the Open Cup Committee. This information can be found inside the 2019 edition of the handbook (pg. 14).

As soon as we know how many tournament spots the NPSL is being awarded, we will know who is in and who is not. Until then, here is the order that the teams would qualify:

1. Miami FC 2 (NPSL Champion, South Region – Sunshine Conference)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 3 (2016-18 … including Miami FC NASL history)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2018 Second Round (3-1 loss vs Miami United FC of NPSL)

Miami FC 2 was born out of necessity after the cancellation of the 2018 North American Soccer League season left the first team with no professional league while legal proceedings played out. While the lawyers deliberated Miami FC 2, with a roster full of professional players, ran through the Sunshine Conference with an 8-1-3 regular season record, a +25 goal differential, and both the regular season and conference championships. The team continued to dominate in the national bracket of the playoffs as well, outscoring their opponents 10-2 over the course of four games. The final saw the franchise win its first national championship over FC Motown, 3-1, in Madison, New Jersey.

As the league champion, they are definitely going to get in. The only question is whether or not they will compete under the name “Miami FC” or “Miami FC 2”.

2. FC Motown (NPSL Finalist, Northeast Region – Keystone Conference)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 3 (2016-18 as Clarkstown Eagles)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2018 Round 2 (3-1 loss vs Penn FC of USL)

Following a re-brand after the 2017 season, with FC Motown merging with the Clarkstown Eagles, the club will be looking to bring its regular season success onto the national stage in 2019. FC Motown nearly went undefeated during the regular season by going 9-1-0 in the Keystone Conference, clinching the regular season title in the process. The team, led by former MLS player Dilly Duka, followed this up by blowing past fellow New Jersey side FC Monmouth, 4-1, before avenging its sole loss in the conference championship in a close contest with West Chester United that they won 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout (after a 1-1 draw)

Following a blowout of FC Baltimore in the Regional Quarterfinals, the team upset a strong New York Cosmos B side, 3-2, on a rainy night in Manhattan. In the national semifinals, a late David Nigro goal in the 121st minute against FC Mulhouse Portland gave Motown the win, 2-1. Following a loss to Miami at home in the NPSL final, Motown will be looking to expand the culture of success it’s created in its fourth consecutive berth since the team’s founding in 2012.

3. Duluth FC (NPSL Semifinalist, Midwest Region – North Conference)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 1 (2018)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2018 Round 2 (2-0 loss vs Saint Louis FC of USL)

Duluth FC has already surpassed the success of its inaugural NPSL season in 2017, and hopes to do the same in what is likely the club’s second trip to the US Open Cup. In an already burgeoning amateur scene in Minnesota, Duluth was not even the best team in North Conference as it came behind Minneapolis City SC in the final standings. However, the team’s record of 8-2-4 was enough to earn it a place in the Midwest Region quarterfinals. From there, the team’s string of three close wins, two of which were decided by penalty shootout, landed the BlueGreens in the national semifinals.

Despite falling to eventual champions Miami FC 2, 3-0, Duluth’s first Midwest Region title and overall record should be enough to see it into the competition for the second year in a row.

4. FC Mulhouse Portland (NPSL Semifinalist, West Region – Northwest Conference)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: None

FC Mulhouse Portland emerged out of the five team Northwest Conference as a runner-up in the regular season, but pushed forward all the way to the NPSL National Semifinals behind a solid offensive unit.

The team, formerly known as Portland Spartans FC, has already outdone any of its previous accomplishments since its founding in 2014. Despite losing in the semifinals to FC Motown on an extra time goal, the team’s impressive victory over Orange County FC, 6-4, in the quarterfinals helped establish it as a viable threat. With a West Region championship, a final four appearance, and an ever growing partnership with FC Mulhouse France, the Portland side will be looking to make an impact come 2019.

5. Little Rock Rangers ((NPSL Quarterfinalist, South Region – Heartland Conference)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: None

Little Rock is likely on their way to the US Open Cup for the first time after the club’s best season in their three-year history in the NPSL. After a brief playoff appearance in 2017, the Rangers’ 7-3-0 regular season record earned it the second seed in the Heartland Conference playoffs – which they won from top-seeded FC Wichita 5-3 in a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw. An impressive win over the Laredo Heat led the team to its first regional final, where they would fall to eventual champion Miami FC 2, 3-0.

At the number five spot, the Rangers are almost assured a spot in next year’s tournament, which would make them the first Arkansas-based club to ever qualify in the US Open Cup’s 105-year history.

6. New York Cosmos B (NPSL Quarterfinalist, Northeast Region – North Atlantic Conference)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 5 (2014-2018 … including New York Cosmos NASL history)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2018 Fifth Round (2014, 2015, 2016)

While in a somewhat similar situation to Miami FC 2, New York Cosmos B’s perfect regular season, 10-0-0, and North Atlantic Conference title is worthy of an Open Cup berth.

The New York Cosmos has had a reserve team in the NPSL since 2015, and even won the league title in their debut season. The “B” team has always been excluded from the US Open Cup due to the rule that a professional team owned by a higher-level professional team cannot take part in the tournament. However, when the NASL was on hiatus, the Cosmos senior team didn’t have a league to play in, and were excluded from the 2018 US Open Cup. With that being the case, the US Soccer Federation made a special exception and allowed the Cosmos, Miami FC and the Jacksonville Armada FC to enter their NPSL sides into the competition.

The “B” team’s short run in the 2018 Open Cup was a vast contrast from its regular season performance. The team outscored its opponents 40-8 over ten games and reached the Northeast Region finals.

7. AFC Ann Arbor (NPSL Quarterfinalist, Midwest Region – Great Lakes Conference)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 2 (2017, 2018)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2017 First Round (2017, 2018)

For the second year in a row, AFC Ann Arbor finished as the regular season Great Lakes Conference champions and reached the final for the NPSL Midwest Region.

The team’s regular season ended with a record of 9-1-2, including a rout of FC Indiana, 9-0, at home. This performance earned the team the second seed in the Midwest Region playoffs, where it defeated NPSL newcomer Cleveland SC, 1-0, in the regional semifinals. After playing to a 3-3 draw in the Regional Finals against Duluth FC at home, missed penalty kicks from defender Matthieu Braem and midfielder Michael Shaikly allowed the visitors to advance, 4-3 in the tiebreaker.

8. Orange County FC (NPSL Quarterfinalist, West Region – Southwest Conference)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 1 (2018)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2018 Second Round (2-0 loss at Fresno FC of USL)

Much like its inaugural NPSL season, Orange County FC, led by their head coach and Hall of Famer Paul Caligiuri reached the West Region final as a lower seed and they upset a higher-seeded team.

The team’s regular season record, 7-1-4, earned it third place in the Southwest Conference and a spot in the conference’s play-in-game to the playoffs. After defeating FC Arizona in the playoffs for the second year in a row, 3-0, the team dispatched both teams that finished higher than them in the conference. The top-seeded ASC San Diego, who had fallen to OCFC in both their regular season meetings, lost again in the regional quarterfinals, 3-1, before the No. 2 seeded FC Golden State was beaten by a second half scoring surge, 4-2. OCFC’s playoff run came to an end in the Regional Final against FC Mulhouse Portland, 6-4, in the highest scoring game of the national playoffs.

9. Laredo Heat (South Region – Lone Star Conference, 3.0 points per game)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 5 (2006, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 … as as member of USL League Two, formerly PDL)
Best Open Cup finish: 2014 Fourth Round (1-0 loss at Houston Dynamo of MLS)
Notable Win: 3-2 win at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) in 2014 Third Round

After leaving USL League Two (formerly the PDL) and taking a two-year hiatus from play, the Laredo Heat returned as a member of the NPSL in 2018. The team didn’t take long to adjust, winning the Lone Star Conference regular season title with a perfect 10-0-0 record, before falling in the South Regional semifinals, 2-1, to the Little Rock Rangers.

In the conference semifinals, a goal from Fort Worth Vaqueros FC in the second half was quickly matched in the 61st minute by the Heat’s Gabriel Rodriguez, who would later add the game-winner in the 80th minute en route to advancing, 3-1. The Houston Dutch Lions proved to be a formidable foe for Laredo in the conference finals, taking a 2-0 lead against the host into the second half. A late game rally with goals from Ziyad Fares and Petteri Pietola forced extra time, where the Heat would take on two more and hold off a Lions comeback for the win, 4-3.

10. FC Baltimore Christos (Northeast Region – Mid-Atlantic Conference, 2.20 points per game)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: None

Another first year participant for the NPSL that’s hoping to receive their first trip to the US Open Cup.

Baltimore’s inaugural season saw them finish atop the Mid-Atlantic Conference regular season table with a record of 7-2-1, which included the highest-scoring game in the NPSL season against Legacy 76, 13-0, at home on June 29. The team’s playoff success didn’t follow in the same fashion, however, as they fell to the conference’s No. 3 seed FC Frederick, 2-1, in the conference final. The Charm City club find themselves in the No. 10 spot thanks to the New York Cosmos B and FC Motown winning their respective conferences, meaning FC Baltimore is left as the highest non-champion team (based on points per game) remaining and was granted a wildcard spot in the Northeast Region semifinals.

Despite falling to eventual NPSL Finalist FC Motown, 3-0, in the playoffs, Baltimore’s offseason has seen the team form a partnership with US Open Cup favorite and fellow Baltimore side Christos FC which may spell bright things in the team’s future.

11. Erie Commodores FC (Midwest Region – East Conference, 2.25 points per game)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 1* (2018)
* Qualified for the 2013 US Open Cup but declined the invitation due to travel/financial reasons
Best Open Cup finish: 2018 Second Round (2-1 loss vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC of USL)

The Commodores have a chance to participate in back-to-back Open Cups after a successful season in the Midwest Region’s East Conference. The team won its second East Conference regular season championship in as many years with a near-unbeaten record of 8-1-3. The only game the team lost was on the road against Cleveland SC, 3-2. Even though Erie would get the win back at home later on in the season, the rubber match between the two clubs went to the Admirals as they advanced passed the Commodores, 4-0, in the Midwest Region quarterfinals.

12. Chattanooga FC (South Region – Southeast Conference, 2.00 points per game)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 6 (2011, 2013-2017)
Best Open Cup finish: 2015 Third Round (2-1 extra time loss vs Atlanta Silverbacks of NASL)

2019 will be Chattanooga FC’s eleventh season in the NPSL and may also include the team’s seventh birth in the U.S. Open Cup. This won’t only depend on how many births the league receives.

Chattanooga is benefiting from the rule that every conference in the NPSL must be represented in the tournament. Prior to applying that rule, Chattanooga was in the 22nd spot and squarely on the “bubble”. However, once that rule is applied, then they move up to the fourth position within the south region and puts them at the No. 12 spot.

After putting up a great season in the Southeast Conference including winning the regular season title, the Tennessee side fell in the conference final the Atlanta Silverbacks FC, 6-5 in penalty kicks after playing to a scoreless draw. Despite this, Chattanooga is more likely to receive a birth than Atlanta thanks to their offensive success during the year where the team has a +14 goal differential and scored 30 times over the course of 14 games.

13. El Farolito (West Region, Golden Gate Conference, 2.29 points per game)
Number of (Modern Era) US Open Cup appearances: 1
Best Open Cup finish: 1993 US Open Cup champions (as CD Mexico)

After qualifying for the tournament in 2018 through the Open Division local qualifying, El Farolito’s jump from the San Francisco Soccer Football League to the NPSL disqualified it from taking part due to a rule stating no team can switch leagues mid-tournament. One year later, the 1993 Open Cup champions are back in the competition in its inaugural NPSL season as one of the best teams from the West Region.

The team’s undefeated regular season record, 9-0-5, clinched the Golden Gate Conference regular season title and it, along with its +20 goal differential, is why they are in position to be the only team from its conference to earn a 2019 berth.

The team’s playoff run got off to a impressive start when it defeated Sonoma County Sol, 2-0, in the West Region quarterfinals. El Farolito took the lead in the first half with a 37th minute goal, but the Sol had a chance in the second half when Faro’s Ademar Rodriguez was sent off with a red in the 67th minute. A stoppage time goal from Camilo Campo sealed the win however as the team advanced to the regional semifinals where it would lose to FC Mulhouse Portland, 2-0.

14: Philadelphia Lone Star F.C. (Northeast Region – Keystone Conference, 2.40 points per game)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 1 (2017)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2017 First Round (3-1 loss at Ocean City Nor’easters of USL League Two)

The newly re-branded Philadelphia Lone Star FC finished 2018 not only with a new name but with a high enough points per game average to put themselves in the No. 14 spot on the qualifying tables for the 2019 US Open Cup.

It wasn’t easy for the team, which played as Junior Lone Star FC during the NPSL season, as it split its first four games in a highly competitive Keystone Conference. Strong showings like the team had against Torch FC, 7-1, or the Electric City Shock, 3-1, helped raise the team’s points per game to 2.4 and secured a second place finish in the league table.

Philadelphia’s playoff run was short lived as it fell to No. 3 seed West Chester United SC, 4-3 in penalty kicks (after a 2-2 draw), in the Keystone Conference semifinal.

15: Midland-Odessa Sockers FC (South Region – Lone Star Conference, 2.20 points per game)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 2 (2015*, 2018)
* As member of USL League Two (formerly PDL)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2015 Second Round (3-1 loss vs Oklahoma City Energy FC of USL)

The Midland-Odessa Sockers postseason ended early during the Lone Star Conference semifinals, but a successful regular season could put the team into the 2019 edition of the US Open Cup. The team scored 30 goals en route to a second place finish in the conference table with a 7-2-1 record.

As the second seed, the Sockers advanced directly to the conference semifinals, where they fell to the Houston Dutch Lions FC, 4-3.

16: Minneapolis City SC (Midwest Region – North Conference, 2.43 points per game)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: None

Despite a highly successful regular season, Minneapolis City SC’s lack of postseason success and NPSL’s rankings based on regions leaves the team low on this list, and could be even lower depending on how many teams the NPSL gets in the 2019 US Open Cup.

The team’s undefeated season, 10-0-4, the only one in the entire Midwest Region, helped earn it the North Conference regular season championship. A stellar offense was to thank for this on-field success as the Crows were the most proficient scoring team in the entire NPSL with 46 goals scored and averaging 2.4 points per game. Despite being a strong home side with a record of 6–0–1 at Augsburg University, the first seed in the Midwest Region fell in its first playoff match there to the No. 5 seed Duluth FC, 2-1. The Crows were able to come back from an early deficit, but a penalty inside their own box during the 115th minute gave Duluth a penalty kick, which Ricardo Ramos would score on route to advancement.

Minneapolis City are best known for being disqualified from the 2017 Open Division Local qualifying tournament when they violated tournament rules by switching leagues (from the Premier League of America to the NPSL) in the middle of the qualifying process. The club is still seeking its first US Open Cup berth.

17. Brooklyn Italians (Northeast Region – North Atlantic Conference, 2.20 points per game)
Number of (Modern Era) US Open Cup appearances: 7 (2010-2015, 2018)
Best Finish: 1979*, 1991 US Open Cup Champions
* Under the name Brooklyn Dodgers

A staple in the US Open Cup in recent years, the two-time US Open Cup champion Brooklyn Italians are seeking to qualify for the tournament for the second year in a row and the eighth time in the last 10 years. They put themselves in pretty good position after a 7-2-1 regular season record and an appearance in the North Atlantic Conference final.

In an already stacked conference, the fact that the side’s only loses came against the undefeated New York Cosmos B and No. 3 seed Hartford City FC showed the team could be a viable threat come playoff time. The Italians even avenged its regular season loss against Hartford in the conference semifinals, 3-0, the same score the Colts had run up against Brooklyn earlier in the season, before narrowly falling to Cosmos B in the final in penalty kicks, 5-3 (after a 1-1 draw)

Brooklyn has won the national tournament twice (1979 and 1991) since the team’s inception in 1949 and remain one of the most well-known and successful sides in American amateur soccer.

18: ASC San Diego (West Region – Southwest Conference, 2.33 points per game)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 1 (2017 … as Albion SC Pros)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2017 First Round (3-2 loss vs Chula Vista FC of the USASA)

In a city where soccer has become a hot topic, ASC San Diego is a conference champion with a possible future in the US Open Cup. The team enjoyed a productive season sitting atop the final Southwest Conference standings table with a record of 9-2-1. The only loss came from Orange County FC, who finished the season sweep by knocking off the Southwest Region’s top seed in the regional quarterfinals, 3-1.

San Diego is also the final member of this list to be included in the upcoming NPSL Founder’s Cup.

19: FC Wichita (South Region – Heartland Conference, 2.20 points per game)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: 3 (2016-2018)
Best Finish: 2018 Third Round (3-2 loss at NTX Rayados)
Notable Win: 4-3 at Tulsa Roughnecks FC (USL) in 2018 Second Round

FC Wichita could be Open Cup bound for the fourth time in as many years after narrowly winning the Heartland Conference regular season title with a record of 7-2-1. However, with the Open Division Local team entries being reduced from 13 to eight, this could be considered “the bubble” portion of the list, assuming the NPSL and USL League Two will also see reductions in the number of entries.

Last year saw the team make NPSL history by defeating the Tulsa Roughnecks of the USL to advance to the Third Round. This marked the second time since 2003 that an amateur team from the NPSL eliminated a pro team in the tournament.

This year, the team started with a seven-game winning streak that set it up as the top team in the conference. However, losses to Saint Louis Club Atletico and Little Rock Rangers put the team’s top seed hopes in jeopardy. A 1-1 draw against Demize NPSL (who finished near the bottom of the table) on the last day won the conference by a single point for the team’s second consecutive regular season championship. A revenge rout of Saint Louis, 4-0, in the semifinals of the conference playoffs gave the team another rematch against Little Rock who once again came away with the narrow win, 5-3 in penalty kicks (after a 0-0 draw).

Despite having the same points per game (2.2) and record as fellow South Region competitor Midland-Odessa Sockers FC, Wichita ranks lower due losing the tiebreaker on average goal difference per game, 2.2 to 1.3.

20. Cleveland SC (Midwest Region – East Conference, 2.00 points per game)
Number of US Open Cup appearances: None

Cleveland SC is another first year club for this list whose inaugural season may have been good enough to see it into the competition.

From the ashes of former NPSL club AFC Cleveland (which qualified for the US Open Cup in 2016 and 2017), Cleveland FC finished second in the East with a record of 7-2-3 to take the conference’s final spot in the Midwest Region playoffs. As the fourth seed, the team kicked off the postseason against the third seed Erie Commodores FC in the regional quarterfinals. In what some may consider an upset, Cleveland took the lead against the hosts early with a goal from Vincent Bell in the 7th minute and never looked back. Bell would score two more on route to a hat trick and two Commodore players would be sent off after earning double yellow cards as the newcomers advanced, 4-0.

The team’s playoff run ended in the semifinals against AFC Ann Arbor, 1-0, but the team’s cup chances are helped due to a high-producing offense – including a regular season sweep against Greater Binghamton FC Thunder where the team outscored its opponent 21-0, the highest total for any home/away regular season series this year.

More possibilities

21. West Chester United SC (Northeast Region – Keystone Conference, 2.10 points per game)
22. Houston Dutch Lions (South Region – Long Star Conference, 2.10 points per game)
23. FC Golden State (West Region – Southwest Conference, 2.20 points per game)
24. Grand Rapids FC (Midwest Region – Great Lakes Conference, 1.90 points per game)

UPDATE (1/29): As first reported by Magic City Soccer and confirmed by TheCup.us, Sunshine Conference champions Miami Fusion have folded. Due to the NPSL’s Open Cup classification rules that prioritize representation from each conference, Miami United, previously 28th on this list, are most likely to take that spot.

With the National Premier Soccer League’s (NPSL) season over, we now have a solid idea as to who, and who may not, qualify for next year’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

This definitive list is constructed with the help of US Soccer’s 2018 US Open Cup Handbook, which can be downloaded here. There are a couple things worth noting before we get started.

The first is likely berths available. NPSL has been sending teams to the Open Cup as a national league since 2011, when four teams (Brooklyn Italians, Chattanooga FC, Hollywood United Hitmen, and Madison 56ers) were awarded entry. Prior to that, dating back to 2003, the league had to qualify through the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The number of NPSL bids has increased every single year since then, reaching a peak last year wtih 18 entries. If that number holds true, US Soccer will likely accept at least 18 NPSL teams, and possibly more.

The second is influence from other leagues. An eight-team third-division pro league (National Independent Soccer Association) is scheduled to begin play next year and it’s possible they could take up space NPSL teams might otherwise occupy. However, the number of eligible USL teams ballooned to 21 in 2015 after a number of MLS teams added reserve teams to the league (the MLS-owned reserve teams were banned from the tournament the following year). Despite the increase in the number of pro teams, it did not affect the NPSL’s number of entries.

One thing that definitely won’t eat into the NPSL’s bids, according to the 2018 handbook, is the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL). They will not, according to US Soccer, be afforded national league status, meaning their teams will have to once again traverse the regional open division qualifying process.

Finally, one NPSL division—the Northeast’s Mid-Atlantic Division—seemingly shot itself in the foot this year by staying at four teams after the Myrtle Beach Mutiny jumped ship and joined the Premier Development League (PDL). The result was that those teams played just six regular season games, rendering them ineligible for the Open Cup (bylaws state you must play at least ten regular season games within your registered league).

That nearly precipitated an awkward situation when that division’s champion, the winless Legacy 76, found themselves a win away from the NPSL’s quarterfinals. Had they beaten the Elm City Express, they technically would have played ten NPSL games in total, giving organizers a headache. The Express ultimaetly brushed them aside, 4-0 to avoid a potential mess.

NPSL’s CLASSIFICATION RULES

With that out of the way, let’s get into NPSL’s classification rules. NPSL’s 92 Open Cup-eligible teams are divided among four conferences: South (which has 29 teams), Midwest (23), Northeast, and West (20 each). Open Cup bids are thus somewhat staggered—for example, the South would get a sixth team into the tournament before any other region gets a fifth.

That means that individual rankings beyond 1-8 are reserved for particular Conferences. No. 9 will always be a team from the South, No. 14 from the Midwest, and so on. One complication is that, since the Northeast and West have an identical number of eligible teams, they “share” rankings. So for example, No. 11 and No. 12 belong as a pair to the third-rated teams from the Northeast and West. The higher ranking then goes to the team with the higher points per game (ppg).

NPSL ranks largely by points per game, but prioritizes at least one Open Cup bid for every division. So when you read down the below list in the future and take into account teams folding, declaring themselves ineligible, or changing leagues, it’s important to consider both their conference and division. For example (and this is purely hypothetical), if the Erie Commodores (currently at No. 14) decide to make a run at Peter Wilt’s NISA, you wouldn’t go “next team up” down the list like you would with the PDL. You wouldn’t even pull the next Midwestern team (in this case the Dakota Fusion), since Erie are currently the lone representatives of the East Division. You’d have to pull the next team from the East, which in this case would be the unlisted Dayton Dynamo.

That’s that. Beyond the Final Four, who will almost certainly qualify, regardless of the final number of entries the league is awarded, teams are ranked by NPSL’s criteria as laid out in the 2018 handbook, with information relevant to that ranking listed in the parentheses:

WHO’S IN? 

1. Elm City Express (NPSL Semifinalist, Northeast Conference-Atlantic Blue Division)
Appearance: 1st

The Elm City Express, based in New Haven, Conn., are yet another brand new team earning Open Cup qualification in their first attempt.

The Express ran through the Atlantic Blue Division in their debut season, compiling a 9-1-2 record that earned them the No. 1 seed in the Northeast Conference going into the playoffs. They made good on that seed, shutting out both TSF FC and the overmatched Legacy 76 at home to reach the Conference Final. There, they defeated the Clarkstown Eagles 3-1 to reach the NPSL Semifinals, where they swept through CD Aguiluchos and Midland-Odessa by a combined score of 7-0 to claim the NPSL title in their first season.

2. Midland-Odessa FC (NPSL Semifinalist, South Conference-Lone Star Division)
Appearance: 2nd (2015 as PDL team)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2015 Round 2 (3-1 loss vs OKC Energy of USL)
Notable Open Cup Win: 3-1 win vs. Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) in 2015 First Round

Had they not switched from the PDL to the NPSL prior to the 2017 season, we’d be seeing the newly-rebranded Midland-Odessa FC in the US Open Cup for the third time in four years. Still, they seem to be wearing the league switch well, winning the Lone Star Championship after taking down Dutch Lions FC and Shreveport Rafters FC (who upset the Fort Worth Vaqueros in Round 1). A 1-0 win away to FC Wichita in the South Conference Semifinals is what pushed Midland-Odessa from the Open Cup bubble into automatic qualification. They kept their playoff run going with a 1-0 win over Inter Nashville in the regional final, before traveling to the Motor City to take on Detroit City FC in the NPSL Final Four. They beat Detroit City on penalties before succumbing 5-0 to Elm Cith Express in the final.

The Texas club will see their second Open Cup in their tenth season of existence. Their previous run went reasonably well, overcoming Tulsa Athletic (NPSL)  3-1 at home before succumbing to the USL’s OKC Energy by the same scoreline.

 

3. Detroit City FC (NPSL Semifinalist, Midwest Conference-Great Lakes Division)
Appearance: 4th
Best Open Cup Finish: 2016 Second Round (Drew 1-1 at Louisville City of USL, Lost 3-1 in PKs)

The rambunctious Detroit City FC supporters will get to see “Le Rouge” in the Open Cup for the fourth time in five years. Detroit City qualified in style this year. After a slow start to the season, they ended up with nine wins in their 14 league games to ensure they’d at least be in the NPSL’s top 14. But they didn’t stop there, twice scoring five goals in playoff games against Dakota Fusion and Duluth FC to reach the Midwest Final against Great Lakes rival AFC Ann Arbor where they prevailed at home, 3-2. They advanced to the NPSL Semifinals where they dropped a penalty decision to Midland-Odessa FC on Aug. 5.

While Detroit City’s first two Open Cup runs ended in disappointment, including a 3-0 thumping against local rival Michigan Bucks (PDL), their third saw them overcome the Bucks in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw to advance to the Second Round for the first time in club history. They would remain undefeated in that 2016 tournament, heartbreakingly succumbing to USL’s Louisville City in penalty kicks. The club is still seeking its first victory in the tournament (matches that end in penalty kicks are officially listed as a draw), but they will have plenty of supporters behind them to try to accomplish that first win.

4. CD Aguiluchos USA (NPSL Semifinalist, West Conference-Golden Gate Division)
Appearance: 3rd (2014, 2016)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2016 Round 2 (5-0 loss at Sacramento Republic of USL)
Notable Open Cup Win: 3-0 win at San Francisco City FC (US Club Soccer) in 2016 Round 1

The ambitious CD Aguiluchos USA out of Oakland, Calif. will be making their third Open Cup appearance after running riot over the Golden Gate Division and crushing Sonoma County Sol 4-0 in the Division Final. After a 4-2 win over Kitsap SC in the regional semifinal, they edged Orange County FC 1-0 to earn a spot in the Final Four, where they lost 2-0 to eventual champions Elm City Express.

The club has yet to host an Open Cup game, going 1-2 on the road in their short Open Cup history. Their first appearance in 2014 ended abruptly with a 2-1 loss to the Ventura County Fusion (PDL), but they improved on that two years later when they traveled across the bay to rout San Francisco City FC 3-0 when City was an up-and-coming team out of US Club Soccer. Unfortunately, they ended up being swept away by the Sacramento Republic 5-0, a team that would end up as the USL’s Western Conference top seed in 2016.

5. Inter Nashville FC (NPSL Quarterfinalist, South Conference-Southeast Division)
Appearance: 1^st

Inter Nashville qualifies for the Open Cup in truly their first season of existence. Not only did Inter Nashville have to make it through the incredibly competitive Southeast Division, they had to win four playoff games on the road. A loss at any stage before the Eastern Conference Final would have dropped them from the qualifying list altogether.

But that didn’t happen. They first traveled across the state to Chattanooga to nab a win against Open Cup regular Chattanooga FC in Finley Stadium. They then went down to New Orleans to take down the Knoxville Force and the previously-unbeaten New Orleans Jesters in consecutive days to earn the Southeast crown. As if that wasn’t enough, they earned their spot in the South Conference Final with a 1-0 upset of the 11-1-0 Sunshine champion Miami Fusion. Their playoff run would end with a 1-0 loss to Midland-Odessa FC in the quarterfinals.

6. AFC Ann Arbor (NPSL Quarterfinalist, Midwest Conference-Great Lakes Division)
Appearance: 2nd (2017)
Best Open Cup Finish: 2017 First Round (1-0 loss at Michigan Bucks of PDL)

AFC Ann Arbor barely snuck into the 2017 US Open Cup after Indy Eleven withdrew their NPSL team from consideration. They will need no such circumstance next year for 2018, as the third-year club (second year in the NPSL) that shares a town with the University of Michigan qualified directly to the Midwest Conference Semifinals after a remarkable 12-1-1 regular season. A 1-0 semifinal win over the Dayton Dynamo probably wasn’t even necessary for Open Cup qualification, but it did propel them from 14th into the top eight. Their playoff run came to end in the regional final when they lost 3-2 on the road to their Great Lake Division rival Detroit City FC.

They’ll look to improve on their inaugural Open Cup run, which ended with a narrow 1-0 loss in the opening round to amateur powerhouse Michigan Bucks (PDL). A chance at revenge in next year’s first round is possible—the Michigan Bucks will also qualify—but not given as Detroit City FC will also enter the Michigan Open Cup fray.

7. Orange County FC (NPSL Quarterfinalist, West Conference-Southwest Division)
Appearance: 1st

While technically an NPSL expansion team, this amateur team coached by U.S. Men’s National Team legend Paul Caligiuri (he scored the goal against Trinidad and Tobago that sent the U.S. to the 1990 World Cup) had been kicking about the SoCal Premier League since 2009.

However, having never even applied to participate in the local qualifying tournaments, this will be Orange County FC’s first involvement in the Open Cup. They got here by upsetting unbeaten FC Arizona on the road by a score of 2-0 to take the Southwest Division championship. Their playoff run would end one game shy of the final four, losing to CD Aguiluchos USA, 1-0.

8. Clarkstown SC Eagles (NPSL Quarterfinalist, Northeast Conference-Keystone Division)
Appearance: 3rd (2016, 2017)
Best Open Cup Finish: First Round (2016, 2017)

The Eagles out of Clarkstown, New York will be looking for their first Open Cup win next year as a Keystone championship and a 6-3 Eastern Conference Semifinal win over Kingston Stockade propelled them into their third consecutive Open Cup berth.

There’s no shame in losing on the road to perrennial Open Cup power Reading United, as Clarkstown did in this year’s first round. They may still be kicking themselves for their 2016 performance however, as a win over Reading would have earned them a matchup against the NASL’s New York Cosmos. Still, making the Open Cup three times running is no small feat.

9. FC Wichita (South Conference-Heartland Division, 2.5 ppg)
Appearance: 3rd (2016, 2017)
Best Finish: 2017 Round 2 (4-3 AET loss vs. Saint Louis FC)
Notable Win: 1-0 (AET) win vs. Azteca FC (USSSA) in 2017 First Round

FC Wichita will enjoy their third consecutive Open Cup appearance after narrowly losing one of the year’s most entertaining games in their 4-3 extra time loss to Saint Louis FC. The regular season was not anywhere near as dramatic for the Kansas club, as they secured the regular-season Heartland championship by a full nine points.

10. Duluth FC (Midwest Conference-North Division Champion, 2 ppg)
Appearance: 1st

Thanks to the Minnesota Thunder, Minnesota Stars and Minnesota United FC, the Land of 10,000 Lakes is no stranger to the US Open Cup. However, an amateur team from the state has never qualified for the tournament in the Modern Era (1995-present).

That will change when Duluth FC enters the first round next year. They earned the No. 3 seed in the Midwest (a region that, thanks in large part to all the new Minnesota teams, now has the second-most Open Cup-eligible teams in NPSL instead of the fewest) after a 9-2 shellacking of the Sioux Falls Thunder on the final day of the regular season clinched the North regular season title.

This was Duluth FC’s third year of existence but their first in the NPSL and it went pretty well, reaching the Midwest Semifinals before falling 5-2 on the road to Detroit City FC.

11. Kitsap SC (West Conference-Northwest Division Champion, 2 ppg)
Appearance: 7th (2009-12, 2015-16 – all as PDL club)
Best Finish: 2016 Round 4 (2-0 loss at Seattle Sounders FC of MLS)
Notable Win: 3-1 win at Sacramento Republic (USL) in 2016 Third Round

For years, the Kitsap Pumas dominated the Northwestern region of the PDL, even winning the whole thing in 2011, before making the move to NPSL this year. The dominance continues, as Kitsap SC (they dropped the ‘Pumas’ moniker when they moved) won the Northwest Division with a game to spare when they took down FCM Portland 1-0 at home. Roy Lassiter’s men then beat Portland again in the playoffs before falling to CD Aguiluchos in the Western Semifinals.

The club from Bremerton, Washington is one of the few in NPSL who have managed to beat a pro team in the Open Cup – though they of course were in the PDL at the time. The 2016 Third Round win over Sacramento was truly one of the year’s more shocking results, as the Republic would end the USL season as the top team in the Western Conference. Kitsap is also one of NPSL’s more experienced Open Cup teams as they have double the Open Cup appearances as the next closest likely qualifier (6 to Detroit City FC’s 3).

12. Kingston Stockade (Northeast Conference-Atlantic White Division, 1.83 ppg)
Appearance: 1st

The club in upstate New York, run by Foursquare founder Dennis Crowley, has certainly made a lot of noise at their home games and has earned a lot of attention in the American Soccer world. Next year, they’ll get to do the same in the US Open Cup.

After an opening-game loss to Hartford City, Stockade got hot, winning seven of their next eight games. They built up enough of a lead to withstand a season-ending two-game losing streak and hold on to the Atlantic White Division title. Their playoff run ended in the Conference Semifinals with a 6-3 loss to Clarkstown but the season overall was likely enough to be invited to their first-ever Open Cup.

13. Miami United (South Conference-Sunshine Division, 1.83 ppg)
Appearance: 3rd (2015, 2017)
Best Finish: Round 2 (2015: 1-0 loss at Charleston Battery, 2017: 2-1 loss vs Jacksonville Armada)
Notable Win: 2-1 win vs Boca Raton FC, 2017 1st Round

Miami United’s Open Cup dreams were thought over after the Fusion ran through NPSL’s Sunshine Division, which only sends one team to the NPSL playoffs. However, with the Fusion dropping out, Miami United will look to make their third Open Cup appearance in four years.

Although they have yet to topple a pro team, they’re one of the few NPSL teams with consistently good first-round results. They knocked off SW Florida Adrenaline (PDL) in the 2015 first round before beating Sunshine Division rivals Boca Raton FC in last year’s opening round (they had qualified through Open Qualifying and kept a team in the American Premier Soccer League).

14. Erie Commodores (Midwest Conference-East Division, 1.75 ppg, +1 Regular-Season Goal-Differential over Dayton Dynamo)

Appearance: 1st

A two-goal win early in the season against the Dayton Dynamo ended up making all the difference between making the Open Cup and not. Erie and Dayton split the first NPSL tiebreaker (head-to-head points) but Erie narrowly edged out Dayton on the second (head-to-head goal differential). This leaves the Dynamo, who would go on to beat Erie on the road in the playoffs before a 1-0 loss to Ann Arbor, completely out of the Open Cup picture.

Such is the cruel world of NPSL Open Cup qualification. Either way, Erie will enjoy their first-ever Open Cup berth in 10 seasons of existence. The Commodores bossed the early days of the NPSL, when Open Cup slots were few and far between. However, this is not the club’s first time qualifying for the tournament. After winning the Great Lakes Division title in 2012, the Erie Admirals (as they were known then), earned a spot in the 2013 US Open Cup, but declined the invitation, citing financial and player availability challenges.

15. New Orleans Jesters (South Conference-Southeast Division, 2.33 ppg)
Appearance: 1st

The Jesters have been New Orleans’ soccer team since 2003. And after a dominating season in a tough NPSL division that included Chattanooga FC, Knoxville Force, and eventual quarterfinalist Inter Nashville, they’ll likely be heading to their first-ever US Open Cup.

After an undefeated 8-0-4 regular season, the Jesters were chosen to host the Southeast Division Finals. While a loss to Inter Nashville dashed automatic qualifying dreams, the team’s impressive regular season was likely enough to secure an Open Cup berth.

By qualifying, the Jesters would become just the second amateur club from Louisiana to qualify for the US Open Cup in the Modern Era (1995-present), joining CD Motagua of New Orleans who made their debut in 2016.

16. FC Arizona (West Conference-Southwest Division, 2.5 ppg)
Appearance: 1st

Much like the Jesters, FC Arizona tumbled down the qualification list despite an undefeated regular season after an untimely playoff loss. Unlike the Jesters, FC Arizona finds itself here in its very first season of existence.

And what a start. They typically play more regular season games out West (16 compared to 10-14 in most divisions) but that didn’t matter to FC Arizona. They won 12 times and drew the other four to finish alongside FC Wichita with the second-most points per game in the entire NPSL. And unless the Open Cup committee reduces the number of NPSL teams for the first time ever, Aidan Davison’s squad from Mesa will reap those rewards in the tournament next year.

17. Brooklyn Italians (Northeast Conference-Atlantic Blue Division, 2.33 ppg)
Appearance: 7th in Modern Era (2010-15)
Best Finish: 1979, 1991 US Open Cup Champions

The old Brooklyn club likely clinched a 2018 berth on the heels of a 9-2-1 season that ended abruptly in the playoffs at the hands of TSF FC, a club that dates back to the early 1990s. The Italians’ regular season performance might be enough to send them back to the tournament for the first time since 2015.

It’s impressive in American Soccer that a club can exist for 68 years and still be relevant in the nation’s oldest cup competition. The Italians were founded back in 1949 and have won the tournament twice (1979, 1991). This would be the seventh appearance in the Open Cup for Brooklyn in the Modern Era (1995-present) after the club rattled off an NPSL record six straight appearances from 2010-15.

18. Fort Worth Vaqueros (South Conference-Lone Star Division, 2.2 ppg)
Appearance: 1st

Nick Stavrou’s Vaqueros narrowly clinched the Lone Star regular season title, beating out two rivals, Midland-Odessa FC and Dutch Lions FC, by a single point. However, they wouldn’t get the chance to face either in the divisional playoffs as they were taken out by the No. 4 seed Shreveport Rafters.

That loss nearly cost them dearly, as did Midland-Odessa’s run to the quarterfinals (ensuring they would finish no higher than fifth in the Southern pecking order). But still, US Soccer has yet to take Open Cup berths from the NPSL so it’s likely that the four-year-old club will enjoy its first Open Cup next season.

19. Dakota Fusion (Midwest Conference-North Division, 1.93 ppg)
20. New Jersey Copa FC (Northeast Conference-Keystone Division, 2.3 ppg)
21. Riverside Coras (West Conference-Southwest Division, 2.19 ppg)
22. Dutch Lions FC (South Conference-Lone Star Division, 2.1 ppg)
23. Minneapolis City SC (Midwest Conference-North Division, 1.79 ppg, 8 wins)
24. Knoxville Force (South Conference-Southeast Division, 1.92 ppg)
25. Albion SC (West Conference-Southwest Division, 2.13 ppg)
26. West Chester United (Northeast Conference-Keystone Division, 2 ppg)
27. Med City FC (Midwest Conference-North Division, 1.79 ppg, 7 wins)
28. Chattanooga FC (South Conference-Southeast Division, 1.83 ppg)
29. TSF FC (Northeast Conference-Atlantic Blue Division, 1.92 ppg)
30. FCM Portland (West Conference-Northwest Division, 1.8 ppg)