It’s Time for the Tournament Everyone Ignores! The US Open Cup!!

The lower league first round parings are set, and the MLS participants have almost been decided. This means it’s time to start getting excited about one of the most-ignored tournaments in the US, the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup!

The US Open Cup is similar to the British FA Cup in that it’s open to levels far below MLS. And these teams can do well, too. Last year, the Seattle Sounders and the Carolina Railhawks — two teams from USL-1, the league below MLS — both got as far as the semifinals before losing to MLS teams in extra time.

And this year there’s a bit of extra excitement, because the US Open Cup winner will automatically qualify for the new CONCACAF Champions League. Great incentive if you’re a lower-league team.

In this year’s US Open Cup, MLS gets eight berths. The top six teams from the previous season automatically qualify. The remaining teams go though a series of playoffs to decide the final two spots, with the seedings based on previous year’s record. This year Real Salt Lake beat expansion team San Jose Earthquakes, 4-0, in the first qualifier. RSL then went on to play, and lose to, the Columbus Crew, 2-0. On that same night, the LA Galaxy lost to the Colorado Rapids, 0-1. So now the Rapids will play the Kansas City Wizards and the Chicago Fire will play the Crew, both on June 4. (To see this in an easier-to-understand bracket form, go to the Official Site.)

And meanwhile, at the lower levels, qualifying has also been going on, and it’s down to the top thirty-two teams — eight each from USL-1 (level below MLS), USL-2 (next lower), PDL (the one below that) and USASA (the amateurs. This league includes Hollywood United, the team of Alexi Lalas, Frank Lebouef, Anthony LaPaglia and other LA stars.)

These 32 teams will face off against each other, pairings based on a blind draw. Those pairings were decided this week and are shown below. The sixteen winners will face off against each other, and then those eight winners will face the eight MLS teams on July 1. Quarterfinals will be on July 8, semis on August 12, and the final on August 24. (Yes, this is much earlier than last year. This is due to the CONCACAF Champions League schedule, as the early rounds begin at the end of August.)

2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
June 12 First Round 32 lower division teams enter tournament
June 26 Second Round 16 Round 1 winners face off
July 1 Third Round Round 2 winners face eight MLS teams
July 8 Quarterfinals Round 3 winners
Aug. 12 Semifinals Quarterfinal winners
Aug. 24 Final Semifinal winners

First Round Pairings, determined by blind draw:

June 10
Brooklyn Knights (PDL) at Carolina RailHawks (USL-1)
NY Pancyprian Freedom (USASA) at Real Maryland Monarchs (USL-2)
Fredericksburg Gunners (PDL) at Richmond Kickers (USL-2)
Boston Olympiakos (USASA) at Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-2) at AAC Eagles (USASA)
Cleveland City Stars (USL-2) at Michigan Bucks (PDL)
St. Louis Lions (PDL) at Minnesota Thunder (USL-1)
RWB Adria (USASA) at Rochester Rhinos (USL-1)
Atlanta Silverbacks (USL-1) at Austin Aztex (PDL)
ASC New Stars (USASA) at Charleston Battery (USL-1)
Clearwater Galactics (USASA) at Charlotte Eagles (USL-2)
Bradenton Academics (PDL) at Miami FC (USL-1)
Seattle Sounders (USL-1) at Arizona Sahuaros (USASA)
Yakima Reds (PDL) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL-2)
Crystal Palace Baltimore (USL-2) at Los Angeles Legends (PDL)
Hollywood United (USASA) at Portland Timbers (USL-1)

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Category: World Football