2026 U.S. Open Cup
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Dates | March 17 – October 21 |
| Teams | 80 |
| Defending champions | Nashville SC |
The 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the 111th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, the knockout domestic cup competition of American soccer, organized by the United States Soccer Federation. It will involve 80 teams, including 48 teams from all three professional tiers of the United States soccer league system, and 32 amateur teams in the "Open Division". The competition begins on March 17 and culminate in the final on October 21.[1]
The full format was announced on January 28, 2025. U.S. Soccer changed several elements of the contest, such as reducing the number of rounds by one, altering the qualifying requirements to ensure the highest-level professional team of a club enters the tournament as well as removing the National League qualifying track. Participation in the tournament is limited to teams that played a league season in 2025, removing new professional clubs from fielding a team.[1]
Of the 27 American clubs in Major League Soccer, 16 will participate, with teams that are playing in either the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup or 2026 Leagues Cup.[2] Being the only Division 1 league, all eligible MLS teams will enter in the round of 32 (third round). Depending on Supporter's Cup standings, one half of the MLS first team entrants will host their first matches, while the rest will begin with an away game. Because of the rule changes for this year, only two MLS Next Pro teams will appear in the competition (Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC). The USL Championship will send 17 of its teams, which includes all teams entered in the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs plus the next team outside of playoff consideration (North Carolina FC is not competing due to not fielding a team this year). These times will enter the competition in the first round. USL League One will send their 13 eligible teams. Championship, League One, and Next Pro, along with the 32 Open Division teams, will enter in the first round.[1]
Due to qualifying for the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup the winner, Nashville SC, are unable to defend their title.
Schedule
| Round | Draw date | Match day | Entrants | Teams entered to date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | March 17 | March 19 | 6 local qualifiers 1 National Amateur Cup champion 1 UPSL Spring Champion 1 2025 John Motta Trophy winner 8 United Premier Soccer League teams 5 National Premier Soccer League teams 10 USL League Two teams 13 USL League One teams 2 MLS Next Pro teams 17 USL Championship teams |
64 teams |
| Second Round | March 31 | April 1 | 32 winners from First Round | |
| Round of 32 | April 14 | April 15 | 16 winners from Second Round 16 Major League Soccer teams |
80 teams |
| Round of 16 | April 28 | April 29 | 16 winners from Round of 32 | |
| Quarterfinals | May 19 | May 20 | 8 winners from Round of 16 | |
| Semifinals | September 15 | September 16 | 4 winners from Quarterfinals | |
| Final | October 21 | 2 winners from Semifinals | ||
Teams
Table
- $: Winner of $50,000 bonus for advancing the furthest in the competition from their respective divisions.[5]
- $$: Winner of $250,000 for being the runner-up in the competition.[5]
- $$$: Winner of $600,000 for winning the competition.[5]
Map
- MLS
- USLC
- Division 3 (MLSNP/USL1)
- Open Division (USL2/NPSL)
- Open Division (USASA/USSSA)
- Multiple Teams
Metro areas with multiple teams:
- Atlanta: Atlanta United FC (MLS), Kalonji Pro-Profile (UPSL)
- Boston: New England Revolution (MLS), CD Faialense (BSSL)
- Chattanooga: Chattanooga FC (MLSNP), Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL1)
- Charlotte: Charlotte FC (MLS), Charlotte Independence (USL1), Hickory FC (NPSL)
- Denver: Azteca FC (CPL), Colorado Rapids (MLS)
- Houston: Houston Dynamo (MLS), ASC New Stars (HFA)
- Los Angeles: Orange County SC (USLC), Laguna United FC (UPSL), Ventura County Fusion (USL2)
- Louisville: Louisville City FC (USLC), Southern Indiana FC (UPSL)
- New York City: New York City FC (MLS), New York Red Bulls (MLS), Westchester SC (USL1), FC Motown (NPSL), SC Vistula Garfield (APSL), NY Renegades FC (UPSL)
- Orlando: Orlando City SC (MLS), FC America CFL Spurs (UPSL)
- Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC), Steel City FC (USL2)
- San Francisco Bay Area: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS), El Farolito SC (NPSL), San Ramon FC (TLFC)
- St. Louis: St. Louis City SC (MLS), BOHFS St. Louis (MPL)
- Washington D.C.: D.C. United (MLS), Loudoun United FC (USLC), Virginia Dream FC (UPSL), Northern Virginia FC (USL2)
Number of teams by state
A total of 34 states and D.C. were represented by clubs in the U.S. Open Cup this year.
Open Cup debuts
26 teams made their Open Cup debuts in the 2026 tournament.
- USL2: Steel City FC
- UPSL: Valley 559 FC, Southern Indiana FC, NY Renegades FC, Kalonji Pro-Profile, Badgers FC
- APSL: SC Vistula Garfield
- The League for Clubs: San Ramon FC
- Local: ASC New Stars, Azteza FC, BOHFS St. Louis, Red Force
Broadcasting
As part of the second year of a two-year deal with U.S. Soccer, CBS Sports will broadcast games on Paramount+, with select games on the CBS Sports Golazo Network and CBS Sports Network.[1]
External links
- ^ a b c d e f "Format, Schedule and Participating Teams Finalized for 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup" (Press release). U.S. Soccer. December 4, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ Ashton, Alex (December 4, 2025). "US Open Cup Scales Back for 2026". Beyond the 90'. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ^ Battista, Michael (July 27, 2025). "2025 National Amateur Cup Final: West Chester United's late OT winner books spot in 2026 US Open Cup". TheCup.us. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ Padilla, Kathryne (August 11, 2025). "Dominic Oduro's late goal gives Tennessee Tempo UPSL spring title, spot in 2026 US Open Cup". TheCup.us. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Tournament Kicks Off Today; Increased Investment Leads to Record Purse of $1 Million". United States Soccer Federation. March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 18, 2025.