The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. It is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. and the world's third-longest-running open soccer tournament.[1] It is open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League Soccer.
The Open Cup was first held in 1913–14, when it was called the National Challenge Cup.
The defending Open Cup champions are D.C. United, who beat the Real Salt Lake 1–0 in the 2013 final. It was D.C. United's first title since 2008.
The overall champion earn a total of $250,000 (up from $100,000 in recent years) in prize money. The tournament runner-up receive $60,000 (up from $50,000) and the team that advances the furthest from each lower division will win $15,000 (up from $10,000).[2]
History
The Sir Thomas Dewar Cup
The competition dates back to 1913-14, when it was known as the National Challenge Cup. In 1999, U.S. Soccer honored one of American soccer's most important patrons, Lamar Hunt, by changing the official title of the tournament to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The winners of the tournament were awarded the Dewar Cup, donated by Sir Thomas Dewar for the promotion of soccer in America in 1912, until it was retired due to poor condition in 1979. It was brought back into use by the United States Adult Soccer Association in 1997, but is now back on permanent display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York, and the recent winners of the tournament have been awarded a new, different trophy. Despite this, the name of each winning club is still added to the base of the original Dewar Cup.
Trophy awarded to the Rochester Rhinos in 1999
The National Challenge Cup was the first truly national cup competition in the United States, as previous cups had been effectively relegated to regional status by the difficulties in coordination and travel caused by the size of the United States in the early 1900s. While U.S. Soccer had initially administered the competition, in 1985 they handed over management to the USASA. In 1995, U.S. Soccer resumed its administration of the competition.
[3]
Maccabi Los Angeles of California and Bethlehem Steel of Pennsylvania have both won the cup a record five times, while Greek American AA of New York and Seattle Sounders FC are tied for the record for most consecutive cup victories at three. Most of these records are likely to fall over time, now that Major League Soccer offers a fully professional league, and its teams typically dominate the competition. The old NASL did not participate in the Open Cup.
Since MLS' debut in 1996, MLS clubs have won the cup in all but one of those years. The Rochester Rhinos of the 2nd division A-League were surprise winners in 1999, defeating four MLS clubs, including the Colorado Rapids 2–0 in the championship match. The first professional team to win in the modern era were the Richmond Kickers of the USISL (the predecessor to the A-League, USL First Division, and USL Pro) in 1995, one year before the start of MLS. D.C. United were the first MLS team to win in 1996.
Qualifying
Through the 2011 edition, eight teams from each level of the American Soccer Pyramid took part in the competition proper, with each league narrowing its delegation separately in the spring before the competition officially began in the summer. In some cases, additional teams played in qualifying rounds to gain entry. One example was found with MLS clubs, as only the top six from the previous regular season received automatic bids, while the bottom U.S.-based MLS teams faced each other to qualify for the remaining two MLS slots.
Beginning in 2012, the competition was expanded from its previous 40 teams to 64, with the qualifying process radically changed. The National Premier Soccer League received six places, plus the possibility of a seventh in a playoff against a team from the amateur US Club Soccer setup. Nine clubs from the USASA earned places, as did 16 USL Premier Development League teams. Each of these organizations has its own qualifying process to determine its entrants. These 32 teams competed in the first round of the Cup, with the winners meeting all 16 USL Pro and NASL teams in the second round. The 16 U.S.-based MLS teams entered in the third round.
In 2013 the competition was expanded to 68 teams. All U.S. based Division I, II and III teams will participate in the tournament proper: 16 from Major League Soccer, six from the North American Soccer League and 12 from USL PRO. The remaining 34 spots in the tournament field will be filled by amateur teams from the Adult Council category. There will be 16 from the Premier Development League, eight from U.S. Adult Soccer Association regional qualifying, eight from the National Premier Soccer League, one from US Club Soccer and one from the United States Specialty Sports Association.
The process for determining the site for the Open Cup tournament semifinals and final was changed in 2013. In past years, the sites for the final three matches of the tournament had been determined through a sealed-bid process, but this year the hosts of those games will be determined by a coin flip. Home teams throughout the entire tournament will be determined by random selection.[2]
Since 2008, the champion of the U.S. Open Cup has earned the right to play in the CONCACAF Champions League.[4] The first team to represent the U.S. as Open Cup champion was 2007's winner, the New England Revolution.
Criticism
Recently, the U.S. Open Cup has been the subject of criticism over its procedure of sealed bids to award home matches,[5] which has resulted in DC United hosting 11 straight matches including two finals from 2008–2010, and Seattle Sounders FC hosting 11 of 14 matches in its three championship seasons from 2009–2011.
Champions
Champions by number of titles
Titles |
Teams |
5 | Bethlehem Steel, Maccabi Los Angeles |
4 | Chicago Fire, Fall River Marksmen, Greek American AA, Philadelphia Ukrainians |
3 | D.C. United, New York Pancyprian-Freedoms, Seattle Sounders FC, Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C. |
2 | Brooklyn Hispano, Brooklyn Italians, Elizabeth S.C., Greek-American A.C., Harmarville Hurricanes, Los Angeles Galaxy, Los Angeles Kickers, New York Americans, Sporting Kansas City, St. Louis Kutis, St. Louis Simpkins-Ford, Sparta |
1 | Baltimore, Ben Millers, Brookhattan, Brooklyn Field Club, Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic, Busch, Chicago Viking, Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, Eagles, Eintracht, España, Falcons, Fall River Rovers, Gallatin, German Hungarian, Krete, Hota, Kickers, McIlvaine Canvasbacks, Mexico, Morgan-Strasser, New Bedford Whalers, New England Revolution, New York Hakoah, New York Hungaria, New York Nationals, New York Ukrainians, Paterson F.C., Pawtucket, Ponta Delgada, Richmond Kickers, Robins Dry Dock, Rochester Rhinos, Uhrik Truckers, San Francisco, San Jose Oaks, St. Louis Scullin Steel, Shawsheen Indians |
Champions by State
State |
Titles |
Teams |
New York | 26 | Greek American AA (4), New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (3), Brooklyn Hispano (2), Brooklyn Italians (2), New York Americans (2), Brookhattan, Brooklyn Field Club, Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic, Eintracht, German Hungarian, Krete, Hota, New York Hakoah, New York Hungaria, New York Nationals, New York Ukrainians, Robins Dry Dock, Rochester Rhinos |
California | 15 | Maccabi Los Angeles (5), Greek-American (2), Los Angeles Galaxy (2), Los Angeles Kickers (2), McIlvaine Canvasbacks, C.D. Mexico, San Francisco, San Jose Oaks |
Pennsylvania | 14 | Bethlehem Steel (5), Philadelphia Ukrainians (4), Harmarville Hurricanes (2), Gallatin, Morgan-Strasser, Uhrik Truckers |
Missouri | 12 | Stix, Baer and Fuller (3), St. Louis Kutis (2), St. Louis Simpkins-Ford (2), Ben Millers, Busch, Kansas City Wizards,[N 1] St. Louis Scullin Steel |
Illinois | 9 | Chicago Fire (4), Sparta (2), Chicago Viking, Eagles, Falcons |
Massachusetts | 9 | Fall River Marksmen (4), Fall River Rovers, New Bedford Whalers, New England Revolution, Ponta Delgada, Shawsheen Indians |
Washington, D.C. | 4 | D.C. United (3), España |
New Jersey | 3 | Elizabeth S.C. (2), Paterson F.C. |
Washington | 3 | Seattle Sounders FC (3) |
Kansas | 1 | Sporting Kansas City,[N 1] |
Rhode Island | 1 | Pawtucket |
Maryland | 1 | Baltimore |
Ohio | 1 | Columbus Crew |
Texas | 1 | FC Dallas |
Florida | 1 | Kickers |
Virginia | 1 | Richmond Kickers |
MLS Honors
Rank |
Team |
Wins |
Runners-up |
Years won |
Years runner-up |
1 |
Chicago Fire |
4 |
2 |
1998, 2000, 2003, 2006 |
2004, 2011 |
2 |
D.C. United |
3 |
2 |
1996, 2008, 2013 |
1997, 2009 |
3 |
Seattle Sounders FC |
3 |
1 |
2009, 2010, 2011 |
2012 |
4 |
Los Angeles Galaxy |
2 |
2 |
2001, 2005 |
2002, 2006 |
5 |
Sporting Kansas City |
2 |
0 |
2004, 2012 |
|
6 |
Columbus Crew |
1 |
2 |
2002 |
1998, 2010 |
FC Dallas |
1 |
2 |
1997 |
2005, 2007 |
8 |
New England Revolution |
1 |
1 |
2007 |
2001 |
9 |
Real Salt Lake |
0 |
1 |
|
2013 |
Colorado Rapids |
0 |
1 |
|
1999 |
New York Red Bulls |
0 |
1 |
|
2003 |
Miami Fusion F.C. |
0 |
1 |
|
2000 |
List of finalists
Year |
Winner |
Runner-up |
Venue |
1914 Details |
Brooklyn Field Club |
Brooklyn Celtic |
Coates Field, Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
1915 Details |
Bethlehem Steel |
Brooklyn Celtic |
Taylor Field, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania |
1916 Details |
Bethlehem Steel |
Fall River Rovers |
Coates Field, Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
1917 Details |
Fall River Rovers |
Bethlehem Steel |
Coates Field, Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
1918 Details |
Bethlehem Steel |
Fall River Rovers |
Federal League Park, Harrison, New Jersey |
1919 Details |
Bethlehem Steel |
Paterson F.C. |
Athletic Field, Fall River, Massachusetts |
1920 Details |
Ben Millers |
Fore River |
Handlan's Park, St. Louis, Missouri |
1921 Details |
Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock |
St. Louis Scullin Steel |
Athletic Park, Fall River, Massachusetts |
1922 Details |
St. Louis Scullin Steel |
Todd Shipyards |
St. Louis, Missouri |
1923 Details |
Paterson F.C. |
St. Louis Scullin Steel |
Federal League Park, Harrison, New Jersey |
1924 Details |
Fall River Marksmen |
St. Louis Vesper Buick |
St. Louis, Missouri |
1925 Details |
Shawsheen Indians |
Chicago Canadian Club |
Mark's Stadium, North Tiverton, Rhode Island |
1926 Details |
Bethlehem Steel |
Ben Millers |
Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York |
1927 Details |
Fall River Marksmen |
Holley Carburetor |
University of Detroit Stadium, Detroit, Michigan |
1928 Details |
New York Nationals |
Bricklayers and Masons |
Game 1: Polo Grounds, New York, New York Game 2: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois |
1929 Details |
New York Hakoah |
St. Louis Madison Kennel |
Game 1: Sportsman's Park, St. Louis, Missouri Game 2: Dexter Park, Woodhaven, New York |
1930 Details |
Fall River Marksmen |
Cleveland Bruell Insurance |
Game 1: Polo Grounds, New York, New York Game 2: Luna Bowl, Cleveland, Ohio |
1931 Details |
Fall River Marksmen |
Bricklayers and Masons |
Game 1: Polo Grounds, New York, New York Game 2: Mills Stadium, Chicago, Illinois Game 3: Sparta Field, Chicago, Illinois |
1932 Details |
New Bedford Whalers |
Stix, Baer and Fuller |
Games 1 and 2: Sportsman's Park, St. Louis, Missouri |
1933 Details |
Stix, Baer and Fuller |
New York Americans |
Game 1: Sportsman's Park, St. Louis, Missouri Game 2: Starlight Park, Bronx, New York |
1934 Details |
Stix, Baer and Fuller |
Pawtucket Rangers |
Games 1 and 3: Walsh Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri Game 2: Coates Field, Pawtucket, Rhode Island |
1935 Details |
St. Louis Central Breweries |
Pawtucket Rangers |
Game 1: Walsh Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri Game 2: Coates Field, Pawtucket, Rhode Island Game 3: Newark School Stadium, Newark, New Jersey |
1936 Details |
Uhrik Truckers |
St. Louis Shamrocks |
Game 1: Walsh Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri Game 2: Rifle Club Grounds, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
1937 Details |
New York Americans |
St. Louis Shamrocks |
Game 1: Public Schools Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri Game 2: Starlight Park, Bronx, New York |
1938 Details |
Chicago Sparta |
Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic |
Game 1: Sparta Stadium, Chicago, Illinois Game 2: Starlight Park, Bronx, New York |
1939 Details |
Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic |
Chicago Manhattan Beer |
Game 1: Sparta Stadium, Chicago, Illinois Game 2: Starlight Park, Bronx, New York |
1940 Details |
Baltimore and Chicago Sparta played to a 2-2 draw. |
1941 Details |
Pawtucket |
Detroit Chrysler |
1942 Details |
Gallatin |
Pawtucket |
1943 Details |
Brooklyn Hispano |
Morgan-Strasser |
1944 Details |
Brooklyn Hispano |
Morgan-Strasser |
1945 Details |
Brookhattan |
Cleveland Americans |
1946 Details |
Chicago Viking |
Ponta Delgada |
1947 Details |
Ponta Delgada |
Chicago Sparta |
1948 Details |
St. Louis Simpkins-Ford |
Brookhattan |
1949 Details |
Morgan-Strasser |
Philadelphia Nationals |
1950 Details |
St. Louis Simpkins-Ford |
Ponta Delgada |
1951 Details |
German Hungarian |
Pittsburgh Heidelberg |
1952 Details |
Harmarville Hurricanes |
Philadelphia Nationals |
1953 Details |
Falcons |
Harmarville Hurricanes |
1954 Details |
New York Americans |
St. Louis Kutis |
1955 Details |
Eintracht |
Los Angeles Danish Americans |
1956 Details |
Harmarville Hurricanes |
Chicago Schwaben |
1957 Details |
St. Louis Kutis |
New York Hakoah |
1958 Details |
Los Angeles Kickers |
Baltimore Pompei |
1959 Details |
McIlvane Canvasbacks |
Fall River |
1960 Details |
Philadelphia Ukrainians |
Los Angeles Kickers |
1961 Details |
Philadelphia Ukrainians |
Los Angeles Scots |
1962 Details |
New York Hungaria |
San Francisco Scots |
1963 Details |
Philadelphia Ukrainians |
Los Angeles Armenian |
1964 Details |
Los Angeles Kickers |
Philadelphia Ukrainians |
1965 Details |
New York Ukrainians |
Chicago Hansa |
1966 Details |
Philadelphia Ukrainians |
Orange County F.C. |
1967 Details |
Greek American AA |
Orange County |
1968 Details |
Greek American AA |
Chicago Olympic |
1969 Details |
Greek American AA |
Montabello Armenians |
1970 Details |
Elizabeth S.C. |
Los Angeles Croatia |
1971 Details |
New York Hota |
San Pedro Yugoslavs |
1972 Details |
Elizabeth S.C. |
San Pedro Yugoslavs |
1973 Details |
Maccabi Los Angeles |
Cleveland Inter |
1974 Details |
Greek American AA |
Chicago Croatia |
1975 Details |
Maccabi Los Angeles |
New York Inter-Giuliana |
1976 Details |
San Francisco |
New York Inter-Giuliana |
1977 Details |
Maccabi Los Angeles |
Philadelphia United German-Hungarians |
1978 Details |
Maccabi Los Angeles |
Bridgeport Vasco da Gama |
1979 Details |
Brooklyn Dodgers S.C. |
Chicago Croatian |
1980 Details |
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms |
Maccabi Los Angeles |
1981 Details |
Maccabi Los Angeles |
Brooklyn Dodgers S.C. |
1982 Details |
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms |
Maccabi Los Angeles |
1983 Details |
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms |
St. Louis Kutis |
1984 Details |
A.O. Krete |
Chicago Croatian |
1985 Details |
Greek-American |
St. Louis Kutis |
1986 Details |
St. Louis Kutis |
San Pedro Yugoslavs |
1987 Details |
Club España |
Seattle Eagles |
1988 Details |
St. Louis Busch Seniors |
Greek-American |
1989 Details |
St. Petersburg Kickers |
Greek American AA |
St. Louis Soccer Park, Fenton, Missouri |
1990 Details |
A.A.C. Eagles |
Brooklyn Italians |
Kuntz Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana |
1991 Details |
Brooklyn Italians |
Richardson Rockets |
Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York |
1992 Details |
San Jose Oaks |
Bridgeport Vasco da Gama |
Kuntz Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana |
1993 Details |
San Francisco C.D. Mexico |
Philadelphia United German-Hungarians |
Kuntz Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana |
1994 Details |
Greek-American |
Bavarian Leinenkugel |
UGH Field, Oakford, Pennsylvania |
1995 Details |
Richmond Kickers |
El Paso Patriots |
Socorro ISD Stadium, El Paso, Texas |
1996 Details |
D.C. United |
Rochester Raging Rhinos |
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C. |
1997 Details |
Dallas Burn |
D.C. United |
Carroll Stadium at IUPUI, Indianapolis, Indiana |
1998 Details |
Chicago Fire |
Columbus Crew |
Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois |
1999 Details |
Rochester Raging Rhinos |
Colorado Rapids |
Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio |
2000 Details |
Chicago Fire |
Miami Fusion F.C. |
Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois |
2001 Details |
Los Angeles Galaxy |
New England Revolution |
Titan Stadium, Fullerton, California |
2002 Details |
Columbus Crew |
Los Angeles Galaxy |
Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio |
2003 Details |
Chicago Fire |
MetroStars |
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey |
2004 Details |
Kansas City Wizards |
Chicago Fire |
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri |
2005 Details |
Los Angeles Galaxy |
FC Dallas |
The Home Depot Center, Carson, California |
2006 Details |
Chicago Fire |
Los Angeles Galaxy |
Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois |
2007 Details |
New England Revolution |
FC Dallas |
Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas |
2008 Details |
D.C. United |
Charleston Battery |
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C. |
2009 Details |
Seattle Sounders FC |
D.C. United |
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C. |
2010 Details |
Seattle Sounders FC |
Columbus Crew |
Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington |
2011 Details |
Seattle Sounders FC |
Chicago Fire |
CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington |
2012 Details |
Sporting Kansas City |
Seattle Sounders FC |
Livestrong Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kansas |
2013 Details |
D.C. United |
Real Salt Lake |
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah |
References
External links
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| Overview | |
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| Men's national teams | |
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| Outdoor leagues | |
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| Women's college soccer | |
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| Defunct men's outdoor leagues | |
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| Qualification | |
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| Seasons | |
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| Finals | |
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