U.S. Soccer Announces Format for 2026 U.S. Open Cup
U.S. Soccer has released the full format, schedule, and participating teams for the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, outlining how the 111th edition of the national championship will unfold. The tournament will begin with the First Round from March 17 to 19, featuring 32 amateur clubs matched against 48 professional teams.
The competition will run through October 21, when the final is set to be played. In total, 80 teams will compete for a $1 million prize and a berth in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. CBS Sports will again serve as the multimedia rights partner.
Format Adjustments and Rule Changes
The 2026 tournament will feature seven rounds instead of eight, a structural shift designed to reduce scheduling conflicts with the FIFA Men’s World Cup. As a result, only 48 professional sides—down from 64 in previous years—will participate. To qualify, clubs must have competed in a league season in 2025.
Two notable rule changes will also take effect:
One-club, one-entry rule: each organization may enter only its highest-level team.
Roster flexibility: numerical limits on roster eligibility have been eliminated; any registered player may be added to the match roster up to one day before kickoff, provided they meet eligibility requirements.
How the Tournament Will Progress
In the First Round, amateur teams will be paired with Division II and Division III professional opponents. Winners will move on to the Second Round on March 31 or April 1.
The Round of 32, scheduled for April, will introduce Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs that are not participating in the Concacaf Champions Cup or the Leagues Cup. Chicago Fire FC is among the MLS teams entering at this stage.
All matches will use a single-elimination format, with draw groups and pairings determined mainly by geography and stadium availability.
U.S. Soccer’s Vision
“Our vision is clear; we exist in service to soccer,” U.S. Soccer said in its announcement. “Our ambition, working across the soccer ecosystem, is to ignite a national passion for the game. We believe soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good.” The federation emphasized goals such as expanding access to soccer nationwide, strengthening national team performance, and investing in sustainable growth across all levels of the sport.
History of the Competition
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, first held in 1914, is the oldest ongoing national soccer tournament in the United States. Aside from cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, it has served as the country’s open championship, uniquely allowing amateur clubs to compete directly with professional teams.
Last year’s champion was Nashville SC, which defeated Austin FC on Oct. 1 to secure its first major trophy.
