Can Sounders FC make it five?
U.S. Soccer announced the format of the 102nd edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup today. The Cup kicks off in late April and will feature a new format for the Round of 16.
The competition features a record-breaking 91 teams in the field, 11 more than 2014 when the Sounders captured the title following a 3-1 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Union. The 17 U.S.-based MLS clubs will enter the tournament during the Fourth Round.
S2, the USL PRO club of Sounders FC, will make its Open Cup debut during the second round. The team will be paired geographically to a First Round pairing and assigned to play the winner of that match.
The tournament will feature single-elimination games, with the format staying constant until the Round of 16, when the remaining clubs will be divided geographically into groups of four. During this round, teams with a shared-ownership affiliation will not face each other. A random draw will determine the parings for each group for each round following those matches.
The Rave Green will compete for its fifth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title. Having won in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014, Sounders FC is tied with the Chicago Fire for the most titles among MLS teams.
U.S. Open Cup Schedule
- Qualifying deadline: March 29
- Parings Announcement: April 8
- Play-In Round: April 22-26
- First Round: May 13
- Second Round: May 20
- Third Round: May 27
- Fourth Round: June 16-17
- Fifth Round Draw: June 18
- Fifth Round: June 30-July 1
- Quarterfinals: July 21-22
- Semifinals August 11-12
- Final: September 29 or 30
