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In a compromise, eight of the 26 US-based MLS teams will participate in the 96-team competition and another nine will use their development teams from the third division, known as MLS Next Pro.
That leaves nine MLS organizations without a presence, including D.C. Unitedthree-time tournament champion.
United’s first team was left out due to its poor finish in the 2023 MLS season. United is also the only US-based MLS club without an MLS Next Pro team. It is no longer the majority owner of second-division Loudoun United, which will participate in the Open Cup.
“We really wanted to participate,” DC coach Troy Lesesne said.
MLS and USSF officials said they will continue to work to find long-term solutions for the tournament, but it is still unclear whether all MLS top teams will return to full participation next year.
Modeled after the English FA Cup, the 110-year-old U.S. Open Cup, involves teams from amateurs to professionals in a single-elimination tournament that runs concurrently with league seasons. It is administered by the USSF, the sport’s national governing body, which says the competition is the third-longest continuously running national cup tournament in the world.
“I am glad that (the USSF) was able to organize the tournament in a satisfactory manner,” said MLS executive vice president Nelson Rodríguez. “The Open Cup could (and should) evolve to a state that would be a better experience for everyone.”
MLS has complained about the event for years, complaining about financial strain, schedule congestion and player demand. The league, however, created its own congestion last year by releasing the Leagues Cup, with the 47 teams of the MLS and the Mexican Liga MX. To accommodate this, MLS pauses the regular season for a month. Unlike the Open Cup, MLS (and Liga MX) controls revenue and television rights.
This winter, the USSF rejected MLS’ request to field MLS Next Pro teams. The MLS pivot also appeared to violate the USSF’s sanctioning requirements for leagues to participate in the Open Cup.
Removing sanctions “never came up” in recent conversations with the USSF, Rodriguez said.
MLS and USSF did not go into great detail about the financial changes, but the USSF said it will make “its largest investment in the tournament… to enhance financial incentives for participating teams, including a significant increase in travel reimbursement.” ” and increase promotion. of the tournament.
To ease scheduling demands, only one MLS team competes in the Concacaf Champions Cup – an international tournament to be held early this year – will also participate in the US Open Cup: defending USOC champion Houston.
Other MLS teams competing in the Open Cup, which will begin in the round of 32 in early May, include Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City, Los Angeles FC, Real Salt Lake, San Jose and Seattle. The MLS Next Pro teams, which will begin in the first round this month, represent Austin, Chicago, Charlotte, Colorado, Minnesota, LA Galaxy, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls and Portland.
“I love the idea (of the U.S. Open Cup), but I think it’s needed improvement for many, many years,” Kansas City coach Peter Vermes said. “Would it be great if everyone had the chance to participate in it? Sure. But at this time it is the right decision due to the congestion of our schedule.”