MLS teams to fully participate in U.S. Open Cup for first time since 2023
Quick summary
MLS clubs will return to full participation in the U.S. Open Cup for the first time since 2023, ending a multi-year absence from the historic domestic knockout competition.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceMLS teams will have a full contingent in next season's US Open Cup.
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What happened
Major League Soccer teams are set to fully re-enter the U.S. Open Cup, the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States. MLS clubs had been absent or only partially involved since 2023 amid a dispute over scheduling, broadcasting, and the role of MLS's reserve league (MLS NEXT Pro). The return of full participation marks a significant development for the tournament, which traditionally pits professional clubs against lower-division and amateur sides. The move is expected to restore the competition's prestige and give fans the traditional David-vs-Goliath matchups that have historically defined the Open Cup.
Chance analysis
The full return of MLS clubs to the U.S. Open Cup restores a competition that had lost much of its competitive edge during the league's hiatus. The Open Cup has long been a showcase for Cinderella stories and a key pathway for lower-division and amateur clubs to test themselves against top-flight opposition. With MLS sides back, the tournament regains its traditional format and prestige, while lower-division clubs get the marquee matchups that make the competition special. The resolution of the underlying dispute over scheduling and competition structure also signals a healthier relationship between MLS and U.S. Soccer.
MLS clubs return to the U.S. Open Cup, strengthening the competition's field and providing more fixture opportunities for both top-flight and lower-division sides.