February 3 – In 2024, Major League Soccer (MLS) caused uproar in the US community as the league announced that all of its teams would not participate in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup due to fixture congestion. After negotiations in December 2023, MLS allowed eight clubs to compete along with nine MLS-affiliated MLS Next Pro teams.
For the second year running, MLS again will only send a portion of their teams to the 111-year-old Open Cup, snubbing US Soccer, who seemingly have lost interest in their own national cup as their silence is deafening despite their USSF rulebook stating “US-based teams (Division I leagues like MLs) must participate in all representative US Soccer [USSF] and Concacaf competitions for which they are eligible.”
For the 2025 edition of the tournament, MLS is sending 16 teams, which is an improvement, however, missing from the draw will be the defending champions LAFC as their participation in the two-year-old Leagues Cup is seemingly a bigger draw.
The nine MLS clubs not in the Leagues Cup, along with seven others based on the 2024 Supporters’ Shield standings are now automatically “qualified” for the 2025 Open Cup.
In another twist, 2025, expansion side, San Diego FC are not playing in the Open Cup but have been given a spot in the Leagues Cup.
Confused?
The reasons for MLS sides not competing in the tournament have ranged from the standard of facilities in the Open Cup to marketing, attendance, and schedule congestion, which in part was caused by the creation of the Leagues Cup.
With the Open Cup financially wounded by the missing teams, MLS commissioner Don Garber said in March 2024: “We financially have no involvement in it. We don’t control the brand.”
For many countries, the domestic cup might take second place to the league standings, however, in the United States, the winner of the Open Cup, enters the Concacaf Champions League, which then has the potential to enter the FIFA Club World Cup qualification process.
Whatever way you slice it, MLS, seemingly is the piper that calls the tune, and US Soccer is the organisation that is dancing.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1738576927labto1738576927ofdlr1738576927owedi1738576927sni@o1738576927fni1738576927