U.S. Soccer Finalizes 2027 Format for the U.S. Open Cup

By Daniel Feuerstein | Fayetteville, GA | September 2nd, 2026

From Rumors to reality, the U.S. Soccer Federation has announced the full format for the 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and all 27 Major League Soccer American clubs will participate in the tournament for the right to battle for the National Championship of the sport. After the last three editions, a handful of clubs were allowed to play in the oldest cup competition in the region; now all Division I clubs will have their chance to battle for silverware in this new format.

MLS is fully back

As the rumors were flying across the country and on the internet that MLS would allow all of its American clubs to return to play in the U.S. Open Cup, it sent shockwaves through the American Soccer Community; this announcement has cemented that belief. All 27 clubs will enter a brand new Round of 64 (Round 2), with the top five seeded clubs from USL Championship of the second division awaiting the 32 round one winners. After the Championship Final of 2023, MLS attempted to not participate in the 2024 tournament and wanted to substitute all of their MLS Next Pro clubs to take their place instead. After much politicking, eight MLS clubs played in the 2024 Tournament; then it doubled to 16 for last season and this season. But now it’s the full slate of clubs coming in and ready to go for 2027.

“The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup connects all leagues, clubs and fans in a unique way,” said Nelson Rodriguez, MLS Executive Vice President of Sporting and Matchday. “For MLS clubs, it’s a chance to write a special chapter in the tournament’s history and earn qualification to the Concacaf Champions Cup.”

Schedule and round-by-round description

The schedule for the 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has been set up in this manner.

ROUND 1: Two weeks of the first round on April 13th and 14th and April 20th & 21st
ROUND 2: (Round of 64) July 8th through the 11th
ROUND 3: (Round of 32) September 14th & 15th
ROUND 4: (Round of 16) Date To Be Called
QUARTERFINALS: November 23rd & 24th
SEMI-FINALS: December 1st
U.S. OPEN CUP CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: December 15th

Round 1 Proper

32 Open Division sides will face 32 professional clubs in the first round. Currently, 16 have already qualified through their leagues and other cup competitions. The other 16 will begin Open Cup Qualification in the first round on the weekend dates of September 12th & 13th. The clubs that have already qualified from USL League 2 are: Ballard FC (WA), Minneapolis City FC (MN), Ocean City Nor’Easters (NJ), Colorado Strom (CO), Laredo Heat (TX), Little Rock Rangers (AK), Vermont Green FC (VT), winning the USL League 2 Championship and the Hank Steinbrecher Cup. Due to Vermont Green already winning the Steinbrecher Cup, San Francisco City FC (CA) will take the last USL League 2 spot, and Asheville City SC won the John Motta Cup as the open division club to advance the furthest in the 2026 tournament.

The clubs advancing from the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) are Bristol Rhythm (VA/TN), Ambassadors FC of Ohio (OH), New Haven United FC (CT), the NPSL Champions, and the US Adult Soccer Association Champions, El Farolito (CA). From the United Premier Soccer League’s spring Season Championship Final, Deportivo Rose City (CA) & runner-up Miami United FC (FL), and for the very first time, the League for Club Winner, Pensacola FC. They will be joined by the professional leagues from USL Championship, USL League One, and MLS Next Pro.

If the eligible field of 32 teams from both USL Championship & League One goes over the limit, then it will be determined by how all the clubs in their respective leagues have finished through the 2026 Standings to enter the first round, and the three MLS Next Pro clubs in Carolina Core, Chattanooga FC, and Connecticut United FC will enter the opening round.

Round 2 (Round of 64)

All 27 MLS Clubs will begin, along with the five top-seeded clubs in USL Championship (32 Teams in all). They will wait for the 32-team round one winners to make the field into 64 teams. Those five seeded clubs from USL Championship will enter either winning the 2026 Players Shield, the USL Championship Playoff winner, the top seed in both the Eastern and Western Conference, and the Prinx Tires USL Cup Champion. Hosting priorities will be given to the clubs that enter the Round of 64.

Round 3 (Round of 32)

All 32 Round 2 winners will advance to the next round, and if any lower division teams advance to this round, they will automatically host a match. The first live Draw of the U.S. Open Cup will also come before the scheduled matches of Round 3 begin.

Round 4 (Round of 16)

All 16 Round 3 winners will advance to the next round to play in the Quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals

The 8 Round 4 Winners will advance and play each other to enter the Semi-Finals

Semi-Finals

The 4 Quarterfinal Winners will advance and play each other to enter the Championship Final

U.S. Open Cup Final

The 2 Finalists will advance to the Championship Final for the right to hoist the Lamar Hunt Cup at the end of the match.

“The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is one of the most powerful platforms we have to showcase what makes American soccer special,” said Dan Helfrich, U.S. Soccer Chief Operating Officer. “When you bring various levels of the soccer community together, you create a connected, competitive environment that moves the sport forward and gives fans the drama of knockout soccer. Along with MLS, USL and all of the Member Organizations represented in the Open Division, the U.S. Open Cup reflects our shared commitment to strengthen the future of the game in this country.”

All matches will be geographically paired by U.S. Soccer. Random selection will be used to solve a lack of logical geographic fit. U.S. Soccer has finally brought back all of MLS into their tournament, and now we wait to see who will win their respective Semi-Final matches and the final of this edition, so we can get to the new one. Don’t forget to follow all of U.S. Open Cup Qualifying that will begin on the weekend of September 12th & 13th.

The format for the 2027 U.S. Open Cup is here, and all 27 MLS Clubs will participate in the tournament for the first time in three years.

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