Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

Founded	1914 (1914)
Region	United States (CONCACAF)
Number of teams	68
Current champions	Sporting Kansas City (2nd title)
Most successful club(s)	Bethlehem Steel & Maccabi Los Angeles (5 titles each)
Website	Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
2013 U.S. Open Cup

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. and is currently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League Soccer.

The Open Cup was first held in 1913–14, when it was called the National Challenge Cup.

The defending Open Cup champions are Sporting Kansas City, who beat the Seattle Sounders FC 1-1 on penalty kicks in the 2012 final. It was Sporting Kansas City's first title since 2004, when they won it as the Kansas City Wizards.

The overall champion earn a total of $250,000 (up from $100,000 in recent years) in prize money. The tournament runner-up receive $60,000 (up from $50,000) and the team that advances the furthest from each lower division will win $15,000 (up from $10,000).

History

Main article: History of the U.S. Open Cup

The Sir Thomas Dewar Cup

The competition dates back to 1914, when it was known as the National Challenge Cup. In 1999, U.S. Soccer honored one of American soccer's most important patrons, Lamar Hunt, by changing the official title of the tournament to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The winners of the tournament were awarded the Dewar Cup, donated by Sir Thomas Dewar for the promotion of soccer in America in 1912, until it was retired due to poor condition in 1979. It was brought back into use by the United States Adult Soccer Association in 1997, but is now back on permanent display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York, and the recent winners of the tournament have been awarded a new, different trophy. Despite this, the name of each winning club is still added to the base of the original Dewar Cup.

Trophy awarded to the Rochester Rhinos in 1999

The National Challenge Cup was the first truly national cup competition in the United States, as previous cups had been effectively relegated to regional status by the difficulties in coordination and travel caused by the size of the United States in the early 1900s. While U.S. Soccer had initially administered the competition, in 1985 they handed over management to the USASA. In 1995, U.S. Soccer resumed its administration of the competition.

Maccabi Los Angeles of California and Bethlehem Steel of Pennsylvania have both won the cup a record five times, while Greek American AA of New York and Seattle Sounders FC are tied for the record for most consecutive cup victories at three. Most of these records are likely to fall over time, now that Major League Soccer offers a fully professional league, and its teams typically dominate the competition. The old NASL did not participate in the Open Cup.

Since MLS' debut in 1996, MLS clubs have won the cup in all but one of those years. The Rochester Rhinos of the 2nd division A-League were surprise winners in 1999, defeating four MLS clubs, including the Colorado Rapids 2–0 in the championship match. The first professional team to win in the modern era were the Richmond Kickers of the USISL (the predecessor to the A-League, USL First Division, and USL Pro) in 1995, one year before the start of MLS. D.C. United were the first MLS team to win in 1996.

Qualifying

Through the 2011 edition, eight teams from each level of the American Soccer Pyramid took part in the competition proper, with each league narrowing its delegation separately in the spring before the competition officially began in the summer. In some cases, additional teams played in qualifying rounds to gain entry. One example was found with MLS clubs, as only the top six from the previous regular season received automatic bids, while the bottom U.S.-based MLS teams faced each other to qualify for the remaining two MLS slots.

Beginning in 2012, the competition was expanded from its previous 40 teams to 64, with the qualifying process radically changed. The National Premier Soccer League receives six places, plus the possibility of a seventh in a playoff against a team from the amateur US Club Soccer setup. Nine clubs from the USASA earn places, as do 16 U.S.-based PDL teams. Each of these organizations has its own qualifying process to determine its entrants. These 32 teams contest the first round of the Cup, with the winners joined in the second round by all 16 U.S.-based teams in USL Pro and the NASL. The 16 U.S.-based MLS teams enter in the third round.

In 2013 the competition was expanded to 68 teams. All U.S. based Division I, II and III teams will participate in the tournament proper: 16 from Major League Soccer, six from the North American Soccer League and 12 from USL PRO. The remaining 34 spots in the tournament field will be filled by amateur teams from the Adult Council category. There will be 16 from the Premier Development League, eight from U.S. Adult Soccer Association regional qualifying, eight from the National Premier Soccer League, one from US Club Soccer and one from the United States Specialty Sports Association.

The process for determining the site for the Open Cup tournament semifinals and final was changed in 2013. In past years, the sites for the final three matches of the tournament had been determined through a sealed-bid process, but this year the hosts of those games will be determined by a coin flip. Home teams throughout the entire tournament will be determined by random selection.

Since 2008, the champion of the U.S. Open Cup has earned the right to play in the CONCACAF Champions League. The first team to represent the U.S. as Open Cup champion was 2007's winner, the New England Revolution.

Criticism

Recently, the U.S. Open Cup has been the subject of criticism over its procedure of sealed bids to award home matches, which has resulted in DC United hosting 11 straight matches including two finals from 2008-2010, and Seattle Sounders FC hosting 11 of 14 matches in its three championship seasons from 2009–2011.

Champions

Champions by number of titles

Titles	Teams
5	Bethlehem Steel, Maccabi Los Angeles
4	Chicago Fire, Fall River Marksmen, Greek American AA, Philadelphia Ukrainians
3	New York Pancyprian-Freedoms, Seattle Sounders FC, Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C.
2	Brooklyn Hispano, Brooklyn Italians, D.C. United, Elizabeth S.C., Greek-American A.C., Harmarville Hurricanes, Los Angeles Galaxy, Los Angeles Kickers, New York Americans, Sporting Kansas City, St. Louis Kutis, St. Louis Simpkins-Ford, Sparta
1	Baltimore, Ben Millers, Brookhattan, Brooklyn Field Club, Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic, Busch, Chicago Viking, Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, Eagles, Eintracht, España, Falcons, Fall River Rovers, Gallatin, German Hungarian, Krete, Hota, Kickers, McIlvaine Canvasbacks, Mexico, Morgan-Strasser, New Bedford Whalers, New England Revolution, New York Hakoah, New York Hungaria, New York Nationals, New York Ukrainians, Paterson F.C., Pawtucket, Ponta Delgada, Richmond Kickers, Robins Dry Dock, Rochester Rhinos, Uhrik Truckers, San Francisco, San Jose Oaks, St. Louis Scullin Steel, Shawsheen Indians

Champions by State

State	Titles	Teams
New York	26	Greek American AA (4), New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (3), Brooklyn Hispano (2), Brooklyn Italians (2), New York Americans (2), Brookhattan, Brooklyn Field Club, Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic, Eintracht, German Hungarian, Krete, Hota, New York Hakoah, New York Hungaria, New York Nationals, New York Ukrainians, Robins Dry Dock, Rochester Rhinos
California	15	Maccabi Los Angeles (5), Greek-American (2), Los Angeles Galaxy (2), Los Angeles Kickers (2), McIlvaine Canvasbacks, C.D. Mexico, San Francisco, San Jose Oaks
Pennsylvania	14	Bethlehem Steel (5), Philadelphia Ukrainians (4), Harmarville Hurricanes (2), Gallatin, Morgan-Strasser, Uhrik Truckers
Missouri	12	Stix, Baer and Fuller (3), St. Louis Kutis (2), St. Louis Simpkins-Ford (2), Ben Millers, Busch, Kansas City Wizards, St. Louis Scullin Steel
Illinois	9	Chicago Fire (4), Sparta (2), Chicago Viking, Eagles, Falcons
Massachusetts	9	Fall River Marksmen (4), Fall River Rovers, New Bedford Whalers, New England Revolution, Ponta Delgada, Shawsheen Indians
Washington, D.C.	3	D.C. United (2), España
New Jersey	3	Elizabeth S.C. (2), Paterson F.C.
Washington	3	Seattle Sounders FC (3)
Kansas	1	Sporting Kansas City,
Rhode Island	1	Pawtucket
Maryland	1	Baltimore
Ohio	1	Columbus Crew
Texas	1	FC Dallas
Florida	1	Kickers
Virginia	1	Richmond Kickers

MLS Honors

Rank	Team	Wins	Runners-up	Years won	Years runner-up
1	Chicago Fire	4	2	1998, 2000, 2003, 2006	2004, 2011
2	Seattle Sounders FC	3	1	2009, 2010, 2011	2012
3	D.C. United	2	2	1996, 2008	1997, 2009
	Los Angeles Galaxy	2	2	2001, 2005	2002, 2006
5	Sporting Kansas City	2	0	2004, 2012
6	Columbus Crew	1	2	2002	1998, 2010
	FC Dallas	1	2	1997	2005, 2007
8	New England Revolution	1	1	2007	2001
9	Colorado Rapids	0	1		1999
	New York Red Bulls	0	1		2003
	Miami Fusion F.C.	0	1		2000

List of finalists

Main article: List of U.S. Open Cup winners

Year	Winner	Runner-up	Venue
1914 Details	Brooklyn Field Club	Brooklyn Celtic	Coates Field, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
1915 Details	Bethlehem Steel	Brooklyn Celtic	Taylor Field, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
1916 Details	Bethlehem Steel	Fall River Rovers	Coates Field, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
1917 Details	Fall River Rovers	Bethlehem Steel	Coates Field, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
1918 Details	Bethlehem Steel	Fall River Rovers	Federal League Park, Harrison, New Jersey
1919 Details	Bethlehem Steel	Paterson F.C.	Athletic Field, Fall River, Massachusetts
1920 Details	Ben Millers	Fore River	Handlan's Park, St. Louis, Missouri
1921 Details	Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock	St. Louis Scullin Steel	Athletic Park, Fall River, Massachusetts
1922 Details	St. Louis Scullin Steel	Todd Shipyards	St. Louis, Missouri
1923 Details	Paterson F.C.	St. Louis Scullin Steel	Federal League Park, Harrison, New Jersey
1924 Details	Fall River Marksmen	St. Louis Vesper Buick	St. Louis, Missouri
1925 Details	Shawsheen Indians	Chicago Canadian Club	Mark's Stadium, North Tiverton, Rhode Island
1926 Details	Bethlehem Steel	Ben Millers	Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York
1927 Details	Fall River Marksmen	Holley Carburetor	University of Detroit Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
1928 Details	New York Nationals	Bricklayers and Masons	Game 1: Polo Grounds, New York, New York Game 2: Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
1929 Details	New York Hakoah	St. Louis Madison Kennel	Game 1: Sportsman's Park, St. Louis, Missouri Game 2: Dexter Park, Woodhaven, New York
1930 Details	Fall River Marksmen	Cleveland Bruell Insurance	Game 1: Polo Grounds, New York, New York Game 2: Luna Bowl, Cleveland, Ohio
1931 Details	Fall River Marksmen	Bricklayers and Masons	Game 1: Polo Grounds, New York, New York Game 2: Mills Stadium, Chicago, Illinois Game 3: Sparta Field, Chicago, Illinois
1932 Details	New Bedford Whalers	Stix, Baer and Fuller	Games 1 and 2: Sportsman's Park, St. Louis, Missouri
1933 Details	Stix, Baer and Fuller	New York Americans	Game 1: Sportsman's Park, St. Louis, Missouri Game 2: Starlight Park, Bronx, New York
1934 Details	Stix, Baer and Fuller	Pawtucket Rangers	Games 1 and 3: Walsh Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri Game 2: Coates Field, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
1935 Details	St. Louis Central Breweries	Pawtucket Rangers	Game 1: Walsh Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri Game 2: Coates Field, Pawtucket, Rhode Island Game 3: Newark School Stadium, Newark, New Jersey
1936 Details	Uhrik Truckers	St. Louis Shamrocks	Game 1: Walsh Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri Game 2: Rifle Club Grounds, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1937 Details	New York Americans	St. Louis Shamrocks	Game 1: Public Schools Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri Game 2: Starlight Park, Bronx, New York
1938 Details	Chicago Sparta	Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic	Game 1: Sparta Stadium, Chicago, Illinois Game 2: Starlight Park, Bronx, New York
1939 Details	Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic	Chicago Manhattan Beer	Game 1: Sparta Stadium, Chicago, Illinois Game 2: Starlight Park, Bronx, New York
1940 Details	Baltimore and Chicago Sparta played to a 2-2 draw.
1941 Details	Pawtucket	Detroit Chrysler
1942 Details	Gallatin	Pawtucket
1943 Details	Brooklyn Hispano	Morgan-Strasser
1944 Details	Brooklyn Hispano	Morgan-Strasser
1945 Details	Brookhattan	Cleveland Americans
1946 Details	Chicago Viking	Ponta Delgada
1947 Details	Ponta Delgada	Chicago Sparta
1948 Details	St. Louis Simpkins-Ford	Brookhattan
1949 Details	Morgan-Strasser	Philadelphia Nationals
1950 Details	St. Louis Simpkins-Ford	Ponta Delgada
1951 Details	German Hungarian	Pittsburgh Heidelberg
1952 Details	Harmarville Hurricanes	Philadelphia Nationals
1953 Details	Falcons	Harmarville Hurricanes
1954 Details	New York Americans	St. Louis Kutis
1955 Details	Eintracht	Los Angeles Danish Americans
1956 Details	Harmarville Hurricanes	Chicago Schwaben
1957 Details	St. Louis Kutis	New York Hakoah
1958 Details	Los Angeles Kickers	Baltimore Pompei
1959 Details	McIlvane Canvasbacks	Fall River
1960 Details	Philadelphia Ukrainians	Los Angeles Kickers
1961 Details	Philadelphia Ukrainians	Los Angeles Scots
1962 Details	New York Hungaria	San Francisco Scots
1963 Details	Philadelphia Ukrainians	Los Angeles Armenian
1964 Details	Los Angeles Kickers	Philadelphia Ukrainians
1965 Details	New York Ukrainians	Chicago Hansa
1966 Details	Philadelphia Ukrainians	Orange County F.C.
1967 Details	Greek American AA	Orange County
1968 Details	Greek American AA	Chicago Olympic
1969 Details	Greek American AA	Montabello Armenians
1970 Details	Elizabeth S.C.	Los Angeles Croatia
1971 Details	New York Hota	San Pedro Yugoslavs
1972 Details	Elizabeth S.C.	San Pedro Yugoslavs
1973 Details	Maccabi Los Angeles	Cleveland Inter
1974 Details	Greek American AA	Chicago Croatia
1975 Details	Maccabi Los Angeles	New York Inter-Giuliana
1976 Details	San Francisco	New York Inter-Giuliana
1977 Details	Maccabi Los Angeles	Philadelphia United German-Hungarians
1978 Details	Maccabi Los Angeles	Bridgeport Vasco da Gama
1979 Details	Brooklyn Dodgers S.C.	Chicago Croatian
1980 Details	New York Pancyprian-Freedoms	Maccabi Los Angeles
1981 Details	Maccabi Los Angeles	Brooklyn Dodgers S.C.
1982 Details	New York Pancyprian-Freedoms	Maccabi Los Angeles
1983 Details	New York Pancyprian-Freedoms	St. Louis Kutis
1984 Details	A.O. Krete	Chicago Croatian
1985 Details	Greek-American	St. Louis Kutis
1986 Details	St. Louis Kutis	San Pedro Yugoslavs
1987 Details	Club España	Seattle Eagles
1988 Details	St. Louis Busch Seniors	Greek-American
1989 Details	St. Petersburg Kickers	Greek American AA	St. Louis Soccer Park, Fenton, Missouri
1990 Details	A.A.C. Eagles	Brooklyn Italians	Kuntz Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
1991 Details	Brooklyn Italians	Richardson Rockets	Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York
1992 Details	San Jose Oaks	Bridgeport Vasco da Gama	Kuntz Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
1993 Details	San Francisco C.D. Mexico	Philadelphia United German-Hungarians	Kuntz Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
1994 Details	Greek-American	Bavarian Leinenkugel	UGH Field, Oakford, Pennsylvania
1995 Details	Richmond Kickers	El Paso Patriots	Socorro ISD Stadium, El Paso, Texas
1996 Details	D.C. United	Rochester Raging Rhinos	RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
1997 Details	Dallas Burn	D.C. United	Carroll Stadium at IUPUI, Indianapolis, Indiana
1998 Details	Chicago Fire	Columbus Crew	Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
1999 Details	Rochester Raging Rhinos	Colorado Rapids	Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
2000 Details	Chicago Fire	Miami Fusion F.C.	Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
2001 Details	Los Angeles Galaxy	New England Revolution	Titan Stadium, Fullerton, California
2002 Details	Columbus Crew	Los Angeles Galaxy	Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
2003 Details	Chicago Fire	MetroStars	Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
2004 Details	Kansas City Wizards	Chicago Fire	Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
2005 Details	Los Angeles Galaxy	FC Dallas	The Home Depot Center, Carson, California
2006 Details	Chicago Fire	Los Angeles Galaxy	Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois
2007 Details	New England Revolution	FC Dallas	Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas
2008 Details	D.C. United	Charleston Battery	RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
2009 Details	Seattle Sounders FC	D.C. United	RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
2010 Details	Seattle Sounders FC	Columbus Crew	Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington
2011 Details	Seattle Sounders FC	Chicago Fire	CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
2012 Details	Sporting Kansas City	Seattle Sounders FC	Livestrong Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kansas

External links

• TheCup.us
• U.S. Soccer's Official Open Cup Website
• List of Open Cup finals at RSSSF