Sporting Kansas City will be one of eight Major League Soccer teams to participate in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, beginning in the Round of 32, MLS and U.S. Soccer announced on Thursday as part of an agreement for this year’s tournament.
The eight MLS clubs include the reigning champions Houston Dynamo along with the top seven U.S.-based teams, according to the 2023 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings, not part of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.
MLS CLUBS IN 2024 U.S. OPEN CUP: Atlanta United FC, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo FC, Los Angeles FC, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC and Sporting Kansas City
The 2024 U.S. Open Cup will crown a champion on Sept. 25 after eight rounds of single-elimination play and the winner of the 109th edition of the competition will claim the Dewar Challenge Trophy along with prize money and a berth in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup. Major League Soccer teams will only play lower division opponents in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup until it cannot be avoided.
2024 U.S. OPEN CUP MATCH DATES
First Round: March 19-21
Second Round: April 2-3
Third Round: April 16-17
Round of 32: May 7-8
Round of 16: May 21-22
Quarterfinals: July 9-10
Semifinals: Aug. 27-28
Final: Sept. 25
The U.S. Open Cup, named in honor of former Kansas City Wizards owner Lamar Hunt, has crowned a champion since 1914 and Sporting KC (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017) are four-time winners of U.S. Soccer’s national championship, tied for the most among MLS clubs. Sporting KC is unbeaten in 13 straight U.S. Open Cup matches at Children’s Mercy Park dating back to 2015 and tickets for home U.S. Open Cup matches are included for Sporting Kansas City Season Ticket Members through the quarterfinals.
MLS also announced on Thursday that 11 MLS NEXT Pro teams -- nine MLS affiliates and two independent clubs – will compete in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The nine MLS-affiliated teams competing will be based on the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro final standings, other than those clubs whose MLS first teams are participating in either the 2024 U.S. Open Cup or 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Major League Soccer Statement
“During the past few months, Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer have worked together to discuss the evolution of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup that will set the foundation for the future growth of the tournament to benefit all stakeholders. The conversations focused on increasing the overall investment in the Open Cup, including improved economics for all participants, providing young players with important developmental opportunities, reducing schedule congestion for MLS clubs, and addressing load management concerns to aid player health and safety. We are grateful to U.S. Soccer for their leadership on these efforts to evolve the Open Cup and increase their investment to benefit the tournament as a whole…We look forward to continuing our work with U.S. Soccer and all Open Cup stakeholders to elevate the tournament, benefiting players, clubs, and fans alike.”
