Sporting Kansas City's journey to a second consecutive Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title will begin June 15 at Minnesota United FC (NASL). The match will kick off at 7 p.m. CT at 10,000-seat National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota, and ticket information can be found at skcawaytickets.com.
Minnesota United FC claimed a 2-0 road win over Saint Louis FC on Wednesday, earning the right to host Sporting Kansas City in the fourth round of the 2016 tournament. Kevin Venegas and Jack Blake scored second-half goals for the Loons, who avenged last season's U.S. Open Cup third round defeat to Saint Louis FC.
Led by head coach Carl Craig, Minnesota United FC sits fourth in the 11-team NASL standings, posting a 4-3-1 record and a 3-1-0 mark at home. The Loons won the 2011 NASL championship and claimed the 2014 North American Supporters' Trophy with the most regular season points.
Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United FC have met three times in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, most recently when Manager Peter Vermes' men won 2-0 in the 2014 fourth round. The clubs first squared off in the 2005 quarterfinals, when the Minnesota Thunder defeated the Kansas City Wizards 3-1. The second meeting came in the 2009 round of 16 at National Sports Center, with Kansas City downing the Thunder in a penalty shootout after a thrilling 3-3 draw through regulation.
The fourth round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will see the 17 MLS clubs based in the United States enter the competition in the round of 32 on June 14-15. The fourth round winners will then be placed in a fixed, 16-team bracket and divided geographically (regardless of league affiliation) into groups of four. A random draw on June 16 will then determine the fifth round pairings within each group.
2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
Fourth Round June 15
Fifth Round June 29
Quarterfinals July 20
Semifinals Aug. 10
Final Sept. 21
Sporting Kansas City enters the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as reigning champions of the tournament. Vermes' side defeated the Philadelphia Union in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw through regulation to win the 2015 final on Sept. 30, effectively clinching a berth in the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has been held annually since 1914 and is open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The knockout-style tournament is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. and the world’s third-longest running open soccer tournament. The 2016 edition began with 91 teams, making it the largest field during the modern era (1995-present). This year’s winner will earn $250,000 and a spot in the 2017-18 CONCACAF Champions League.
Sporting Kansas City is a three-time champion of the tournament — having lifted the Dewar Challenge Trophy on home soil in 2004 and 2012 — third-most among MLS clubs behind Seattle Sounders FC and the Chicago Fire (four each).
