MLS announced on Friday that they have decided not to send its premier teams to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2024. Instead, the league will feature teams from MLS Next Pro, its 2-year-old development league, in the tournament.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber made the decision after criticizing the tournament’s state at the U.S. Soccer Federation board meeting last May. He labeled the tournament “a very poor reflection on what it is that we’re trying to do with soccer at the highest level.”
Garber discussed his comments and elaborated on the league’s connection with the tournament in his state of the league before the MLS Cup last week.
“I made those comments because I believe that if we’re going to have our professional teams competing in a tournament that is the oldest tournament of its type anywhere in the country, we all need to embrace it,” Garber said. “From our federation to our respective leagues, and give it the profile and give it the support that it needs.”
Reviewing decision
In response to Garber’s comment, U.S. Soccer is actively reviewing the recent MLS decision regarding the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The league informed U.S. Soccer of their Board of Governors vote today, prompting ongoing evaluation by the governing body.
U.S. Soccer affirmed its dedication to the U.S. Open Cup’s success. MLS decided not to send top teams due to concerns about fixture congestion, influenced by negative club feedback. This reflects a belief in the league that the Open Cup’s prestige has diminished despite its history. U.S. Soccer anticipates discussions with stakeholders about the tournament’s future.
“In recent months, the MLS sporting and competition group has been collaborating with U.S. Soccer to shape the future role of MLS teams in the Open Cup,” the league said. “MLS remains committed to working with the federation to evolve and elevate the Open Cup for everyone involved in the years ahead.”
An MLS spokesperson said that a decision regarding the league’s future participation will come after the 2024 season.
Legacy of Open Cup
Founded in 1914, the single-elimination Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has been the primary competition, uniting the country’s top division with the broader American soccer landscape. The event is especially notable due to the absence of promotion and relegation in the country.
For the United Soccer League (USL), which featured 36 professional teams across USL Championship and USL League 1 in 2023, the Open Cup provided a platform for its teams and players to challenge themselves against the nation’s elite.
In 2022, the USL Championship team Sacramento Republic reached the Open Cup final but lost to MLS’s Orlando City. The most recent non-MLS champion was the Rochester Rhinos in 1999.
“The MLS announcement today about the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was a surprise to us and contrary to recent public statements,” USL president Paul McDonough said. “We will speak with U.S. Soccer, and with our owners, before making any further public comment about MLS’s position.”
The Open Cup winner traditionally earned a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League, now called the Champions Cup. The impact of MLS’ decision on this tradition remains uncertain.
In recent years, certain MLS teams had chosen not to field their strongest lineups in the Open Cup. Instead, they utilized the competition to provide playing opportunities for less-utilized first-team players, MLS Next Pro players, and occasionally academy players. Teams tended to prioritize the competition more as they progressed further.
