MLS reportedly will return all 27 US-based teams to the US Open Cup
Summary
Major League Soccer (MLS) will let all its 27 U.S.-based teams join the 2024 U.S. Open Cup, ending a three-year period of mostly non-participation. The U.S. Open Cup is the oldest soccer tournament in the country, involving teams from all levels, including amateur clubs.Key Facts
- MLS did not fully participate in the U.S. Open Cup from 2021 to 2023, often sending only reserve teams.
- The U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament that started in 1914.
- MLS teams usually enter the tournament in the later rounds and have won nearly every tournament since 1996.
- MLS withdrew full teams in 2023 due to concerns about game quality, scheduling conflicts, and broadcasting issues.
- The U.S. Soccer Federation rejected MLS’s idea to send only reserve teams, leading to a compromise of partial participation.
- By 2024, all 27 MLS U.S.-based teams will return to the U.S. Open Cup.
- The MLS plans to change its season schedule to run from fall to spring starting in late 2027.
- The 2026 U.S. Open Cup semi-finals include only MLS teams, showing their strong presence in the tournament.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
