Seventeen of Major League Soccer’s 20 clubs learned how they will start the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Thursday.
Each of the 17 American first-division sides will enter the competition in the fourth round. Most of their opponents will be determined after the third round concludes on June 1.
The San Jose Earthquakes and Portland Timbers already know their fate. The pair of Western Conference teams will square off against each other at Providence Park.
A duo of high-profile New York-based clubs could meet in the fourth round as New York City FC was drawn against the winner of New York Cosmos’ third-round match. The Cosmos will face either the Jersey Express of the PDL or the New York Pancyprian-Freedoms.
The New York Red Bulls are one of the clubs that may face a road challenge in their first match of the Open Cup. Jesse Marsch’s men will visit the Rochester Rhinos or host USASA club Lansdowne Bhoys.
Orlando City, FC Dallas and the Chicago Fire are all in the same situation as the Red Bulls. Orlando will either visit the Jacksonville Armada or host PDL side The Villages SC. FC Dallas will go to Rayo OKC or play host to the OKC Energy, while the Fire will either travel to Louisville City FC or welcome Indy Eleven to Toyota Park.
Sporting Kansas City and the New England Revolution are guaranteed to make road trips in the fourth round. Peter Vermes’ side will take on either Minnesota United or visit regional rival Saint Louis FC for the first time. The Revs will be off to North Carolina to face either the Charlotte Independence or Carolina RailHawks.
The Philadelphia Union, who lost the final at home in 2014 and 2015, will host the Harrisburg City Islanders or Chattanooga FC as they begin their quest to return to the championship match.
Real Salt Lake, Seattle, Colorado, Houston, Columbus, D.C. and LA all earned home matches to begin the fourth round. RSL is the only club guaranteed to not face a regional foe out of that group. The Claret and Cobalt will host the Wilmington Hammerheads or Miami FC at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Fourth Round Draw
New England Revolution at Charlotte Independence/Carolina RailHawks winner
Wilmington Hammerheads/Miami FC winner at Real Salt Lake
Orlando City at Jacksonville Armada OR The Villages SC at Orlando City’
New York Red Bulls at Rochester Rhinos OR Lansdowne Bhoys FC at New York Red Bulls
Kitsap Pumas/Sacramento Republic winner at Seattle Sounders
Colorado Springs Switchbacks/Arizona United winner at Colorado Rapids
San Antonio FC/Des Moines Menace winner at Houston Dynamo
FC Dallas at Rayo OKC OR OKC Energy at FC Dallas
Sporting Kansas City at Minnesota United/Saint Louis FC winner
Chicago Fire at Louisville City FC OR Indy Eleven at Chicago Fire
FC Cincinnati/Tampa Bay Rowdies winner at Columbus Crew
Richmond Kickers/Ft. Lauderdale Strikers winner at D.C. United’
Harrisburg City Islanders/Chattanooga FC winner at Philadelphia Union
LA Wolves/La Maquina FC winner vs. LA Galaxy
New York Cosmos vs Jersey Freedoms/New York Pancyprian-Freedoms winner at New York City FC
San Jose Earthquakes at Portland Timbers
Seattle, etc “earned” home games. I thought they did a coin flip?
i love what the USOC has become. So many fun matchups everywhere.
Agreed 100%. Can you imagine ten years from now if NASL and USL succeed?
Could be enormous.
I realize that many nations have similar comps, but no nation with 320 million people have similar. That would be like 1/2 of Europe having a similar tourney.