Major League Soccer’s first-team involvement in the U.S. Open Cup originally looked to be coming to an end, but U.S. Soccer has responded in a major way.
U.S. Soccer has denied MLS’ request to remove their first team squads from the 2024 U.S. Open Cup, the federation announced Wednesday. MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced the league’s plan last Friday before notifying U.S. Soccer, but the federation isn’t set on allowing MLS NEXT Pro clubs to replace first teams in the competition.
“Major League Soccer has requested to allow MLS Next Pro teams to represent MLS in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. After thoughtful consideration, we have informed MLS that the U.S. Soccer staff recommendation, which was adopted by the Pro League Taskforce, is that the request be denied,” USSF said in a statement.
“As we move forward, we will continue our review of the Open Cup to ensure it aligns with the U.S. Soccer strategic pillars. We remain committed to addressing the needs and concerns of all of our members, including MLS, and other stakeholders to enhance and improve the U.S. Open Cup.”
Garber originally hinted at the idea during his State of the League address prior to Dec. 9’s MLS Cup Final. He provided supporting comments last week, further committing himself to the decision.
The U.S. Open Cup was founded in 1914 and provides the only meaningful competition between the country’s first division and the rest of the American soccer ecosystem. Due to the country’s lack of a promotion/relegation structure, the Open Cup provides great experiences for lower-league clubs in the USL and other American leagues.
Independent MLS NEXT Pro clubs have also participated in the tournament, including Rochester New York FC and St. Louis CITY2 in the past. Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC will be MLS NEXT Pro’s representatives in 2024.
The Houston Dynamo lifted the U.S. Open Cup in 2023, defeating Inter Miami in the finals.
RIP Soccer United Maketing controlling and funding USSF. That funding relation ended a couple years back as I understand it. Good to see USSF getting its own say in things.
MLS announces it will pull out of CONCACAF Champions Cup as it hails its means-nothing-MLS-season-interupting-force-fed-to-fans-Leagues-Cup as the true measure of the best North American club despite all advantages leaning towards MLS…and Garber adds CCC put’s very little money in its coffers anyway.
Play the young or inexperienced players in the early rounds was a good MLS philosophy or strategy. Why change it?
Good for US Soccer. MLS claims to support soccer in the US. By making this decision they show they ONLY support money in their pockets. The decision is a mini version of Superleague decision by those big clubs. The old profit over people BS – leaving out development and fans. Meanwhile MLS cooks up another scheduling congesting tournament with Liga MX in an effort to grow their brand with Spanish speaking futbol fans in the US – good luck prying them away from Liga MX.
USL is looking really good to me. There’s a deep commitment to development and the teams are committed to their fans. If I had the time I’d hit Ives up to write here about USL but that just isn’t possibility. CBS will be airing their games this coming season. That league is on the up. As MLS makes hair brained decisions like this it will only alienate more real US soccer fans that are looking for something less plastic and contrived. This decision notwithstanding, it will be interesting to see where USL and MLS stand in 20 years. USL is doing a good job methodically building it’s tiered model…
In my case I will be out watching my local USL2 side in their debut match(es) in the US OPEN Cup – go Vermont Green FC!
As they should. MLS and Garber need to realize this tournament means something.
But I challenge the fans to make this a meaningful tournament. Go support yiur team in this tournament regardless if it a local team or your MLS team. Show up and make it important.