The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest soccer competition in the United States, dating back to the 1913-14 campaign.
New York City FC will host their first U.S. Open Cup match on Wednesday, June 15. The Club plays the New York Cosmos at 7:30 p.m. EDT at Coffey Field (Fordham University) in Bronx, N.Y. in the competition's fourth round.
NYCFC played the Cosmos in the U.S. Open Cup in 2015 and lost in penalty kicks.
Here are some facts about the tournament:
- The U.S. Open Cup was founded in the 1913-14 season and is the longest-running soccer competition in the United States.
- This year's U.S. Open Cup runs from May 11 to Sept. 21.
- The U.S. Open Cup predates the FIFA World Cup by 14 years, it also predates Copa America by two years. It is older than the NHL, NFL and NBA.
- Babe Ruth made his Major League Baseball debut two months after the first U.S. Open Cup Final.
- The U.S. Open Cup is the third-longest running soccer tournament in the world.
- The U.S. Open Cup was renamed the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 1999 to honor the long-time soccer supporter and pioneer.
- The U.S. Open Cup is a knockout-style, single-elimination tournament.
- Professional teams, such as NYCFC are allowed to only have five international players in the matchday squad; however, amateur teams are allowed to have an unlimited amount of international players on their matchday squad.
- The winning club has its name engraved on the Dewar Challenge Trophy, which remains at the U.S. Soccer House in Chicago, IL.
- The tournament's winner receives $250,000, while the runner up earns $60,000.
- The winner not only takes home prize money, but also qualifies for the CONCACAF Champions League.
- The annual competition is open to all amateur and professional soccer teams in the United States.
- The 17 American-based Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs enter the U.S. Open Cup in the fourth round.
- This year's tournament is comprised of 91 Clubs ( PDL 19, MLS 17, USL 17, NPSL 15, USASA 12, NASL 9, USCS 1 and USSA 1)
- Sporting KC are the reigning U.S. Open Cup champions after beating the Philadelphia Union in 2015.
- The Seattle Sounders have won four of the last seven U.S. Open Cup championships.
- Brooklyn Field Club beat Brooklyn Celtic 2-1 to claim the inaugural U.S. Open Cup title in 1914.
- Teams from New York City won 15 U.S. Open Cup titles between 1950-85 and a total of 25 overall from New York City. The state of New York has won 26 with the lone team outside the city winning a championship being the Rochester Rhinos.
- Mikey Lopez and Ethan White have both been on teams that have won the U.S. Open Cup (Lopez with Sporting KC in 2015, White with D.C. United in 2013)
- If the match is tied after the final whistle the teams will play two 15 minute halfs and then it will proceed into penalty kicks.
- Home teams are determined by a random selection process among those clubs that have applied to host and whose venues meet the minimum tournament requirements.
- Bethlehem Steel F.C. and Maccabi Los Angeles are tied for the most U.S. Open Cup championships (5). That Fall River Marksmen won four U.S. Open Cup championships (1923-24,1927, 1929-1930 and1931) then changed their named to the New Bedford Whalers and won the championship in 1932.
