U.S. Open Cup

CHICAGO (March 28, 2016) - The U.S. Open Cup Committee has made an adjustment to the Open Cup Policy regarding team eligibility, forbidding any Outdoor Professional League Team whose player roster is managed by a higher-level Outdoor Professional League Team from participating in the tournament. This addition broadens the ineligibility provision announced January 7 beyond ownership control.

For the 2016 tournament, this adjustment affects only Rio Grande Valley FC (USL), an independently-owned Division III expansion team whose roster is managed by the Houston Dynamo (MLS). The change was made at the request of the Dynamo.

As a result of one fewer Division III team entering the competition in the Second Round, the U.S. Open Cup Committee has determined that the top Premier Development League qualifier (Kitsap Pumas) and the top National Premier Soccer League qualifier (Chattanooga FC) will be granted byes to the Second Round.

The pairings for First Round matches and Second Round possibilities will be announced on April 6.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, recognized as U.S. Soccer's National Club Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The tournament has crowned a champion for 102 consecutive years dating from 1914. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.

2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Competition Schedule