The 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the 111th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, the knockout domestic cup competition of American soccer, organized by the United States Soccer Federation. It has involved 80 teams, including 48 from all three professional tiers of the United States soccer league system, and 32 in the "Open Division". The competition began on March 17 and culminates in the final on October 21.
The full format was announced on January 27, 2025. U.S. Soccer changed several elements of the contest, altering the qualifying requirements to ensure the highest-level professional team enters the tournament, as well as removing the National League qualifying track. Participation was limited to teams that played a league season in 2025. It was reduced in size due to World Cup being partially hosted in the United States during the summer, with only 16 teams from each division plus 32 open division teams eligible to participate, effectively eliminating a round.
From Major League Soccer in Division 1, only teams that did not qualify for either the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup or 2026 Leagues Cup were eligible to take part. All eligible MLS teams entered in the round of 32 (third round). Based on Supporter's Shield standings, one half of the MLS entrants hosted their first matches, while the rest began with an away game. For Division 2, the USL Championship sent 17 of its teams, being granted an additional spot due to there only being 15 eligible division 3 teams. This included all teams entered in the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs plus the next team outside of playoff consideration. From Division 3, USL League One sent their 13 eligible teams, while only the two independent MLS Next Pro teams were eligible to appear in the competition (Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC). Championship, League One, and Next Pro, along with the 32 Open Division teams, entered in the first round.
Defending champions Nashville SC did not participate in the tournament due to the club's participation in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Schedule
+ Schedule for 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round Draw date Match day Entrants Teams entered to date First Round January 27 March 17–19 6 local qualifiers1 National Amateur Cup champion1 UPSL Spring Champion1 2025 John Motta Trophy winner8 United Premier Soccer League teams5 National Premier Soccer League teams10 USL League Two teams13 USL League One teams2 MLS Next Pro teams17 USL Championship teams 64 teams Second Round March 20 March 31 – April 1 32 winners from First Round Round of 32 April 2 April 14–15 16 winners from Second Round16 Major League Soccer teams 80 teams Round of 16 April 28–29 16 winners from round of 32 Quarterfinals April 30 May 19–20 8 winners from round of 16 Semifinals September 16 4 winners from quarterfinals Final October 21 2 winners from semifinals
Teams
Table Enter in First Round Enter in Round of 32 Open Division Division III Division II Division I USASA/USSSA17 teams NPSL/USL215 teams MLS Next Pro/USL115 teams USL Championship17 teams MLS16 teamsNational Amateur Cup West Chester United SC(USLP) UPSL Spring Champions Tennessee Tempo FC Local Qualifiers ASC New Stars (HFA) Azteca FC (CPL) Badgers FC (UPSL) BOHFS St. Louis (MPL) CD Faialense (BSSL) FC America CFL Spurs (UPSL) Kalonji Pro-Profile (UPSL) Laguna United FC (UPSL) NY Renegades FC (UPSL) Red Force (PFL) San Ramon FC (LFC) SC Vistula Garfield (APSL) Southern Indiana FC (UPSL) Valley 559 FC (UPSL) Virginia Dream FC (UPSL)John Motta Trophy Winner El Farolito NPSL Flower City Union
Cruizers FC Michigan Rangers Ristozi FC USL2 Asheville City SC $ Des Moines Menace FC Motown Flint City Bucks Laredo Heat SC Little Rock Rangers North Virginia FC Steel City FC Ventura County Fusion Vermont Green FCMLS Next Pro Carolina Core FC Chattanooga FC USL1 AV Alta FC Charlotte Independence Chattanooga Red Wolves SC FC Naples Forward Madison FC Greenville Triumph SC One Knoxville SC $ Portland Hearts of Pine Richmond Kickers
Spokane Velocity FC Union Omaha Westchester SC Charleston Battery Detroit City FC Hartford Athletic Indy Eleven Loudoun United FC Louisville City FC $ Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Rhode Island FC Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC El Paso Locomotive FC FC Tulsa Lexington SC New Mexico United Orange County SC Phoenix Rising FC Sacramento Republic FC San Antonio FC Atlanta United FC Austin FC Charlotte FC Chicago Fire FC Colorado Rapids Columbus Crew D.C. United Houston Dynamo FC Minnesota United FC New England Revolution New York City FC New York Red Bulls Orlando City SC San Jose Earthquakes St. Louis City SC Sporting Kansas City Bold denotes team is still active in the tournament. $: Winner of $50,000 bonus for advancing the furthest in the competition from their respective divisions. $$: Winner of $250,000 for being the runner-up in the competition. $$$: Winner of $600,000 for winning the competition.
Map
Number of teams by state A total of 34 states and D.C. were represented by clubs in the U.S. Open Cup this year.
States Number Teams10AV Alta FC, Cruizers FC, El Farolito SC, Laguna United FC, Orange County SC, Sacramento Republic FC, San Jose Earthquakes, San Ramon FC, Ventura County Fusion, Valley 559 FC6ASC New Stars, Austin FC, El Paso Locomotive FC, Houston Dynamo FC, Laredo Heat SC, San Antonio FC5Orlando City SC, FC Naples, Badgers FC, Red Force, FC America CFL Spurs4Asheville City SC, Carolina Core FC, Charlotte FC, Charlotte Independence, New York City FC, Westchester SC, NY Renegades FC, Flower City UnionOne Knoxville SC, Tennessee Tempo FC, Chattanooga FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves SCLoudoun United FC, Virginia Dream FC, Northern Virginia FC, Richmond Kickers3Colorado Rapids, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Azteca FCAtlanta United FC, , Kalonji Pro-ProfileLouisville City FC, Lexington SC, Southern Indiana FCDetroit City FC, Flint City Bucks, Michigan RangersNew York Red Bulls, FC Motown, SC Vistula GarfieldPittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Steel City FC, West Chester United SC2Indy Eleven, Southern Indiana FCNew England Revolution, CD FaialenseSt. Louis City SC, BOHFS St. LouisCharleston Battery, Greenville Triumph SC1Phoenix Rising FCLittle Rock RangersHartford AthleticChicago FireDes Moines MenaceSporting Kansas CityPortland Hearts of PineRistozi FCMinnesota United FCUnion OmahaNew Mexico UnitedColumbus CrewFC TulsaRhode Island FCVermont Green FCSpokane Velocity FCDC UnitedForward Madison FC
Open Cup debuts 8 teams made their Open Cup debuts in the 2026 tournament.
NPSL: Cruizers FC UPSL: Valley 559 FC, Kalonji Pro-Profile, Badgers FC APSL: SC Vistula Garfield The League for Clubs: San Ramon FC Local: BOHFS St. Louis
Early rounds The first round of the tournament was drawn on January 27, 2026.
On February 23, 2026, South Georgia Tormenta FC went on hiatus and withdrew from the 2026 USL League One and U.S. Open Cup.
+ Number of teams per tier still in competition Division I Division II Division III Open Division Total
First round The draw for the first round, including match dates and times, was announced on January 27, 2026.
Second round The draw for the second round, including match dates and times, was announced on March 20, 2026.
Round of 32 and 16 Bracket Teams were divided into eight roughly geographical groups of four teams each, named after the eight most-capped U.S. national team players to have won the Open Cup: Cobi Jones, Jeff Agoos, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, DaMarcus Beasley, Carlos Bocanegra, Paul Caligiuri and Kasey Keller. As part of the procedure, a home field priority order was also drawn for the round of 16.
Round of 32 + Number of teams per tier still in competition Division I Division II Division III Open Division Total
Teams + Teams for Round of 32 draw Previous round winners New entrants (MLS)Charlotte Independence (USL1) Chattanooga FC (MLSNP) Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USLC) Detroit City FC (USLC) El Paso Locomotive FC (USLC) FC Naples (USL1) FC Tulsa (USLC) Louisville City FC (USLC) One Knoxville SC (USL1) Phoenix Rising FC (USLC) Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC) Rhode Island FC (USLC) Richmond Kickers (USL1) Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) Union Omaha (USL1) Westchester SC (USL1)Atlanta United FC Austin FC Charlotte FC Chicago Fire FC Colorado Rapids Columbus Crew D.C. United Houston Dynamo FC Minnesota United FC New England Revolution New York City FC New York Red Bulls Orlando City SC San Jose Earthquakes St. Louis City SC Sporting Kansas City Cobi Jones Group
Jeff Agoos Group
Landon Donovan Group
Clint Dempsey Group
DaMarcus Beasley Group
Carlos Bocanegra Group
Paul Caligiuri Group
Kasey Keller Group
Round of 16 + Number of teams per tier still in competition Division I Division II Division III Open Division Total
Quarterfinals and beyond
Quarterfinals + Number of teams per tier still in competition Division I Division II Division III Open Division Total
Semifinals + Number of teams per tier still in competition Division I Division II Division III Open Division Total
Final
The 2026 U.S. Open Cup final will be held on October 21, with the winner earning a place in the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Broadcasting As part of the second year of a two-year deal with U.S. Soccer, CBS Sports will broadcast games on Paramount+, with select games on the CBS Sports Golazo Network and CBS Sports Network. All remaining games will be broadcast on U.S. Soccer's YouTube channel.
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Team Goals By round 1 Hugo PicardColumbus Crew 4 2 2 Tola ShowunmiLouisville City FC 2 1 1 3 Khori BennettColorado Springs Switchbacks FC 3 1 1 1 Daniel BurkoWestchester SC 2 1 Julian HallNew York Red Bulls 2 1 Marcel HartelSt. Louis City SC 1 2 Talles MagnoNew York City FC 3 Samuel Owusu Union Omaha 2 1 9 Forster Ajago Sacramento Republic FC 2 2 Mateusz BoguszHouston Dynamo FC 1 1 Babacar DieneOne Knoxville SC 1 1 Griffin DorseyOrlando City SC 1 1 Lucca DouradoRichmond Kickers 1 1 Kyle EdwardsSacramento Republic FC 2 Nicolas FirminoLexington SC 2 Danny GriffinPittsburgh Riverhounds SC 1 1 Denis KrioutchenkovOne Knoxville SC 2 Beau LerouxSan Jose Earthquakes 2 Sadam MaserekaColorado Springs Switchbacks FC 1 1 Ariel MbumbaCruizers FC 2 Sergio Ors NavarroUnion Omaha 2 Ezequiel PonceHouston Dynamo FC 1 1 Tabort Etaka PrestonDetroit City FC 2 Braudilio RodriguesOne Knoxville SC 1 1 Rubio Rubin El Paso Locomotive FC 1 1 Jeong Sang-binSt. Louis City SC 1 1 Jason ShokalookChicago Fire FC 2 Christian SortoSan Antonio FC 2 Colton SwannCharleston Battery 2 TiagoOrlando City SC 2 Aleksandar VukovicPhoenix Rising FC 1 1 JJ WilliamsRhode Island FC 1 1 As of September 16, 2026
References
External links