The 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualification will serve as local qualification for the 112th edition of the oldest soccer tournament in the United States. The tournament proper will feature both professional and amateur teams in the United States soccer league system.
Qualification for the 2027 tournament will include local qualifying matches contested by a record setting 155 amateur teams competing for 16 local qualifying slots, and will take place in 2026. United Premier Soccer League has the highest representation with 63 teams entering the tournament, while California will have the most teams of any state with 23. Sixteen amateur teams have already qualified for the 2027 U.S. Open Cup.
Qualification procedure Clubs based in the United States that play in an outdoor soccer league that is an organization member of U.S. Soccer are generally eligible to compete for the U.S. Open Cup, so long as their league includes at least four teams and has a schedule of at least 10 matches for each club. To be eligible, teams must be members in good standing of their leagues on December 31, 2026, and remain so through the 2027 final. Any team that started its first season of competition in an existing league must have started its new league's schedule no later 30 days prior to the Open Division Entry Deadline.
As in prior tournaments, automatic bids in to the first round of the tournament proper are awarded to the winner of the previous year's National Amateur Cup, the United Premier Soccer League Spring Champion, and the John Motta Trophy winner (Open-Division team that performed the best in the previous tournament). Starting in 2027, the runner-up in the United Premier Soccer League, The League for Clubs champion, and the Hank Steinbrecher Cup Champion from the previous year also earn automatic bids for the first round of the U.S. Open Cup. These six teams along with the 16 local qualifiers account for 22 of the 32 amateur teams that qualify for the tournament proper in 2027. The other 10 teams come from the National Premier Soccer League and USL League Two. The champions and two additional teams from the National Premier Soccer League and the champions and six additional teams from USL League Two qualify through national league pathways, which use previous summer season standings to determine teams that qualify.
Amateur qualification National Amateur Cup El Farolito SC defeated Lansdowne Yonkers FC 3–1 in extra time, to win the 2026 National Amateur Cup and qualify for the 2027 U.S. Open Cup.
John Motta Trophy winner Asheville City SC advanced the furthest in the 2026 U.S. Open Cup, earning both the $50,000 bonus and the John Motta Trophy. Based on their performance in the previous tournament, Asheville City SC qualifies directly into the 2027 U.S. Open Cup.
Hank Steinbrecher Cup winner Vermont Green FC defeated West Chester United SC 4–1 in the final of the Hank Steinbrecher Cup, earning an automatic berth into the 2027 U.S. Open Cup
United Premier Soccer League Spring qualifiers Deportivo Rose City defeated Miami United FC 3–1, to win the 2026 UPSL Spring Championships. Both teams earned a direct qualification into the 2027 U.S. Open Cup.
The League for Clubs Champions Pensacola FC defeated Iron Rose FC 1–0 in extra time to earn their first league title and an automatic bid into the 2027 U.S. Open Cup.
National Premier Soccer League qualifiers With El Farolito SC winning the National Amateur Cup, Bristol Rhythm AFC received an automatic berth to the 2027 U.S. Open Cup as the NPSL runners up for 2026 National Premier Soccer League season. Ambassadors FC Ohio and New Haven United FC also received automatic berths for reaching the semifinals in the 2026 NPSL season.
USL League Two qualifiers Ballard FC, Colorado Storm, Laredo Heat, Little Rock Rangers, Minneapolis City SC, Ocean City Nor'easters, and San Francisco City FC all received automatic berths to the 2027 U.S. Open Cup based on league performances in the 2026 USL League Two season
Local qualifying U.S. Soccer announced that 155 teams will participate in local qualifying. Four rounds of local qualifying matches will result in 16 clubs advancing to the tournament proper. The teams will be organized into 16 regional pools prior to the qualifying round draw. Teams will play in 2–4 of the qualifying rounds in route to securing one of the 16 advancing slots.
Schedule +Schedule for 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup QualifyingRoundMatch dayNew TeamsCurrent Teams RemainingTeams entered to dateFirst Qualifying RoundSeptember 12 & 13545454Second Qualifying RoundOctober 3 & 4101128155Third Qualifying RoundOctober 31 & November 1064155Fourth Qualifying RoundNovember 21 & 22032155
Number of teams by state and league A total of 29 states and the District of Columbia are represented by clubs in the U.S. Open Cup Qualification this year.
StatesNumber LeagueTeams1 (23)8United Premier Soccer LeagueBay Area United FC, CV United FC, Irvine FC, Laguna United FC, Olympiacos CA, San Diego Internacional FC, Sonoma Valley United, Temecula FC4Southwest Premier LeagueChula Vista FC, DC Monsters, JSC Jasa, Legends SC4The League for ClubsCF San Rafael, Iron Rose FC, Napa Valley 1839 FC, San Ramon FC3San Francisco Soccer Football LeagueInternational San Francisco, Norcal Shockwaves FC, San Francisco Vikings Soccer Club2NISA NationCapo FC, Problems SC1National Premier Soccer LeagueOakland Stompers1USL League TwoAcademica SC2 (20)15United Premier Soccer LeagueBoca Jrs Miami FC, Bold City SC, Cape Coral City FC, FC America CFL Spurs, FC Kanks, Florida Badgers FC, Florida Island United FC, Harbor City FC, Inter City FC, Kissimmee SC, O'Shea's FC, Palm Beach Flames SC, Pinellas County United Pelicans SC, Stetson FA, SWFL SC2Premier Futbol LeagueDreamers AFC, Red Force FC1NPSL-RLCharlotte County FC1Sunshine Conference LeagueNaples United FC1USL League TwoShark Coast FC3 (14)4The League for ClubsCapital City SC, Central Texas Coyotes FC, FORO SC, RGV Red Crowns2Dallas Soccer AllianceMaster Joga, StrikerZ DFW2Houston Football AssociationASC New Stars, Aurora FC2Metroplex Premier LeagueInter Nova Havoc, Sporting NTX2United States Soccer LeagueHouston Lions FC, Real Houston Futbol Club1Austin Men's Soccer AssociationATX United1USL League TwoDenton Diablos FC4 (11)5United Premier Soccer LeagueFCY New York, NY Dash FC, NY Renegades FC, Osner's FC, Red Hook Football Club4American Premier Soccer LeagueLansdowne Yonkers FC, New York Athletic Club, New York Greek American SC, New York Pancyprian-Freedoms1Cosmopolitan Soccer LeagueNew Amsterdam FC1National Premier Soccer LeagueAmerican Soccer Club New York5 (10)4United Premier Soccer LeagueBulldogs SC, Five Rivers SC, Ironbound SCP, New Jersey Alliance FC4American Premier Soccer LeagueJersey Shore Boca, Oaklyn United FC, Real Central New Jersey, SC Vistula Garfield1National Premier Soccer LeagueFC Motown1The League for ClubsFC Monmouth6 (9)4United Premier Soccer LeagueKalonji Pro-Profile, Lake Country United FC, Potros FC, UFA Lawrenceville3American Premier Soccer LeaguePeachtree FC, Prima Football Club, Swarm FC1Atlanta District Amateur Soccer LeagueTerminus FC1USL League TwoBuckhead SC7 (8)5American Premier Soccer LeagueColonial SC, Philadelphia Soccer Club, Vereinigung Erzgebirge, Vidas United FC, WC Predators2United Premier Soccer LeaguePennsylvania Prime FC, Philadelphia Lone Star FC1USL League TwoSteel City FC8 (7)3Bay State Soccer LeagueAtletico Boston, CD Faialense, FC Omens3United Premier Soccer LeagueBrockton FC United, Fall River FC, South Coast Union1American Premier Soccer LeagueSomerville United FC9 (6)4Colorado Premier LeagueAzteca FC 5280, Colorado Rovers S.C., FC Denver, Harpos FC2Mountain Premier LeaguePeak Eleven FC, Timbers SC (6)5United Premier Soccer LeagueArlington SA Pro, Doradus FC, Grove United, Los Toros, Virginia Dream FC1American Premier Soccer LeagueNova FC11 (4)3United Premier Soccer LeagueChicago Nation FC, Chicago Strikers, Ethos United1Midwest Premier LeagueChicago House AC (4)2United Premier Soccer LeagueBowleys Athletic, MSI1American Premier Soccer LeaguePatuxent FA1DC Premier LeagueOranje FC (4)2USL League TwoAkron City FC, Lorain County Leviathan FC1North Coast Soccer LeagueCroatia Cleveland1United Premier Soccer LeagueColumbus Astray141American Premier LeagueAegean Hawks FC1Super Soccer LeagueYinz United1United Premier Soccer LeagueDC Hyper2Southwest Premier LeagueBe Pro FC, Las Vegas United Football Club1NISA NationSin City Football Club161United Premier Soccer LeagueNext Level Soccer Premier1USL League TwoStars FC1National Premier Soccer LeagueMint Hill FC1United Premier Soccer LeagueBriar United FC2The League for ClubsOklahoma United FC, Tulsa Athletic2United Premier Soccer LeagueTennessee Tempo FC, Tennessee United Soccer Club1Seattle Recreational Adult Team SoccerSharktopus FC1United Premier Soccer LeagueBellevue Athletic FC1Midwest Premier LeagueGreen Bay Glory1Milwaukee Premier LeagueMilwaukee Bavarians221United Premier Soccer LeagueArkansas Wolves 21American Premier Soccer LeagueKO Elites FC1United Premier Soccer LeagueSouthern Indiana Guardians FC1Midwest Premier LeagueWoodland Football Club1Ohio Valley Premier LeagueMockingbird Valley Premier1United Premier Soccer LeagueDetroit Metro FC1Midwest Premier LeagueBOHFS St. Louis1United Premier Soccer LeagueOmaha Street FC1United Premier Soccer LeagueSCU Heat1Southwest Premier LeagueSTG Premier FC1USL League TwoWest Virginia United
First Qualifying Round The first qualifying round matches were held on September 12 & 13, 2025. 101 clubs got first qualifying round byes.
Byes Academica SC, Aegean Hawks FC, Arkansas Wolves 2, ASC New Stars, Atletico Boston, ATX United, Aurora FC, Azteca FC 5280, Bay Area United FC, Bellevue Athletic FC, BOHFS St. Louis, Bold City SC, Briar United FC, Brockton FC United, Bulldogs SC, Cape Coral City FC, Capital City SC, Capo FC, CD Faialense, Central Texas Coyotes FC, CF San Rafael, Charlotte County FC, Chicago House AC, Chicago Nation FC, Chula Vista FC, Colonial SC, Columbus Astray, CV United FC, DC Monsters, Denton Diablos, Detroit Metro FC, Dreamers AFC, Fall River FC, FC America CFL Spurs, FC Monmouth, FC Motown, FC Omens, FCY New York, Green Bay Glory, Grove United, Harbor City FC, Harpos FC, Houston Lions FC, Inter City FC, Inter Nova Havoc, International San Francisco, Iron Rose FC, Ironbound SCP, Irvine FC, Jersey Shore Boca, JSC Jasa, Kissimmee SC, KO Elites FC, Laguna United FC, Lake Country United FC, Legends SC, Los Toros, Master Joga, Milwaukee Bavarians, Mint Hill FC, Napa Valley 1839 FC. New Amsterdam FC, New Jersey Alliance FC, New York Greek American SC, Next Level Soccer Premier, Norcal Shockwaves, NY Dash FC, NY Pancyprian Freedoms, NY Renegades FC, O’Shea’s FC, Oakland Stompers, Oaklyn United FC, Oklahoma United FC, Olympiacos CA, Omaha Street FC, Palm Beach Flames SC, Pennsylvania Prime FC, Philadelphia Lone Star FC, Philadelphia SC, Pinellas County United Pelicans SC, Real Central NJ Soccer, Real Houston FC, Red Hook FC, RGV Red Crowns, San Diego Internacional FC, San Ramon FC, SCU Heat, SF Vikings SC, Sharktopus FC, Somerville United FC, Sonoma Valley United, South Coast Union, Sporting NTX, Stars FC, Stetson FA, Tulsa Athletic, Vereinigung Erzgebirge, Vidas United FC, WC Predators, West Virginia United, Woodland FC
Second Qualifying Round The second qualifying round matches took place October 3–4, 2026. Columbus Astray advanced to the Third Qualifying Round after West Virginia United dropped from the competition.
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