After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 cancellations, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is back. One of the oldest club tournaments in world soccer, a total of 103 teams are doing battle in 2022 with only one that will be left standing to have its name engraved on the trophy.
The tournament is named in honor of U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame inductee Lamar Hunt, who was a long-time owner, investor and supporter of the game on American soil. The last team to hoist the cup was Atlanta United in 2019, when they beat fellow MLS side Minnesota United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Since the launch of top-flight Major League Soccer in 1996, the Open Cup has been won by an MLS side in every year but one. The second-tier Rochester Rhinos shocked MLS’s Colorado Rapids in the 1999 final for the lone lower-division final upset during the last 26 years.
In the U.S. Open Cup, each match is a single-elimination knockout match. If there’s a draw after 90 minutes of regulation, the match will head to extra time, followed by a penalty-kick shootout, if necessary.
The complete schedule, every score and all the highlights for each round follows below. Every match beginning in the 2nd Round is available to stream on ESPN+ in the USA.
- 1st Round: March 22-23 (Draw: Feb. 2)
- 2nd Round: April 5-7 (Draw: Feb. 11)
- 3rd Round: April 19-21 (Draw: April 8)
- Round of 32: May 10-11 (Draw: April 22)
- Round of 16: May 24-25 (Draw: May 12)
- Quarterfinals: June 21-22 (Draw: May 12)
- Semifinals: July 26-27
- Open Cup Final: Sept. 6, 7, 13 or 14
MORE: List of top young players in MLS today
Open Cup 3rd Round (April 19-21)
In the 3rd round, 17 of the U.S.-based MLS teams enter the competition to join the 31 qualifiers from the 2nd Round (the other eight MLS teams join the Round of 32 based on performance in the 2021 season).
The 48 teams were placed in pots based on geography to minimize travel and expenses with the draw held on Friday, April 8 and streamed on U.S. Soccer’s YouTube channel.
MLS teams could not be drawn against each other. Also, teams with shared ownership or using the same technical resources could not be drawn together.
- 17: Major League Soccer (MLS)
- 15: USL Championship (CH)
- 8: USL League One (USL1)
- 4: National Independent Soccer Association (NISA)
- 2: MLS Next Pro (NEXT)
- 1: National Premier Soccer League (NPSL)
- 1: USL League Two (USL2)
(Note: Home teams listed first)
| Date | Match | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| April 19-21 | Flower City Union (NISA) vs. D.C. United (MLS) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Hartford Athletic (CH) vs. NY Red Bulls (MLS) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Rochester New York FC (NEXT) vs. FC Motown (NPSL) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Richmond Kickers (USL1) vs. NC Fusion U23 (USL2) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Greenville Triumph (USL1) vs. Charlotte FC (MLS) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Detroit City FC (CH) vs. Columbus Crew (MLS) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | FC Cincinnati (MLS) vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds (CH) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Louisville City (CH) vs. St. Louis City SC 2 (NEXT) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Forward Madison (USL1) vs. Minnesota United (MLS) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Chicago Fire (MLS) vs. Union Omaha (USL1) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Phoenix Rising FC (CH) vs. New Mexico United (CH) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Real Salt Lake (MLS) vs. No. Colorado Hailstorm (USL1) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) vs. Bay Cities FC (NISA) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Sacramento Republic (CH) vs. Central Valley Fuego (USL1) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | FC Tucson (USL1) vs. California United Strikers (NISA) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | LA Galaxy (MLS) vs. San Diego Loyal SC (CH) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | LAFC (MLS) vs. Orange County SC (CH) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Houston Dynamo (MLS) vs. Rio Grande Valley Toros (CH) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | San Antonio FC (CH) vs. Austin FC (MLS) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | FC Dallas (MLS) vs. FC Tulsa (CH) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Atlanta United (MLS) vs. Chattanooga FC (NISA) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Birmingham Legion (CH) vs. S. Georgia Tormenta (USL1) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Miami FC (CH) vs. Inter Miami CF (MLS) |
TBD |
| April 19-21 | Orlando City SC (MLS) vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies (CH) |
TBD |
Open Cup 2nd Round (April 5-7)
The 32 winners from the 1st Round were joined by 30 new entrants and they were paired up via a draw held on Feb. 11. Here was the breakdown of the participating teams in this round by league, followed by the matchups:
- 23: USL Championship (CH)
- 11: USL League One (USL1)
- 10: National Independent Soccer Association (NISA)
- 6: National Premier Soccer League (NPSL)
- 5: USL League Two (USL2)
- 3: United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- 2: MLS Next Pro (NEXT)
- 2: Eastern Premier Soccer League (EPSL)
(Note: Home teams listed first)
| Date | Match | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| April 5 | Charlotte Independence (USL1) 2, NC Fusion U23 (USL2) 4 |
RECAP |
| April 5 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds (CH) 2, Maryland Bobcats (NISA) 0 |
RECAP |
| April 5 | Indy Eleven (CH) 0, St. Louis City SC 2 (NEXT) 2 |
RECAP |
| April 5 | Detroit City FC (CH) 3, Michigan Stars FC (NISA) 0 |
RECAP |
| April 5 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (CH) 6, The Villages SC (USL2) 0 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 5 | Union Omaha (USL1) 2, Des Moines Menace (USL2) 1 |
RECAP |
| April 5 | FC Tulsa (CH) 2, Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) 1 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 5 | San Antonio FC (CH) 3, D’Feeters Kicks (UPSL) 1 |
RECAP |
| April 5 | New Mexico United (CH) 5, Las Vegas Legends (NPSL) 0 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 5 | Central Valley Fuego (USL1) 4, El Paso Locomotive (CH) 1 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 5 | Orange County SC (CH) 5, Los Angeles Force (NISA) 2 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 6 | FC Motown (NPSL) 1, AC Syracuse Pulse (NISA) 0 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 6 | Miami FC (CH) 3, Miami United FC (NPSL) 0 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 6 | North Carolina FC (USL1) 1, Rio Grande Valley Toros (CH) 2 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 6 | Western Mass Pioneers (USL2) 0, Flower City Union (NISA) 1 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 6 | Louisville City FC (CH) 1, Chattanooga Red Wolves (USL 1) 0 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 6 | Nova FC (EPSL) 0, Richmond Kickers (USL1) 1 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 6 | Forward Madison FC (USL1) 3, Cleveland SC (NPSL) 0 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 6 | Colorado Springs (CH) 0, No. Colorado Hailstorm (USL1) 1 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 6 | FC Tucson (USL1) 3, Las Vegas Lights (CH) 2 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 6 | Phoenix Rising FC (CH) 1, Valley United FC (NISA) 0 |
RECAP |
| April 6 | Albion San Diego (NISA) 1, San Diego Loyal SC (CH) 2 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 6 | Bay Cities FC (NISA) 2, Monterey Bay FC (CH) 1 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 7 | Charleston Battery (CH) 0, South Georgia Tormenta (USL1) 1 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 7 | Rochester New York FC (NEXT) 1, Lansdowne Yonkers (EPSL) 0 |
RECAP |
| April 7 | Chattanooga FC (NISA) 3, Memphis 901 FC (CH) 1 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 7 | Greenville Triumph SC (USL1) 2, Oakland Roots SC (CH) 0 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 7 | Hartford Athletic (CH) 3, Oyster Bay United FC (UPSL) 1 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 7 | Birmingham Legion FC (CH) 3, Southern States SC (NPSL) 1 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 7 | California United Strikers (NISA) 5, San Fernando Valley (UPSL) 0 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 7 | Sacramento Republic (CH) 6, Portland Timbers U23 (USL2) 0 |
HIGHLIGHTS |
Open Cup 1st Round (March 22-April 1)
In the 1st Round, all matchups were set up geographically rather than via random draw to ensure travel distances and costs are manageable. Here’s the breakdown of teams in this round by league:
- 11: USL League Two (USL2)
- 10: National Premier Soccer League (NPSL)
- 8: United Premier Soccer League (UPSL)
- 2: Eastern Premier Soccer League (EPSL)
- 1: Central Florida Soccer League (CFSL)
(Note: Home teams listed first)
| Date | Match | |
|---|---|---|
| March 22 | Cleveland SC (NPSL) 2, Chicago FC United (USL2) 1 (a.e.t.) |
RECAP |
| March 22 | Hartford City FC (NPSL) 0, Oyster Bay United FC (UPSL) 3 |
RECAP |
| March 22 | The Villages SC (USL2) 6, Orlando FC Wolves (CFSL) 0 |
RECAP |
| March 22 | Denton Diablos FC (NPSL) 2, D’Feeters Kicks SC (UPSL) 3 |
RECAP |
| March 22 | Southern States SC (NPSL) 3, Georgia Revolution (NPSL) 1 |
RECAP |
| March 23 | San Fernando Valley FC (UPSL) 6, Escondido FC (UPSL) 2 |
RECAP |
| March 23 | Ocean City Nor’easters (USL2) 1, Landsdowne Yonkers FC (EPSL) 1 (Landsdowne advance 4-3 on penalties) |
RECAP |
| March 23 | South Carolina United FC (USL2) 0, NC Fusion U23 (USL2) 1 (NC Fusion awarded 1-0 win via forfeit) |
REPORT |
| March 23 | Miami United FC (NPSL) 3, City Soccer FC (UPSL) 1 |
RECAP |
| March 23 | Western Mass Pioneers (USL2) 2, Brockton FC United (UPSL) 0 |
RECAP |
| March 23 | Des Moines Menace (USL2) 4, Minneapolis City SC (USL2) 2 |
RECAP |
| March 23 | Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) 3, Azteca FC (UPSL) 0 |
RECAP |
| March 23 | Portland Timbers U23 (USL2) 2, Contra Costa FC (NPSL) 1 |
RECAP |
| March 23 | Las Vegas Legends (NPSL) 3, Park City Red Wolves SC (USL2) 2 |
RECAP |
| March 30 | Lynchburg FC (UPSL) 1, Nova FC (EPSL) 3 |
RECAP |
| April 1 | FC Motown (NPSL) 1, West Chester United SC (USL2) 0 |
RECAP |
How to Watch 2022 U.S. Open Cup
- Date: March 22 through September 14, 2022
- Streaming: ESPN+ (all rounds), U.S. Soccer YouTube (first round)
The 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup can be seen on ESPN+ in the USA throughout the entirety of the competition.
The only matches that will not be broadcast on ESPN+ are select first-round matches that instead can be found on U.S. Soccer’s YouTube channel. All other matches from the second round to the final will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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One Cup 🏆 | #USOC2022
Open to All | @espn+ & @ussoccer (YT) pic.twitter.com/1FIxMSz6YR
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) March 21, 2022
Open Cup teams
In the 2022 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, participating teams hail from 11 different leagues and tiers across American soccer:
| League | Division / Tier | Total Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Major League Soccer (MLS) | 1st | 25 |
| USL Championship | 2nd | 23 |
| MLS Next Pro | 3rd | 2 |
| USL League One | 3rd | 11 |
| National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) |
3rd | 10 |
| USL League Two | Semi-Pro | 11 |
| National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) |
Semi-Pro | 10 |
| Various local leagues (UPSL, EPSL, CFSL) |
N/A (incl. amateur) |
11 |
| TOTAL | 103 |