The 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 107th edition of the
U.S. Open Cup, a knockout cup competition in American soccer. After the 2020 and 2021 competitions were suspended and ultimately canceled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
, the
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation (USSF), commonly referred to as U.S. Soccer, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, the federation is ...
announced that the 2022 edition would run from March to mid-September of that year.
The 2022 field features 103 clubs, 71 of them fully professional—both modern-era records.
On December 22, 2021, U.S. Soccer announced the final format for the 2022 tournament, with two major changes from prior editions. First, all eligible Division II and Division III professional teams will enter in the Second Round. Second,
Major League Soccer will have its entry staggered: Seventeen MLS teams will enter in the Third Round, and the remaining eight teams (the four playing in the
2022 CONCACAF Champions League
The 2022 CONCACAF Champions League (officially the 2022 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League) was the 14th edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current name, and overall the 57th edition of the premier football club competition org ...
, and the next highest two teams in both the Eastern and Western Conferences) will enter in the Round of 32.
For the first time since
2017
File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a s ...
, multiple leagues from the same division competed in the Open Cup.
USL League One
USL League One (USL1) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that had its inaugural season in 2019. The Division III league is operated by United Soccer League, the same group that operates the Division II USL Championshi ...
, of Division III, competed alongside teams from
MLS Next Pro
MLS Next Pro is a men's professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that is affiliated with Major League Soccer. It launched in 2022 with 21 teams and will expand to 28 in 2023. The league comprises 27 reserve sides for MLS clubs ...
and the
National Independent Soccer Association
The National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States. The league is in the third tier of American soccer and began play in 2019. NISA initially used a fall-to-spring season format with a ...
(NISA). NISA was set to make its Open Cup debut in 2020, before that tournament was canceled; MLS Next Pro was established in 2021, and while primarily a developmental league for MLS teams, its independent clubs are eligible for the Open Cup.
Atlanta United FC
Atlanta United FC, commonly known as Atlanta United, is an American professional soccer club based in Atlanta that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference.
Founded in 2014, Atlanta United began pl ...
were the defending champions, having won the
2019
File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...
tournament, but were eliminated in the Round of 32 by
Nashville SC
Nashville Soccer Club is a Major League Soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The team began play in the league in 2020 as a continuation of the USL club of the same name and plays its home matches at Geodis Park. It is principally owned ...
.
Orlando City SC won their first Open Cup title, defeating
Sacramento Republic FC 3–0 in the
final
Final, Finals or The Final may refer to:
* Final (competition), the last or championship round of a sporting competition, match, game, or other contest which decides a winner for an event
** Another term for playoffs, describing a sequence of con ...
.
Schedule
Teams
Pro teams that are majority-owned or controlled by higher division professional clubs are barred from entering the competition. For this edition of the tournament, there are 21 such teams:
Atlanta United 2
Atlanta United 2 are the reserve team of the Major League Soccer club Atlanta United FC. The team plays in the USL Championship, the second tier of American soccer. The team was established on November 14, 2017 and began their first professional ...
(
USLC
The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's association football, soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as a United State ...
),
LA Galaxy II
LA Galaxy II is an American professional soccer team based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, United States founded in 2014. It is the reserve team of the LA Galaxy. The team competes in MLS Next Pro, the third tier of the United Sta ...
(
USLC
The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's association football, soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as a United State ...
),
Loudoun United FC
Loudoun United FC is an American professional soccer team based in Leesburg, Virginia. The team was founded in 2018 as the reserve team of D.C. United and made its debut in the USL Championship in 2019.
History
On July 18, 2018, the team was off ...
(
USLC
The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's association football, soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as a United State ...
),
New York Red Bulls II
New York Red Bulls II is an American professional soccer team based in Montclair, New Jersey. They are the reserve team of the New York Red Bulls and play in MLS Next Pro, the third tier in the American soccer pyramid.
History
Red Bull New Yor ...
(
USLC
The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's association football, soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as a United State ...
), and 17 out of 19
MLS Next Pro
MLS Next Pro is a men's professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that is affiliated with Major League Soccer. It launched in 2022 with 21 teams and will expand to 28 in 2023. The league comprises 27 reserve sides for MLS clubs ...
teams. The two
MLS Next Pro
MLS Next Pro is a men's professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that is affiliated with Major League Soccer. It launched in 2022 with 21 teams and will expand to 28 in 2023. The league comprises 27 reserve sides for MLS clubs ...
teams entering are
Rochester New York FC (independent club) and
St. Louis City SC 2
St Louis City SC 2, often shortened to St Louis City 2 or City2 (stylized as CITY2), is an American professional soccer team that is located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the reserve team of St. Louis City SC and participates in MLS Next Pro. T ...
(the club's
senior team does not debut until the 2023 season).
Table
* Bold denotes team is still active in the tournament.
* $: Winner of $25,000 bonus for advancing the furthest in the competition from their respective divisions.
* $$: Winner of $100,000 for being the runner-up in the competition.
* $$$: Winner of $300,000 for winning the competition.
Map
Number of teams by state
A total of 35 states and the District of Columbia are represented by clubs in the U.S. Open Cup this year.
States without a team in the Open Cup: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Open Cup debuts
31 teams will be playing in their first Open Cup tournament in 2022.
* MLS:
Austin FC
Austin FC is an American professional soccer club based in Austin, Texas. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Founded in 2018, the club began play in the 2021 season. Their home stadium is Q2 ...
,
Charlotte FC
Charlotte FC is an American professional soccer club based in Charlotte. The team competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference. The team is owned by David Tepper, who was awarded the expansion franchise ...
,
Inter Miami CF
Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, known as Inter Miami CF or simply Inter Miami, is an American professional soccer club based in the Miami metropolitan area. Established in 2018, the club began play in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the 2 ...
* USLC:
Monterey Bay FC
Monterey Bay Football Club is an American professional soccer team based in Monterey County, California. The club was established on February 21, 2021, and is a member of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer league system ...
,
Oakland Roots SC
Oakland Roots Sports Club is an American professional soccer team based in Oakland, California. The club was
formed in 2018 by a group of Oakland natives, and began play in the National Independent Soccer Association in the fall of 2019. In 2021, ...
,
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
Rio Grande Valley FC, also known as RGVFC or Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, is an American semi-professional soccer team based in Edinburg, Texas operated by Lone Star, LLC. They joined the USL Championship in the 2016 season.
The team served as a ...
,
San Diego Loyal SC
* MLS Next Pro:
St. Louis City SC 2
St Louis City SC 2, often shortened to St Louis City 2 or City2 (stylized as CITY2), is an American professional soccer team that is located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the reserve team of St. Louis City SC and participates in MLS Next Pro. T ...
* NISA:
Albion San Diego
Albion San Diego, formerly Albion SC Pros, is an American professional soccer team based in San Diego, California that currently plays in the National Independent Soccer Association, on the third tier of the United States soccer league system.
...
,
AC Syracuse Pulse,
Bay Cities FC,
California United Strikers FC
is an American professional association football, soccer club based in Orange County, California.
History
The club was founded by Bronwyn & Pete Capriotti and Michael Collins (soccer), Michael Collins, who have had connections to the adult ama ...
,
Flower City Union,
Los Angeles Force,
Maryland Bobcats FC,
Michigan Stars FC
Michigan Stars Football Club is an American professional soccer team based in the Metro Detroit area. The team currently competes in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).
History
The club was established circa 1998 as Windsor Spa ...
,
Valley United FC
* USL1:
Central Valley Fuego FC
Central Valley Fuego FC, also known as CV Fuego FC or simply Fuego FC, is an American professional soccer team based in Fresno, California. The team was founded in 2020, and played its inaugural season in 2022. The team competes in USL League O ...
,
Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC,
Union Omaha
Union Omaha Soccer Club is an American professional soccer team based in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2020, the team made its debut in USL League One (USL1).
History
In 2019, USL1 awarded a franchise to Alliance Omaha Soccer Holdings to begin pla ...
* NPSL:
Cleveland SC
Cleveland SC is an American semi-professional soccer club based in the Greater Cleveland, Ohio region. Cleveland competes in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) as part of the Midwest Region's Rust Belt Conference. The club was established ...
,
Denton Diablos FC, Southern States Soccer Club, Las Vegas Legends
* USL2:
Minneapolis City SC
Minneapolis City SC (known informally as Mpls City SC or The Crows) is an American soccer club based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2016, the team plays in the USL League Two, the top national league at the fourth tier of ...
,
Park City Red Wolves SC
* UPSL: Escondido FC, Lynchburg FC, Oyster Bay United FC, San Fernando Valley FC
* Other Open Division: Brockton FC United, D'Feeters Kicks SC
Format
Draws
*No team who was playing their first Open Cup match was paired with another team also playing their first Open Cup match. An exception was made if there were no other teams that were geographically close in order to prevent excess travel.
* Random pairings were done in cases where three or more teams were from the same general area.
* In cases where a geographical fit didn't exist, a random selection occurred.
* Pairings between clubs and their parent clubs, clubs with shared ownership, or other clubs using the same technical resources was avoided in geographic selections and random pairings until the final. For 2022, these pairings included:
Los Angeles FC (
MLS
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...
) and
Las Vegas Lights (
USLC
The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's association football, soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as a United State ...
),
Portland Timbers (
MLS
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...
) and
Portland Timbers U23 (
USL2),
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Chattanooga Red Wolves Soccer Club is an American professional soccer club based in East Ridge, Tennessee. They are a founding member of USL League One, the third division of American soccer. The club was announced as a member of League One on A ...
(
USL1
USL League One (USL1) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that had its inaugural season in 2019. The Division III league is operated by United Soccer League, the same group that operates the Division II USL Championshi ...
) and
Park City Red Wolves SC (
USL2).
Matches
* Single-game-knockout format with two 45-minute halves and stoppage time.
* Tied matches are sent to two 15-minute extra-time halves with stoppage time.
* Matches tied after extra time will be settled with a penalty shootout.
* Home teams are determined by a random selection among teams that apply to host. Teams that meet minimum tournament standards will be given priority over others in their pairing.
* Five substitutions during regulation time over three substitution windows and halftime.
* One extra substitution added during extra time. This substitution can be made at the end of regulation, over an additional substitution window, or at extra-time halftime.
* Up to two extra substitutions over two extra substitution windows will be available in the case of a concussion. If a team uses this concussion substitution, the opposing team gains an additional substitution and substitution window.
First and Second rounds
In the First round, teams (local,
National Amateur Cup
The National Amateur Cup, also known as the USASA Amateur Cup, is an American soccer competition open to all amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation through United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).
In 1923, U.S. ...
,
NPSL, &
USL2) were paired in a geographical manner, pitting teams closer together against each other. Once the First round pairings were made those pairings were matched with a Division II (
USLC
The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's association football, soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as a United State ...
) or a Division III (
MLS Next Pro
MLS Next Pro is a men's professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that is affiliated with Major League Soccer. It launched in 2022 with 21 teams and will expand to 28 in 2023. The league comprises 27 reserve sides for MLS clubs ...
,
NISA, or
USL1
USL League One (USL1) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that had its inaugural season in 2019. The Division III league is operated by United Soccer League, the same group that operates the Division II USL Championshi ...
) team in a geographical manner for the Second round. Division II & III teams that remained unmatched were matched together, again geographically, avoiding any same-division matching (e.g., no II vs II or III vs III).
The complete draw for the First round, including match dates and times, was announced on February 2, 2022.
Draws for the Second round were announced on February 11; match dates and times were announced on February 28.
Bracket
Host team listed first
Bold = winner
* =
after extra time
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw where the scores are the same. In some sports, this extra period is played onl ...
, ( ) =
penalty shootout score
First round
''All times local to game site.''
Second round
''All times local to game site.''
Third round
The winners of the second round and the new entrants to the tournament were grouped geographically into groups of four (12 groups) or six (eight groups), depending on the distribution of teams after the Second Round. Division I (
MLS
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada ...
) teams entering the tournament were spread among the groups as evenly as possible (groups of four: five groups with two and seven groups with one MLS team; groups of six: one group with three and seven groups with two MLS teams). All MLS teams faced a lower-division team. Random selection for each group determined the pairs. Instances where geographical fit didn't exist when creating groups was resolved by random selection.
''All times local to game site.''
Round of 32
The winners of the Third Round and the new entrants to the tournament were grouped geographically into groups of four (eight groups). Each group had one of the MLS teams entering this round. Random selection for each group determined the pairs. Instances where geographical fit didn't exist when creating groups was resolved by random selection.
The draw for the Round of 32 took place on April 21.
''All times local to game site.''
Round of 16 and Quarter-finals
The winners of the Round of 32 were grouped geographically into groups of four (four groups). Random selection for each group determined the pairs.
The Round of 16/Quarter-final draw took place on May 12 at 8:30 PM
EDT on
Futbol Americas on
ESPN+.
Bold = winner
* =
after extra time
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw where the scores are the same. In some sports, this extra period is played onl ...
, ( ) =
penalty shoot-out score
Round of 16
''All times local to game site.''
Quarter-finals
''All times local to game site.''
Semi-finals and Final
The Quarter-final winners were matched geographically to determine the pairings for the semi-final round.
The draw to determine the home teams for the semi-finals and the final was held on June 23.
Semi-finals
''All times local to game site.''
Final
Top goal scorers
Broadcasting
First Round matches were split between
ESPN+ and U.S. Soccer's
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video sharing and social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by Google, and is the second mo ...
channel; all matches from the Second Round to the final will be broadcast on ESPN+. This is the final year of a four-year agreement between ESPN and U.S. Soccer to broadcast the tournament.
Warner Bros. Discovery Sports will have the rights starting in 2023, as part of an 8-year agreement with U.S. Soccer.
References
{{2022–23 in North and Central America, and Caribbean football (CONCACAF)
U.S. Open Cup
2022 in American soccer
2022 North American domestic association football cups
2022 domestic association football cups