2021 U.S. Open Cup format/schedule

Discussion in 'US Open Cup' started by newtex, Feb 9, 2021.

  1. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    The details for the 2021 U.S. Open Cup have been announced. It will not include all eligible teams as in the recent past.

    https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...tingency-plan-for-2021-lamar-hunt-us-open-cup

    There will only be 24 teams invited to take part this year:

    Open Division
    4 teams selected from the 36 teams that were eligible for the 2020 U.S. Open Cup.

    Division III
    4 teams. 2 from USL League One and 2 from NISA

    Division II
    8 teams from USL Championship

    Division I
    8 teams from MLS

    Schedule:
    1st Round - May 4-5
    The 16 teams from the 3 lower Divisions will face off.
    They will make a decision on March 29 if that round can take place. If not then only half the teams will be chosen to advance.

    Round of 16 - May 18-19
    MLS teams will face 1st Round winners.

    Quarterfinals - May 25-26

    Semifinals - June 15-16

    Final - June 29-30
     
  2. usadcu

    usadcu Member

    Aug 25, 2005
    Alexandria, VA
    Clunky, but given the circumstances I suppose it's better than cancelling.
     
  3. 15 to 32

    15 to 32 Straw Hog

    Jul 1, 2008
    Salt Lake
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Really curious to see what the criteria for each league is used to determine participants. It is pretty ironic that there are 24 MLS teams based in the US but using just those would lose the very intent of this tournament and make it a league cup.
     
  4. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Winner qualifies for 2022 CONCACAF Champions League
     
  5. aleaguer

    aleaguer Member

    Feb 17, 2000
    Wichita, KS USA
    will the nisa have two teams by may?
     
  6. aleaguer

    aleaguer Member

    Feb 17, 2000
    Wichita, KS USA
    only if you don't know the meaning of the word 'ironic.'
     
  7. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  8. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
  9. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  10. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    USSF has announced that the first round of the 2021 U.S. Open Cup will not be held. They will go straight to round 2.

    https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/20...-opening-round-of-2021-lamar-hunt-us-open-cup

    • Division I (8 slots) – Top eight USA-based Major League Soccer clubs from 2021 regular season play based on average standings points per game as of May 3 (after three weekends of action)

    • Division II (4 slots) – USL Championship 2020 semifinal playoff teams: El Paso Locomotive FC, Louisville City FC, Phoenix Rising FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies

    • Division III (2 slots) – National Independent Soccer Association 2020 Fall Champion Detroit City FC, USL League One 2020 Regular Season Champion Greenville Triumph SC

    • Open Division (2 slots) – Random draw to be conducted on April 7
     
    JasonMa and msilverstein47 repped this.
  11. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The Round of 16 Draw, scheduled for May 4, will also decide the pairings and home teams for the Quarterfinal Round while setting the bracket for the remainder of the tournament. A separate draw after the Quarterfinal Round will determine the Semifinal Round hosts and the priority order for hosting the 2021 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.
     
    JasonMa repped this.
  12. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Newtown Pride FC
    Newtown has the best chance of reaching the tournament with a 50% chance of being drawn. After both draws, NPSL teams only have 3.8% chance each of qualifying while USL2 teams (with only 10 eligible teams) fare slightly better with 5% chance each. A local qualifier meanwhile has a 4.2% chance of being drawn.
    “It’s an amazing opportunity for our club, but it’s bittersweet with the amateur teams being cut down to just two,” said Newtown Pride general manager Matt Svanda. “For amateur teams like us, this tournament means everything, and we feel like we earned our spot by winning the Amateur Cup. It’s a shame that fewer teams will have the chance to be a Cinderella story.”
     
  13. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    JasonMa repped this.
  14. newtex

    newtex Member+

    May 25, 2005
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Wow! The COVID protocols do seem pretty expensive.

    But the pro teams seem to on board. The concern is for the amateur teams but if I understand it correctly there are only two Open Division teams. Maybe the USSF can assist them.

    USASA's objection isn't clearly stated but the reduction of teams seems like it might be their primary objection.
     
  15. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    U.S. Open Cup
    @opencup
    33m
    Official Draw to decide which two Open Division amateur teams will take part in #USOC2021 will happen at Soccer House in Chicago on April 7 @ 12 noon ET.
     
  16. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    TheCup.us
    @usopencup
    20m
    @USLLeagueTwo
    (5% chance of selection each):
    @ChicagoFCU_USL
    @CorpusCFC
    @MenaceSoccer94
    @FCGSForce
    @NCFusionU23
    @scunitedbantams
    @TormentaFC_2
    @TheVillagesSC
    @VCFusion
    @WMassPioneers
     
  17. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  18. Bluesfan

    Bluesfan Member+

    DC United
    Aug 12, 2000
    Tampa
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Scotland
    There has been lots of criticism about this year's format but I think that the lack of preferential treatment for MLS clubs offsets the smaller number of participants. At least every entrant has to win the same number of matches to win the cup. Hopefully next year they will adopt that for an expanded tournament.
     
    SiberianThunderT repped this.
  19. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Phillip Grooms
    @phillgrooms
    1h
    BREAKING: I'm being told the 2021 US Open Cup will be cancelled, with a chance of rescheduling later in the year. The 106 year tradition ended in 2020 due to COVID-19. In March, @ussoccer announced a 24 team format, which was then shortened to 16 teams last month. #USOC2021
     
  20. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Hope it happens later in the year.
     

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