Looking at the structure of this year's open cup, I have to think this thing is there to be won. We are not going to be Supporter's Shield winners, unlikely to be MLS Cup winners, and the odds are much, much longer in the thing with LigaMX. But this is a cup with mostly USL, MLS Next and lower clubs, plus only SKC, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, LAFC, RSL, San Jose and Seattle. Those are good MLS clubs, and I don't say we will be favorites. But it seems very possible, and far and away the easiest path to silverware. The Athletic breaks it down, for those who subscribe.
So all in on the USOC? Rest people on the weekends before matches (maybe not full rest of limit time)?
Open Cup was already a joke with MLS teams not even trying until quarterfinals. Now its ridiculous. I'm sure if SKC win Peter and the gang will claim its the equivalent of UEFA champions league
Obviously the Open Cup is far less valuable than MLS Cup (the value of which has never been higher, since the Leagues Cup is siphoning off the Champions Cup)... But I'd take it in a heartbeat. Would make this the best season in almost a decade. Since we seem destined to not be title contenders, I'm here for realistic silverware goals.
I agree with take but realize it is the logic of provincial squads. Cements our transformation from league leader to Empoli or West Ham.
After the 2nd round was played last night it's getting close enough to kind of "look ahead" and see what might happen with the draw. First I kind of matched up the 16 winners from the 2nd round to the USL Championship teams entering the 3rd round and it somewhat matches up geographically ... 7 "western" winners and 7 new entrants from USLC. 9 "eastern" winners and 9 "entrants". The thing that's really tough is the round of 32 when SKC joins. There are 12 "western" entrants (I include SKC with this) to match up with the 7 round 3 western winners. and only 4 "eastern" entrants" to match up with the 9 3rd round eastern winners. I think this obviously pushes SKC (along with 2 Texas teams and who knows what else). The good part of this is it likely gives us a "new" USOC matchup. I had FC Tulsa, Union Omaha, Memphis and Chicago Fire 2 all in the "west" so I think we're going to be pushed even further East than those teams "potentially".
Likely to be one of these teams: MID-WEST@FCTulsa (USLC) v @NoCoHailstormFC (USLL1)@Union_Omaha (USLL1) v @eplocomotivefc (USLC)@NewMexicoUTD (USLC) v @LubbockMatadors (NPSL)— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 4, 2024
Not saying it won't as it likely will, but we could get pushed further east even. I'd lean towards the North though. I think the 3 Texas teams, Colorado Springs and even Real Salt Lake could be handed all of the Midwest.
Sorry, I was counting San Antonio as one of the 3 Texas teams entering in the round of 32. There are just so many teams in the group entering the round of 32 that are west of the Mississippi. Texas teams could end up coving the southeast (and Atlanta going further north). It really depends though, you could see a Salt Lake having to go to Hartford or something like that since it's so unbalanced geographically.