After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 cancellations, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is back this season. One of the oldest club tournaments in world soccer, a total of 103 teams have been 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 21-29 (Draw: May 12)
- Semifinals: July 27 (Host draw: June 23)
- Open Cup Final: Sept. 6, 7, 13 or 14 (Host draw: June 23)
MORE: List of top young players in MLS today
Open Cup Finals (Wed, September 7)
The finals are set, as Orlando City SC will look to earn its first trophy as an MLS club, matched up against USL Championship club Sacramento Republic.
It's the first time a lower-league club has reached the final of the U.S. domestic cup competition since 2008 when D.C. United claimed the Cup with a 2-1 victory over Charleston Battery.
Orlando City will host the match at its home ground Exploria Stadium, as per the semifinal draw which determined the hosts for the final two rounds.
| Date | Match | TIME (ET) | TV & STREAMING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Sept 7 | Orlando City SC vs. Sacramento Republic | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN+ |
Open Cup Semifinals (Wed, July 27)
A draw held on June 23 determined the hosts for the semifinals on July 27. We also know which team will host a potential final:
Get your (Final) priorities straight | #USOC2022 🏆 pic.twitter.com/OlkZpz6L7p
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) June 24, 2022
There are three MLS teams and one USL Championship side (Sacramento Republic) in the semis. Sporting Kansas City and Sacramento Republic will face off in one semifinal, while the NY Red Bulls meet Orlando City SC in the other.
Sporting Kansas City have won the competition four times in club history (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017) and are looking to tie an all-time tournament record with a fifth title. The other teams remaining in the competition have never claimed the trophy, though the NY Red Bulls advanced to two finals, losing both (2003 vs. Chicago Fire, 2017 vs. Sporting KC).
| Date | Match | |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, July 27 | Orlando City SC 5, NY Red Bulls 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, July 27 | Sacramento Republic 0, Sporting KC 0 (Sac. Rep. advance 5-4 on penalties) | HIGHLIGHTS |
Open Cup Quarterfinals (June 21-29)
The quarterfinal pairings were determined as part of the previous Round of 16 draw held on Thursday, May 12. The four single-elimination matches were played between Tuesday-Wednesday, June 21-29 (host team listed first).
Of the eight teams in the final eight, one was from the second-tier USL Championship (Sacramento Republic), and one hailed from third-tier USL League One (Union Omaha). The remaining six were MLS clubs.
| Date | Match | |
|---|---|---|
| Tues, June 21 | LA Galaxy 1, Sacramento Republic 2 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, June 22 | NY Red Bulls 3, New York City FC 0 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, June 22 | Sporting KC 6, Union Omaha 0 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, June 29 | Orlando City SC 1, Nashville SC 1 (Orlando advance 6-5 on penalties) | HIGHLIGHTS |
Open Cup Round of 16 (May 25)
The Round of 16 draw took place on Thursday, May 12. Similar to the previous round, teams were grouped geographically into groups of four. A random draw paired up the teams from each geographical grouping. These were the regional groups:
- Northeast: Charlotte FC, New England, NYCFC, NY Red Bulls
- Southeast: Inter Miami, Louisville City, Nashville SC, Orlando City
- Central: Houston, Minnesota United, Sporting KC, Union Omaha
- West: LA Galaxy, LAFC, Sacramento Republic, SJ Earthquakes
The Round of 16 results follow below with all eight single elimination matches played on May 25. Of the 16 teams, 13 hailed from MLS, two from the second-tier USL Championship (noted with a "CH") and one from third-tier USL League One ("USL1" below). Two of the three lower division teams survived.
| Date | Match | |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, May 25 | Orlando City SC 1, Inter Miami CF 1 (Orlando advance 4-2 on penalties) | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 25 | Louisville City FC (CH) 1, Nashville SC 2 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 25 | NYCFC 1, New England Revolution 0 (a.e.t.) | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 25 | NY Red Bulls 3, Charlotte FC 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 25 | Minnesota United 1, Union Omaha (USL1) 2 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 25 | Sporting KC 2, Houston Dynamo 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 25 | LA Galaxy 3, LAFC 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 25 | Sacramento Republic (CH) 2, SJ Earthquakes 0 | HIGHLIGHTS |
Open Cup Round of 32 (May 10-11)
In the Round of 32, the 24 winners from the 3rd Round of the competition joined the final eight MLS teams that had not yet entered the competition.
The draw took place on April 21 with matchups selected from four geographical groups of eight teams. There were three matchups between lower-league opponents, while eight games featured two MLS teams facing off.
A total of 21 MLS teams were still alive in the Round of 32, with the likes of the Chicago Fire, Austin FC, Columbus Crew, and Real Salt Lake all dumped out via upsets in the previous round (3rd Round).
- 21: Major League Soccer (MLS)
- 5: USL Championship (CH)
- 4: USL League One (USL1)
- 1: National Independent Soccer Association (NISA)
- 1: MLS Next Pro (NEXT)
| Date | Match | |
|---|---|---|
| Tues, May 10 | Orlando City SC (MLS) 2, Philadelphia Union (MLS) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Tues, May 10 | D.C. United (MLS) 0, New York Red Bulls (MLS) 3 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Tues, May 10 | Detroit City FC (CH) 1, Louisville City FC (CH) 1 (Louisville City win 4-2 on PKs) | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Tues, May 10 | Inter Miami (MLS) 3, S Georgia Tormenta (USL1) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Tues, May 10 | Sporting KC (MLS) 4, FC Dallas (MLS) 2 (a.e.t.) | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Tues, May 10 | LAFC (MLS) 2, Portland Timbers (MLS) 0 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 11 | Richmond Kickers (USL1) 1, Charlotte FC (MLS) 5 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 11 | NYCFC (MLS) 3, Rochester NY FC (NEXT) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 11 | New England Revolution (MLS) 5, FC Cincinnati (MLS) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 11 | Union Omaha (USL1) 2, N. Colorado Hailstorm (USL1) 0 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 11 | Nashville SC (MLS) 3, Atlanta United (MLS) 2 (a.e.t.) | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 11 | Houston Dynamo (MLS) 1, San Antonio FC (CH) 0 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 11 | Seattle Sounders (MLS) 2, San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) 2 (SJ win 10-9 on PKs) | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 11 | CA United Strikers (NISA) 2, LA Galaxy (MLS) 3 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Wed, May 11 | Sacramento Republic (CH) 2, Phoenix Rising FC (CH) 0 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| Thurs, May 12 | Minnesota United (MLS) 2, Colorado Rapids (MLS) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
Open Cup 3rd Round (April 19-20)
In the 3rd Round, 17 of the U.S.-based MLS teams entered the competition to join the 31 qualifiers from the 2nd Round (the other eight MLS teams join in 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| April 19 | Flower City Union (NISA) 0, D.C. United (MLS) 3 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 19 | Miami FC (CH) 0, Inter Miami CF (MLS) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 19 | FC Cincinnati (MLS) 2, Pittsburgh Riverhounds (CH) 0 (a.e.t.) | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 19 | Detroit City FC (CH) 2, Columbus Crew (MLS) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 19 | Chicago Fire (MLS) 2, Union Omaha (USL1) 2 (Omaha win 5-4 PKs) | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 19 | Birmingham Legion (CH) 0, S. Georgia Tormenta (USL1) 2 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 19 | Houston Dynamo (MLS) 2, Rio Grande Valley Toros (CH) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 19 | FC Dallas (MLS) 2, FC Tulsa (CH) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 19 | FC Tucson (USL1) 1, California United Strikers (NISA) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 19 | San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) 5, Bay Cities FC (NISA) 0 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 19 | LA Galaxy (MLS) 1, San Diego Loyal SC (CH) 0 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 20 | Rochester New York FC (NEXT) 2, FC Motown (NPSL) 2 (Rochester win 4-3 PKs) | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 20 | Richmond Kickers (USL1) 1, Carolina Dynamo (USL2) 0 | RECAP |
| April 20 | Hartford Athletic (CH) 1, NY Red Bulls (MLS) 2 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 20 | Orlando City SC (MLS) 2, Tampa Bay Rowdies (CH) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 20 | Greenville Triumph (USL1) 1, Charlotte FC (MLS) 2 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 20 | Forward Madison (USL1) 0, Minnesota United (MLS) 2 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 20 | Atlanta United (MLS) 6, Chattanooga FC (NISA) 0 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 20 | Louisville City (CH) 0, St. Louis City SC 2 (NEXT) 0 (Louisville win 9-8 PKs) | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 20 | San Antonio FC (CH) 2, Austin FC (MLS) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 20 | Real Salt Lake (MLS) 0, No. Colorado Hailstorm (USL1) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 20 | Phoenix Rising FC (CH) 2, New Mexico United (CH) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 20 | Sacramento Republic (CH) 2, Central Valley Fuego (USL1) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
| April 20 | LAFC (MLS) 5, Orange County SC (CH) 1 | HIGHLIGHTS |
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) March 21, 2022
Open to All | @espn+ & @ussoccer (YT) pic.twitter.com/1FIxMSz6YR
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 |