89 Amateur Teams Make the Cut for Entry into the Qualifying Rounds
It will be an exciting First Qualifying Round of the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – Scheduled for Weekend of Sept. 21-22. This year, there are 36 teams competing in the Open Division for the first time with a total of 74 amateur teams from U.S. Adult Soccer Association-affiliated leagues.
Soccer News: The 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup kicks off soon and this is America’s ‘Open’ Cup for soccer. As U.S. Soccer’s National Championship, this event allows amateur men’s teams the chance to challenge professional MLS teams to see if they have what it takes to advance.
While it is rare that an amateur team has the ability to stay in the game as the journey to the championship narrows the race, there have always been a few surprises.
And, after all, this is America … the home of the underdog and we all love cheering for a team willing to take on a real challenge.
Atlanta United host Minnesota United on Aug. 27 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and won the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a final score of 2-1.
Atlanta United, which joined the MLS in 2017 as an expansion club has proven they are the team to beat, whether or not it is in America’s oldest soccer tournament or in the contest to break records of fans attending MLS games.
Now all eyes turn to next year’s U.S. Open Cup competition.
There are 89 amateur men’s soccer teams in the qualifying rounds for the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
74 teams are Amateur Teams
There are 26 different men’s soccer leagues represented in the qualifying round, including two new leagues added this year. The teams are from 18 different states plus the District of Columbia. And, as usual, California has the most teams entering the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup followed by Texas and Colorado.
“The popularity of the US Open Cup amongst Amateur teams is an encouraging sign. The Amateur game continues to develop, proven by the increasing number of teams with sufficient resources to compete in national competitions,” said Duncan Riddle, Executive Director –
“The U.S. Open Cup is a tournament that the UPSL integrates into our year-round playing league calendar. The U.S. Open Cup is the most prestigious knock out tournament in America today and therefore many of our teams want to have that opportunity to be part of this great competition with a shot of playing an MLS squad. That is the dream game that drives many of our UPSL teams,” said Yan Skwara, Commissioner, United Premier Soccer League (UPSL). “Today, the UPSL has the largest number of teams participating in the U.S. Open Cup qualifiers compared to any other amateur league in the United States. Our goal is to always support the teams to participate while in league play.”.
Here is the list of teams entering the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – broken down by states:
- 20 teams entering from California alone
- 10 teams each from Colorado and Texas
- 8 teams from Florida
- 7 teams from Pennsylvania
- 6 teams from Virginia
- 5 teams from Maryland
- 4 teams from Massachusetts
- 3 teams each from Michigan and New Jersey
- 2 teams each from Georgia, Louisiana, New York and South Carolina
- 1 team each from the District of Columbia, Illinois, Oregon, Tennessee and Utah
Who plays who will be announced by U.S. Soccer in the final week of August, and once the matchups are determined, teams in this 106 year old tournament will be ready for battle.
As U.S. Soccer says, “This is the only high-profile event in American team sports where amateur sides have the opportunity, should they advance far enough, to face professionals in meaningful national competition.”
For more news on U.S. Open Cup, visit U.S. Soccer
Who has successfully challenged an MLS team? Cal FC knocked out the Portland Timbers in extra time is a great example. In soccer, anything can happen and while it is rare that a team like NTX Rayados can hold the 2018 champion Houston Dynamo scoreless for the opening 55 minutes of their fourth-round encounter who knows what the 2019 games will bring.
Amateur team New York Pancyprian Freedoms hold the record of U.S. Open Cup victories. Founded in 1974, this New York City based team are three-time U.S. Open Cup Champions, winning the coveted cup in 1980, 1982, and 1983 before the MLS kicked off.
Details on 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup from U.S. Soccer:
Open Division Local Qualifying Schedule:
First Qualifying Round: Sept. 21-23
Second Qualifying Round: Oct. 19-20
Third Qualifying Round: Nov. 23-24
Fourth Qualifying Round (if necessary): Dec. 21-22
Matchups are determined geographically to minimize travel time and expense, with random selection used when practicable to determine opponent pairings.
Home teams are determined by coin flip. Pairings for the second (Oct. 19-20), third (Nov. 23-24) and, if needed, fourth (Dec. 21-22) qualifying rounds will be determined and announced after each preceding round of games has taken place.
The survivors will advance to the First Round of the 2020 Open Cup next spring.
Open Division Teams Entering via the Local Qualifying Track
2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup teamsListed by State and League (Sanctioning Body) Affiliation:
California (20 teams)
LIGA NorCal (US Club Soccer)
Academica SC*; Turlock, Calif.
San Francisco Soccer Football League (Calif. Soccer Assn.-North/USASA)
Olympic Club; San Francisco, Calif.
SoCal Premier League (Calif. State Soccer Assn.-South/USASA)
Chula Vista FC; Chula Vista, Calif.
L.A. Monsters FC; Irvine, Calif.
Outbreak FC; Long Beach, Calif.
Quickening; Palmdale, Calif.
Rebels Soccer Club; Chula Vista, Calif.
SC Trojans FC; Los Angeles, Calif.
United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Alta California Sol; Santa Barbara, Calif.
Cal FC*; Wilmington, Calif.
Contra Costa FC; Walnut Creek, Calif.
JASA RWC; Redwood City, Calif.
Newport FC; Lake Forest, Calif.
Oakland Stompers; Oakland, Calif.
Oxnard Guerreros FC; Oxnard, Calif.
PV United; Watsonville, Calif.
Real San Jose; San Jose, Calif.
Santa Monica United FC; Santa Monica, Calif.
USA Soccer Stars FC; Glendale, Calif.
Valley United SC; North Hills, Calif.
Colorado (10 teams)
Colorado Premier League (U.S. Specialty Sports Assn.)
Athletic Club of Sloan’s Lake; Lakewood, Colo.
Azteca FC; Broomfield, Colo.
Club El Azul; Broomfield, Colo.
Colorado Rovers; Broomfield, Colo.
FC Boulder Harpos; Boulder, Colo.
FC Denver*; Aurora, Colo.
FC Union Jerez; Broomfield, Colo.
Colorado Super League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Colorado Rush; Lakewood, Colo.
Logroñes Denver Soccer Club; Denver, Colo.
Mountain Premier League (US Club Soccer)
Gam United FC; Denver, Colo.
District of Columbia (1 team)
District Sports Premier League (Metro D.C-Virginia Soccer Assn./USASA)
Federal City Wanderers; Washington, D.C.
Florida (8 teams)
Central Florida Soccer League (Florida State Soccer Assn./USASA)
Orlando FC Wolves; Orlando, Fla.
United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Atletico Miami CF; Miami, Fla.
Deportivo Lake Mary; Sanford, Fla.
Florida Soccer Soldiers*; Miramar, Fla.
Hurricane FC; Delray Beach, Fla.
International Soccer Association: Miami, Fla.
Miami United FC U23; Miami, Fla.
Red Force FC; Miami, Fla.
Georgia (2 teams)
Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League (Georgia State Soccer Assn./USASA)
Club ATLetic; Atlanta, Ga.
Georgia Revolution FC Reserves; Locust Grove, Ga.
Illinois (1 team)
United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Springfield FC; Springfield, Ill.
Louisiana (2 teams)
Gulf Coast Premier League (Louisiana Soccer Assn./USASA)
Louisiana Krewe FC; Lafayette, La.
Northshore United; Mandeville, La.
Maryland (5 teams)
Maryland Major Soccer League (Md. State Soccer Assn./USASA)
Christos FC; Ferndale, Md.
Izee Auto FC; Columbia, Md.
Steel Pulse FC; Windsor Mill, Md.
United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
FC Millenium International; Hyattsville, Md.
World Class Premier Elite FC; Boyds, Md.
Massachusetts (4 teams)
Bay State Soccer League (Mass. Adult State Soccer Assn./USASA)
Brockton FC United; Brockton, Mass.
Kendall Wanderers; Cambridge, Mass.
United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Juve-Pro Soccer; Ashland, Mass.
Safira FC; Sommerville, Mass.
Michigan (3 teams)
Ann Arbor Premier League (Michigan Soccer Association/USASA)
Ann Arbor FC; Ann Arbor, Mich.
Michigan Premier Soccer League (Michigan Soccer Association/USASA)
Livonia City FC; Livonia, Mich.
Wayne County Sporting; Riverview, Mich.
New Jersey (3 teams)
Cosmopolitan Soccer League (New Jersey Soccer Assn./USASA)
CSA Westchester; Tinton Falls, N.J.
Garden State Soccer League (New Jersey Soccer Assn./USASA)
Clifton Elite FC; Clifton, N.J.
Jackson Lions FC; Jackson, N.J.
New York (2 teams)
Cosmopolitan Soccer League (Eastern New York State Soccer Assn./USASA)
Lansdowne Yonkers FC; Yonkers, N.Y.
New York Pancyprian Freedoms^; Queens, N.Y.
Oregon (1 teams)
Oregon Premier Soccer League (Oregon Adult Soccer Assn./USASA)
International Portland Select (IPS)/Marathon Taverna; Portland, Ore.
Pennsylvania (7 teams)
Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League (Pa. West Soccer Assn./USASA)
Steel FC; Pittsburgh, Pa.
Tartan Devils Oak Avalon; Pittsburgh, Pa.
United Soccer League of Pennsylvania (Eastern Pa. Soccer Assn./USASA)
Danubia Swabian; Philadelphia, Pa.
Ukrainian Nationals; North Wales, Pa.
United German Hungarians; Oakford, Pa.
Vereinigung Erzgebirge; Warminster, Pa.
West Chester United*; West Chester, Pa.
South Carolina (2 teams)
Central League (South Carolina Amateur Soccer Assn./USASA)
Soda City Sorinex FC; Columbia, S.C.
United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Charleston United; Charleston, S.C.
Tennessee (1 team)
Middle Tennessee Soccer Alliance (Tennessee State Soccer Assn./USASA)
Nashville United; Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Texas (10 teams)
Austin Men’s Soccer Association (U.S. Specialty Sports Assn.)
Celtic Cowboys Premier; Austin, Texas
Gulf Coast Premier League (Louisiana Soccer Assn./USASA)
Central Texas Lobos; Austin, Texas
North Texas Premier Soccer Association (North Texas Soccer Assn./USASA)
NTX Rayados*; Balch Springs, Texas
United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Athletic Katy FC; Houston, Texas
Coyotes FC; Temple, Texas
FC Fort Worth Soccer Club; Forth Worth, Texas
Houston FC; Houston, Texas
Inocentes Futbol Club; Forth Worth, Texas
Lone Star Republic; Addison, Texas
San Antonio Runners; San Antonio, Texas
Utah (1 team)
United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
San Juan FC; Herriman, Utah
Virginia (6 teams)
Soccer Organization of the Charlottesville Area (Metro D.C-Virginia Soccer Assn./USASA)
SOCA; Charlottesville, Va.
Woodbridge Soccer League (Asociacion Nacional Fútbol en USA/U.S. Soccer)
Alianza Futbol Club; Woodbridge, Va.
CD Huateras; Woodbridge, Va.
Doradus FC; Fairfax County, Va.
Germantown City FC; Woodbridge, Va.
Virginia United*; Woodbridge, Va.
* Advanced to 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Note: NPSL and the USL League Two Opted for 2019 League Results to Determine Participants
