Wednesday night, FC Dallas will begin action in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against Oklahoma City Energy FC at SMU’s Westcott Field. Before that, however, it’s important to understand what the nation’s oldest soccer cup competition is.
Beginning in 1914, the Open Cup is open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States, not just MLS squads. Cup competitions like the Open Cup are prevalent in many soccer-playing countries including England’s F.A. Cup, France’s Coupe de France and Germany’s DFB-Pokal.
What makes the tournament interesting and special is the uniqueness of having teams from an array of leagues including the MLS, USL, NASL and PDL. In this year’s tournament, 91 teams are competing for the title. This allows for the occasional Cinderella story, much like we’re accustomed to in the NCAA’s March Madness. For example, in 2012, amateur team Cal FC made a run by beating the USL’s Wilmington Hammerheads and MLS’ Portland Timbers en route to a Round of 16 appearance.
The competition runs from May 11 to September 21 with different levels of teams entering at different times. While FC Dallas is making their first appearance in this year’s tournament Wednesday, the tournament has already played three previous rounds. A win would immediately place FC Dallas among the final 16 teams.
FC Dallas has had plenty of success in the Open Cup, which is fitting given that Lamar Hunt, the club’s founder, is now the namesake of the tournament. The team is eight-time semifinalists, two-time finalists, and winners of the 1997 tournament.
As recently as 2014, FC Dallas appeared in the tournament’s semifinals before being ousted by Philadelphia Union in penalty kicks.
The winner of the competition receives $250,000 in prize money and a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League. The winner also is awarded the Sir Thomas Dewar Cup, named after Sir Thomas Dewar, a major promoter of soccer in the U.S. in the early 1900s.
