Today, U.S. Soccer revealed sweeping changes to the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup competition and hosting format, confirming what USL president Tim Holt told me in early November. Ultimately, the changes will make U.S. Open Cup more competitive and create new marketing opportunities.
The tournament has crowned a champion for 98 consecutive years beginning in 1914.
More teams
This year's U.S. Open Cup includes a 64-team field, the largest in the modern era of 1995 to present. All Division I, II and III professional clubs will participate in the tournament for the first time ever. All 16 U.S.-based MLS teams (Division I), all six U.S.-based North American Soccer League (NASL) teams (Division II) and all 10 U.S.-based USL PRO teams (Division III) will comprise 32-team professional line-up.
The amateur entries will feature 32 teams from various leagues affiliated with the U.S. Adult Soccer Association, including USASA regional qualifiers, the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League and the National Premier Soccer League, and US Club Soccer.
New random hosting process
Another revision heading into this year's U.S. Open Cup includes a random selection process for determining home teams from the first round through the quarterfinals among clubs that have applied to host. This change gives each participating team with a venue meeting tournament standards an equal chance at hosting. A lower seed hosting a match obviously makes for a more competitive game and tournament.
All 2012 U.S. Open Cup matches until the final are scheduled for Tuesdays and the first four rounds take place in back-to-back weeks from May 15 to June 5. The quarterfinals are set for June 26, the semifinals for July 10, and the championship final for August 7 or 8. In the first round, 32 amateur-level sides will be paired geographically, with the restriction that teams from the same qualifying pool cannot be paired. The first-round winners will face Division II or Division III clubs in the second round based on geographic proximity. Second-round winners play Division I clubs in the third round, matched on a geographic basis.
The basics
The U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament, so a match that is tied after regulation is extended by two 15-minute halves. If a winner is not determined in overtime, advancement is determined by kicks from the penalty spot. The 2012 champion will earn a $100,000 cash prize, while the runner-up will collect $50,000. The top Division II, Division III and amateur clubs will each receive a $10,000 prize.
Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer will attempt to win a fourth consecutive U.S. Open Cup title. The Sounders defeated the Chicago Fire 2-0 on Oct. 5, 2011, to become the first team in 42 years to win the Open Cup three years in a row.
2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule:
April 29: Qualifying deadline
May 15: First Round
May 22: Second Round
May 29: Third Round
June 5: Fourth Round
June 26: Quarterfinals
July 10: Semifinals
Aug. 7 or 8: Final
Participating Professional Teams (32 total)
Major League Soccer (Division I - 16 teams): Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LA Galaxy, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City.
North American Soccer League (Division II - 6 teams): Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Fort Lauderdale Strikers, NSC Minnesota Stars, San Antonio Scorpions, Tampa Bay Rowdies.
USL PRO (Division III - 10 teams): Charleston Battery, Charlotte Eagles, Dayton Dutch Lions, Harrisburg City Islanders, Los Angeles Blues, Orlando City, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Rhinos, Wilmington Hammerheads.
Distribution of Amateur-Level Places (32 total):
U.S. Adult Soccer Association Regional Qualifiers - 9 places: USASA regional qualifiers will increase their number of places in the tournament by one compared to 2011.
United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League - 16 places: The PDL will have the largest increase in representation among the amateur leagues since 2011, growing from nine slots.
National Premier Soccer League - 6.5 places: The NPSL is a national amateur league affiliated with the USASA. In previous years, its teams participated via USASA regional qualifying.
US Club Soccer - 0.5 place: U.S. Club Soccer is an organization member of U.S. Soccer.
Note: One team from the National Premier Soccer League will face a US Club Soccer representative for the final place in the tournament.
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