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Home > Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup


 

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is an American soccer competition open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams all the way to the professional teams of Major League Soccer.

The competition dates back to 1914, when it was known as the National Challenge Cup. The competition was, in modern times, known just as the U.S. Open Cup, but was renamed the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 1999 to honor one of American Soccer's most important patrons. The winners of the Cup are currently awarded the DeWar Cup , donated by Sir Thomas DeWar for the promotion of soccer in America in 1914. The Cup was retired in 1979, but brought back into use by the USASA in 1997, and is on permanent display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York.

The National Challenge Cup was the first truly national cup competition in the United States, as previous cups had been effectively relegated to regional status by the difficulties in coordination and travel caused by the size of the United States in the early 1900's.

Macabees SC of Los Angeles, Fall River FC of Massachusetts, and Bethlehem Steel F.C. of Pennsylvania have each won the cup a record five times, while Greek American AA of New York hold the record for most consecutive cup victories at three.

Since 1996, with the formation of Major League Soccer, professional teams have dominated the competition, with MLS clubs winning the cup all but one of those years. The Rochester Raging Rhinos of the 2nd division A-League were surprise winners in 1999, defeating MLS club Colorado Rapids.

Currently all MLS teams automatically qualify, while eight teams from the A-League, six from the USL Pro Soccer League, eight from the USL Premier Development League, and eight from the United States Adult Soccer Association take part as well.


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