2027 U.S. Open Cup qualification
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Dates | September 12 – November 22, 2026 |
| Teams | 155 |
All statistics correct as of 20:59, August 22, 2026 (UTC). | |
The 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualification will serve as local qualification for the 112th edition of the oldest soccer tournament in the United States. The tournament proper will feature both professional and amateur teams in the United States soccer league system.
Qualification for the 2027 tournament will include local qualifying matches contested by a record setting 155 amateur teams competing for 16 local qualifying slots, and will take place in 2026.[1] United Premier Soccer League has the highest representation with 63 teams entering the tournament, while California will have the most teams of any state with 23. Sixteen amateur teams have already qualified for the 2027 U.S. Open Cup.[2]
Qualification procedure
Clubs based in the United States that play in an outdoor soccer league that is an organization member of U.S. Soccer are generally eligible to compete for the U.S. Open Cup, so long as their league includes at least four teams and has a schedule of at least 10 matches for each club. To be eligible, teams must be members in good standing of their leagues on December 31, 2026, and remain so through the 2027 final. Any team that started its first season of competition in an existing league must have started its new league's schedule no later 30 days prior to the Open Division Entry Deadline.[3]
As in prior tournaments, automatic bids in to the first round of the tournament proper are awarded to the winner of the previous year's National Amateur Cup, [4] the United Premier Soccer League Spring Champion,[5] and the John Motta Trophy winner (Open-Division team that performed the best in the previous tournament).[6] Starting in 2027, the runner-up in the United Premier Soccer League, The League for Clubs champion, and the Hank Steinbrecher Cup Champion from the previous year also earn automatic bids for the first round of the U.S. Open Cup.[7] These six teams along with the 16 local qualifiers account for 22 of the 32 amateur teams that qualify for the tournament proper in 2027. The other 10 teams come from the National Premier Soccer League and USL League Two. The champions and two additional teams from the National Premier Soccer League and the champions and six additional teams from USL League Two qualify through national league pathways, which use previous summer season standings to determine teams that qualify.[2]
Amateur qualification
National Amateur Cup
El Farolito SC defeated Lansdowne Yonkers FC 3–1 in extra time, to win the 2026 National Amateur Cup and qualify for the 2027 U.S. Open Cup.[8]
John Motta Trophy winner
Asheville City SC advanced the furthest in the 2026 U.S. Open Cup, earning both the $50,000 bonus and the John Motta Trophy. Based on their performance in the previous tournament, Asheville City SC qualifies directly into the 2027 U.S. Open Cup.[7]
Hank Steinbrecher Cup winner
Vermont Green FC defeated West Chester United SC 4–1 in the final of the Hank Steinbrecher Cup, earning an automatic berth into the 2027 U.S. Open Cup[9]
United Premier Soccer League Spring qualifiers
Deportivo Rose City defeated Miami United FC 3–1, to win the 2026 UPSL Spring Championships. Both teams earned a direct qualification into the 2027 U.S. Open Cup.[10]
The League for Clubs Champions
Pensacola FC defeated Iron Rose FC 1–0 in extra time to earn their first league title and an automatic bid into the 2027 U.S. Open Cup.[11]
National Premier Soccer League qualifiers
With El Farolito SC winning the National Amateur Cup, Bristol Rhythm AFC received an automatic berth to the 2027 U.S. Open Cup as the NPSL runners up for 2026 National Premier Soccer League season. Ambassadors FC Ohio and New Haven United FC also received automatic berths for reaching the semifinals in the 2026 NPSL season.[7]
USL League Two qualifiers
Ballard FC, Colorado Storm, Laredo Heat, Little Rock Rangers, Minneapolis City SC, Ocean City Nor'easters, and San Francisco City FC all received automatic berths to the 2027 U.S. Open Cup based on league performances in the 2026 USL League Two season[7]
Local qualifying
U.S. Soccer announced that 155 teams will participate in local qualifying. Four rounds of local qualifying matches will result in 16 clubs advancing to the tournament proper. The teams will be organized into 16 regional pools prior to the qualifying round draw. Teams will play in 2–4 of the qualifying rounds in route to securing one of the 16 advancing slots.[2]
Schedule
| Round | Match day | New Teams | Current Teams Remaining | Teams entered to date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Qualifying Round | September 12 & 13 | |||
| Second Qualifying Round | October 3 & 4 | |||
| Third Qualifying Round | October 31 & November 1 | |||
| Fourth Qualifying Round | November 21 & 22 | |||
Number of teams by state and league
A total of 29 states and the District of Columbia are represented by clubs in the U.S. Open Cup Qualification this year.[2]
| States | Number | League | Teams | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  California (23) |
8 | United Premier Soccer League | Bay Area United FC, CV United FC, Irvine FC, Laguna United FC, Olympiacos CA, San Diego Internacional FC, Sonoma Valley United, Temecula FC |
| 4 | Southwest Premier League | Chula Vista FC, DC Monsters, JSC Jasa, Legends SC | ||
| 4 | The League for Clubs | CF San Rafael, Iron Rose FC, Napa Valley 1839 FC, San Ramon FC | ||
| 3 | San Francisco Soccer Football League | International San Francisco, Norcal Shockwaves FC, San Francisco Vikings Soccer Club | ||
| 2 | NISA Nation | Capo FC, Problems SC | ||
| 1 | National Premier Soccer League | Oakland Stompers | ||
| 1 | USL League Two | Academica SC | ||
| 2 |  Florida (20) |
15 | United Premier Soccer League | Boca Jrs Miami FC, Bold City SC, Cape Coral City FC, FC America CFL Spurs, FC Kanks, Florida Badgers FC, Florida Island United FC, Harbor City FC, Inter City FC, Kissimmee SC, O'Shea's FC, Palm Beach Flames SC, Pinellas County United Pelicans SC, Stetson FA, SWFL SC |
| 2 | Premier Futbol League | Dreamers AFC, Red Force FC | ||
| 1 | NPSL-RL | Charlotte County FC | ||
| 1 | Sunshine Conference League | Naples United FC | ||
| 1 | USL League Two | Shark Coast FC | ||
| 3 |  Texas (14) |
4 | The League for Clubs | Capital City SC, Central Texas Coyotes FC, FORO SC, RGV Red Crowns |
| 2 | Dallas Soccer Alliance | Master Joga, StrikerZ DFW | ||
| 2 | Houston Football Association | ASC New Stars, Aurora FC | ||
| 2 | Metroplex Premier League | Inter Nova Havoc, Sporting NTX | ||
| 2 | United States Soccer League | Houston Lions FC, Real Houston Futbol Club | ||
| 1 | Austin Men's Soccer Association | ATX United | ||
| 1 | USL League Two | Denton Diablos FC | ||
| 4 |  New York (11) |
5 | United Premier Soccer League | FCY New York, NY Dash FC, NY Renegades FC, Osner's FC, Red Hook Football Club |
| 4 | American Premier Soccer League | Lansdowne Yonkers FC, New York Athletic Club, New York Greek American SC, New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | ||
| 1 | Cosmopolitan Soccer League | New Amsterdam FC | ||
| 1 | National Premier Soccer League | American Soccer Club New York | ||
| 5 |  New Jersey (10) |
4 | United Premier Soccer League | Bulldogs SC, Five Rivers SC, Ironbound SCP, New Jersey Alliance FC |
| 4 | American Premier Soccer League | Jersey Shore Boca, Oaklyn United FC, Real Central New Jersey, SC Vistula Garfield | ||
| 1 | National Premier Soccer League | FC Motown | ||
| 1 | The League for Clubs | FC Monmouth | ||
| 6 |  Georgia (9) |
4 | United Premier Soccer League | Kalonji Pro-Profile, Lake Country United FC, Potros FC, UFA Lawrenceville |
| 3 | American Premier Soccer League | Peachtree FC, Prima Football Club, Swarm FC | ||
| 1 | Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League | Terminus FC | ||
| 1 | USL League Two | Buckhead SC | ||
| 8 |  Pennsylvania (8) |
5 | American Premier Soccer League | Colonial SC, Philadelphia Soccer Club, Vereinigung Erzgebirge, Vidas United FC, WC Predators |
| 2 | United Premier Soccer League | Pennsylvania Prime FC, Philadelphia Lone Star FC | ||
| 1 | USL League Two | Steel City FC | ||
 Virginia (8) |
5 | United Premier Soccer League | Arlington SA Pro, Doradus FC, Grove United, Los Toros, Virginia Dream FC | |
| 3 | American Premier Soccer League | Philadelphia Soccer Club, Nova FC, Vidas United FC | ||
| 10 |  Massachusetts (7) |
3 | Bay State Soccer League | Atletico Boston, CD Faialense, FC Omens |
| 3 | United Premier Soccer League | Brockton FC United, Fall River FC, South Coast Union | ||
| 1 | American Premier Soccer League | Somerville United FC | ||
| 11 |  Colorado (6) |
4 | Colorado Premier League | Azteca FC 5280, Colorado Rovers S.C., FC Denver, Harpos FC |
| 2 | Mountain Premier League | Peak Eleven FC, Timbers SC | ||
| 12 |  Illinois (4) |
3 | United Premier Soccer League | Chicago Nation FC, Chicago Strikers, Ethos United |
| 1 | Midwest Premier League | Chicago House AC | ||
 Maryland (4) |
2 | United Premier Soccer League | Bowleys Athletic, MSI | |
| 1 | American Premier Soccer League | Patuxent FA | ||
| 1 | DC Premier League | Oranje FC | ||
 Ohio (4) |
2 | USL League Two | Akron City FC, Lorain County Leviathan FC | |
| 1 | North Coast Soccer League | Croatia Cleveland | ||
| 1 | United Premier Soccer League | Columbus Astray | ||
| 15 |  District of Columbia (3) |
1 | American Premier League | Aegean Hawks FC |
| 1 | Super Soccer League | Yinz United | ||
| 1 | United Premier Soccer League | DC Hyper | ||
 Nevada (3) |
2 | Southwest Premier League | Be Pro FC, Las Vegas United Football Club | |
| 1 | NISA Nation | Sin City Football Club | ||
| 17 |  Arizona (2) |
1 | United Premier Soccer League | Next Level Soccer Premier |
| 1 | USL League Two | Stars FC | ||
 North Carolina (2) |
1 | National Premier Soccer League | Mint Hill FC | |
| 1 | United Premier Soccer League | Briar United FC | ||
 Oklahoma (2) |
2 | The League for Clubs | Oklahoma United FC, Tulsa Athletic | |
 Tennessee (2) |
2 | United Premier Soccer League | Tennessee Tempo FC, Tennessee United Soccer Club | |
 Washington (2) |
1 | Seattle Recreational Adult Team Soccer | Sharktopus FC | |
| 1 | United Premier Soccer League | Bellevue Athletic FC | ||
 Wisconsin (2) |
1 | Midwest Premier League | Green Bay Glory | |
| 1 | Milwaukee Premier League | Milwaukee Bavarians | ||
| 23 |  Arkansas (1) |
1 | United Premier Soccer League | Arkansas Wolves 2 |
 Connecticut (1) |
1 | American Premier Soccer League | KO Elites FC | |
 Indiana (1) |
1 | United Premier Soccer League | Southern Indiana Guardians FC | |
 Kansas (1) |
1 | Midwest Premier League | Woodland Football Club | |
 Kentucky (1) |
1 | Ohio Valley Premier League | Mockingbird Valley Premier | |
 Michigan (1) |
1 | United Premier Soccer League | Detroit Metro FC | |
 Missouri (1) |
1 | Midwest Premier League | BOHFS St. Louis | |
 Nebraska (1) |
1 | United Premier Soccer League | Omaha Street FC | |
 Utah (1) |
1 | Southwest Premier League | STG Premier FC | |
 West Virginia (1) |
1 | USL League Two | West Virginia United |
References
- ↑ "Record 155 Open Division Clubs Enter 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds, Additional 16 Automatically Qualify for Tournament Proper". ussoccer.com. August 18, 2026. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Battista, Michael (August 21, 2026). "2027 US Open Cup Qualifying: Record-setting 155 teams enter qualifying tournament". TheCup.US. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
- ↑ "2027 U.S. Open Cup Entry Information". United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
- ↑ "First-Round Matchups: Of Open Cup Qualifying". FrontRowSoccer.com. August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
- ↑ Wolf, Liam (August 7, 2023). "AS Frenzi wins 2023 UPSL title, secures 2024 US Open Cup berth". TheCup.us. theCup.us. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
- ↑ Sillick, Jake (July 29, 2025). "2026 US Open Cup: Which Open Division teams will get direct entry in Round 1?". TheCup.us. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Meet the 16 Open Division Clubs That Automatically Qualified for the 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup". ussoccer.com. August 20, 2026. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
- ↑ Schroeder, Matt (July 26, 2026). "2026 National Amateur Cup: El Farolito wins first Amateur Cup title in OT, punches ticket to USOC". TheCup.us. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
- ↑ FC, Vermont Green (June 6, 2026). "Vermont Green are 2026 Steinbrecher Cup Champions!". Vermont Green Football Club. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
- ↑ Padilla, Kathryne (August 11, 2026). "2027 US Open Cup Qualifying: Open Cup-bound Deportivo Rose City wins first UPSL title". TheCup.US. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
- ↑ Jr, Chuck Nolan (July 29, 2026). "2027 US Open Cup Qualifying: Pensacola FC wins League for Clubs title, punches first ticket to USOC". TheCup.US. Retrieved August 22, 2026.