US Open Cup To Expand To 64 Teams - 16 MLS

Over the past few days news has started to emerge about changes to US Open Cup format. At TheCup.US there are indications that all US pro teams would participate. At the Examiner there is talk that there would be a draw for hosting rights.

7 months ago Dave Clark 17 comments 0 recs |

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And why all these changes all of a sudden?

Most likely because the Sounders (and the fans) made it relevant again.

@ritual605

by Greg Pirkl Lives on Nov 9, 2011 9:24 AM PST reply actions

They just can't stand to see us win it three years in a row.

But seriously, if it helps make other clubs take it more seriously, then its a good thing.

4peat!

by quacker27 on Nov 9, 2011 9:34 AM PST up reply actions

This format sounds great.

Open cup will be the easiest way to qualify for CCL for every team in MLS. Win 5 games and you get CCL prelim bid. This will make it important. Also the max games a MLS team can play is 5, helping with fixture congestion. The earlier dates are awesome also.

by MurrayD on Nov 9, 2011 9:32 AM PST reply actions

The Sounders only had to win 4 this season for the USOC

Barring major upsets this also means beating 4 MLS teams to win the cup over only 2 or 3 in years past. This will add credibility as long as there are more teams that seriously compete in this.

Chicago arguably had the hardest step first, by beating San Jose to qualify for the Cup this year. It went to PKs after a crazy 2 goal comeback in the second half. Recap here.
They then went on to beat FC New York, a disinterested NYRB and the Richmond Kickers to make it to the Cup final. The Sounders had to beat the Gals and FC Dallas but most certainly will have a harder path to make it to future USOC finals.

Nos audietis in somniis, Nos audietis in altum: You will hear us!

by chrisso on Nov 9, 2011 11:35 AM PST up reply actions

Hmmm....

I like the idea of 64 teams in the tournament, but I don’t like giving the NASL, USL, and MLS teams byes to later rounds.

I’m sure it would be difficult to sell this to some (most?) MLS execs, but I think from a marketing perspective it would be great to have everyone enter in the first round, make the draw somewhat regional to reduce travel, and have the lower division teams host the first three rounds. If teams are from the same division, have a random draw for home field, and in the last four rounds, have it be a random draw to determine home field for all games.

That said, I like this format a lot better than the old format, mainly because it seemed really odd to have 6 MLS auto-bids and then an MLS playoff for the last 2 spots.

by ubelmann on Nov 9, 2011 9:39 AM PST reply actions

It's a very common thing to give byes for higher level teams

The FA Cup does this as well. And it’s actually better for the lower level teams. If you’re an amateur team, you don’t want to face professional competition right away. Sure, you might get very lucky and beat them, but most likely you’re going to get spanked. It’s much better to get a few games in against lower level opponents and then work your way up to facing the pros.

by CarlosT on Nov 9, 2011 10:14 AM PST up reply actions

Unfair

Would also be pretty unfair for 16 amature teams to draw an MLS team in the first round when the other 32 will not. This way all teams from each level enter at the same time.

by MurrayD on Nov 9, 2011 10:21 AM PST up reply actions

CCL

I’d at least like to give byes to the CCL teams

by lefthand on Nov 9, 2011 10:31 AM PST up reply actions

well, the new format would nestle between last CCL

and the next CCL.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Nov 9, 2011 10:37 AM PST up reply actions

There precedent for that as well

In Italy, teams go into the Coppa Italia on the basis of performance, I think in the league but it might be in the previous Coppa.

by CarlosT on Nov 9, 2011 11:17 AM PST up reply actions

Nice compromise

I think this format makes sense for the current landscape of US soccer. It is a compromise where the teams play into the tournament based on the level of their leagues. It doesn’t have the free for all nature of some Open tournaments where all teams start as equals. But it does promote a higher level of competition and focus for all of the participants. This is good for the visibility and profile of Soccer in America. An Open Cup with real competition and clear benefits for all of the participants raises the bar on the relevance of the Cup. And it has the potential to heighten awareness for the sport in new markets. Under this format, the MLS teams are less likely to mail in their rosters. Teams from lower tiers will have to work harder to advance, but the overall level of competition should improve in each round. I wouldn’t mind seeing a bit of regional scheduling for the rounds. Cut down on everyone’s travel expenses at least until the round of 16 or even the quarter finals. But all in all I like the proposal.

by Abbott Smith on Nov 9, 2011 10:13 AM PST reply actions

I would assume regional pairing would have to be in the cards

Both from a fan interest point of view as well as cost for the lower division and amateur teams.

by CMC_Stags on Nov 9, 2011 11:31 AM PST up reply actions

They already have regional scheduling

And have had it for years, if not for the whole modern era.

by AAAA on Nov 9, 2011 12:45 PM PST up reply actions

Some good, some bad

All 16 eligible MLS teams entering the competition is a great thing.

The scheduling does not make sense though. The last week of July and the first three weeks of August all have CCL matches. Scheduling the final in those weeks is actually impossible. If it is in August, it would have to be the last week of August.

This year the scheduling was perfect as the semifinal and final were scheduled in the three week breaks in CCL play, and the earlier USOC round were played before CCL started.

by AAAA on Nov 9, 2011 12:44 PM PST reply actions

I like 16 teams...

…but I think I’d rather see 12. There’s a value in having some other cutoff that matters for teams. Promo and Relegation will never fly here, but it would be nice if even the Revs, Chivas and SJ could still play for something other than a spoiler or contract negotiations at the end of the season.

Ideally the Open Cup cutoff would be less exclusive than the playoffs, but more exclusive than “US based MLS franchise”. That also gets the tournament a bit more coverage and mindshare as analysts talk about teams on the bubble and the teams that are low in the standings bring up that they’re fighting to get a place in the open cup.

by mrbs on Nov 9, 2011 6:18 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

That's a solid idea

basically if the playoffs take 50%, the Open Cup should take 75%

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Nov 9, 2011 10:25 PM PST up reply actions

I like the system used by the FA Cup and others

The better performing, higher level clubs come in at later stages of the competition. I like having every team participate in the competition because that’s what makes a competition such as the USOC so special. Theoretically, if your amateur team has a great run, it could find itself playing against the top professionals in your country.

by CarlosT on Nov 10, 2011 3:49 PM PST up reply actions