Seattle Sounders Will Host U.S. Open Cup Final If They Qualify

The Seattle Sounders would host the U.S. Open Cup final for a second straight year if they beat FC Dallas on Tuesday. The game would be held at CenturyLink Field on Oct. 4 and will be played against the winner of the Chicago Fire-Richmond Kickers semifinal.

Either finals matchup would be intriguing, even if the Sounders would be considered prohibitive favorites. The Fire currently hold the MLS-era record for Open Cup titles with four (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006). A win by the Sounders would give them the second most in MLS. A Fire victory would also tie them with Bethlehem Steel for the most all time. The Kickers of USL-Pro would be trying to become the second non-MLS team to win the title since 1996 and the first since the Rochester Rhinos won it in 1999.

No matter who they play, the Sounders would be trying to become the first team to win three consecutive Open Cup titles since the New York Greek-Americans pulled that off from 1967-69. The last team to even repeat as champions was the New York Pancyprian-Freedoms in 1983-84.

The Sounders have never lost an Open Cup match at Starfire Sports Complex, a 12-match winning streak that dates back to their time as a USL team.

If the Sounders lose on Tuesday, FC Dallas would host against the Kickers, while the Fire would host FC Dallas.