Unlike a year ago when the Tacoma Defiance were allowed to compete in the U.S. Open Cup for the first time since 2015, the Seattle Sounders organization has been completely shut out of the country’s oldest soccer tournament. With Ballard FC falling in the final round of Open Cup qualifying, the Seattle region will be without a representative for the first time since 2004 and for just the third time since 1998. Spokane Velocity of USL League One will keep the state of Washington’s streak intact at 20 consecutive tournaments.
In an effort to avoid overlap with the World Cup, the Open Cup eliminated one round of the competition and with it cut back the number of professional teams participating from 64 to 48. The bulk of that cut fell on MLS Next Pro affiliates, none of whom will be involved in 2026. There are just 16 MLS teams participating, all of whom are in neither the Concacaf Champions Cup nor Leagues Cup. The Sounders qualified for Concacaf Champions Cup by winning Leagues Cup.
A year ago, Defiance made a nice run in the tournament, winning three games and advancing to the Round of 32, where they narrowly lost to the Portland Timbers.
Open Cup Schedule
First Round: Tuesday, March 17 – Thursday, March 19
Second Round: Tuesday, March 31 – Wednesday, April 1
Round of 32: Tuesday, April 14 – Wednesday, April 15
Round of 16: Tuesday, April 28 – Wednesday, April 29
Quarterfinals: Tuesday, May 19 – Wednesday, May 20
Semifinals: Tuesday, Sept. 15 - Wednesday, Sept. 16
Final: Wednesday, October 21
