With the 2023 MLS Cup in the rearview mirror, fans are now waiting for next year’s schedule to be revealed. But at the other end of the US Soccer pyramid, clubs are already preparing for the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup: On Monday, the United States Soccer Federation named the 32 amateur teams that will take part in the tournament.
These non-professional teams will enter the competition in the first round, which will be held March 19–21, 2024.
Officially named the Open Division, the category includes anything below the three professional tiers and encompasses a few different levels of the American pyramid. Some teams come from local or regional leagues and had to qualify through tournaments. Others earned qualification by finishing at the top of a large national league or winning national competitions.
Only two teams in the Open Division come from the New York and New Jersey metro area. And both are (possibly) only a few wins away from a match against either New York City FC or the New York Red Bulls. UPDATE: On Friday, December 15 at 6:01 pm ET, MLS announced that no teams from the league will participate in the 2024 US Open Cup.
