MLS
US Soccer Federation cancels the 2021 Open Cup
For the second straight year the United States Soccer Federation has cancelled the tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
On Tuesday the United States Soccer Federation announced that for the second straight year the US Open Cup will not take place due to the coronavirus pandemic. The US Soccer Federation confirmed that they could "not find available match dates shared across the various participating leagues."
“After calling off the 2021 edition of the Open Cup due to the remnant effects of COVID-19, we’re excited that we can put next year’s match dates on everyone’s calendar so early," Open Cup commissioner Paul Marstaller said in a statement.
"The 2022 tournament will be the first in memory when all the top players will be available for selection for every round as none of the games involving Division I Major League Soccer or Division II USL Championship clubs will be played during an international call-up period, a necessary feature for building a credible national championship.”
The US Open Cup has a set day to return
It was also confirmed that the campaign will resume in 2022 and it will take place during the fall months. The US Open Cup was first postponed for the first time in 106 years in 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic.
The last winner of this tournament was Atlanta United who won it in 2019 and received a direct ticket to the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League due to the tournament’s cancellation last year. In the next few weeks the US Soccer Federation will announce the details for next year’s campaign.