The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup explained: participants, format, dates, venues, history…

The 2023 Leagues Cup came to its conclusion on Saturday, with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami getting their hands on a trophy that seemed to have their name on it as soon as the Argentina captain made his debut for The Herons against Cruz Azul back on 21 July.

Fast forward a month-and-a-bit and we can confidently say Messi has had the impact David Beckham and the Mas brothers dreamt he would have at DRV PNK Stadium. The Florida side remain bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference and the overall standings having not played a game in the league for over a month, but a record of five victories and two draws (ending in penalty shootout wins) has seen them get their hands on silverware for the first time.

Inter Miami can win second trophy in quick succession

Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Co will have to wait a little while longer to improve their league position, however, as next up for Inter Miami is yet another cup competition - the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Herons could win a second trophy in quick succession, with FC Cincinnati standing in their way in Wednesday’s semi-final, followed by a potential final against either Houston Dynamo or Real Salt Lake.

But let’s rewind a little and take a look at how the competition works, with interest in it undoubtedly heightened by Messi’s participation.

Who was Lamar Hunt?

Lamar Hunt was an American businessman who was best known for promoting a number of sports in the United States, including American football, tennis and, of course, soccer.

Hunt was the main founder of Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as its predecessor, the North American Soccer League (NASL). He also set up the American Football League (AFL), which merged with the NFL in 1970, and co-founded World Championship Tennis (WCT), a tour for male players which ran from 1968 to 1990 (when the current ATP Tour began).

At the time of his death in 2006, he was the owner of MLS sides FC Dallas, Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City) and Columbus Crew, along with NFL team Kansas City Chiefs.

As a result of his constant promotion of the three sports, Hunt was inducted into the Pro Football, National Soccer and International Tennis Halls of Fame. The US Open Cup, the oldest soccer tournament in the United States, bears his name in honour of the role he played in developing the sport stateside.

What is the current format of the US Open Cup?

The 2023 US Open Cup is the 108th edition of the tournament, which began in 1913-14. That means there have inevitably been different formats at different periods of its existence. In its current guise, the competition is fairly simple, with all ties played over one match at the home of one of the two teams involved.

Which teams participate in the US Open Cup?

72 of the 99 entrants into this year’s US Open Cup were professional clubs, which is a modern-era record. There are a total of eight rounds up to the final, with different teams entering at different stages:

This year, 99 teams entered rather than 100 because of the dissolution of MLS Next Pro team Rochester New York in March, just before the First round was played.

When did the 2023 US Open Cup begin? When is the final?

The tournament began on Tuesday 21 March, with almost all of the games played in midweek on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Both semi-finals will be held on Wednesday 23 August, with the final scheduled for Wednesday 27 September.

Who hosts matches in the US Open Cup? Where is the final?

A draw for each round decides which team will act as host in each tie, while the final is not held at a neutral venue. Instead, hosting priority for the final has already been decided, with Real Salt Lake given first priority, followed by Inter Miami and then FC Cincinnati. If Houston Dynamo qualify, they already know they will be playing away from home.

What happens if a match ends in a tie?

Unlike in the Leagues Cup, matches that end in a tie after 90 minutes go to 30 minutes of extra time (two halves of 15 minutes), followed by a penalty shootout if the teams are still level.

Which team has won the most US Open Cups?

Orlando City are the defending champions, having won the tournament for the first time ever in 2022. However, they were eliminated in the Round of 32 by Charlotte FC.

The two teams who have won the US Open Cup most often no longer exist. Bethlehem Steel won it on five occasions between 1915 and 1926, when it was called the National Challenge Cup. Maccabee Los Angeles then repeated that feat between 1973 and 1981.

The last 21 US Open Cups have been won by MLS teams: Chicago Fire, Sporting Kansas City and Seattle Sounders all have four victories to their name.

When are the 2023 US Open Cup semi-finals?

First up on Wednesday (23 August) is FC Cincinnati vs Inter Miami at TQL Stadium, which kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET.

The second semi-final will see Houston Dynamo face Real Salt Lake at Shell Energy Stadium, with the game starting at 9:30 p.m. ET, also on Wednesday.