What is the US Open Cup? Name, history, champions of oldest domestic soccer tournament in United States

Kyle Bonn

What is the US Open Cup? Name, history, champions of oldest domestic soccer tournament in United States image

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami fell short for another trophy, as the injured superstar looked on from the sidelines while the Houston Dynamo celebrated the 2023 title.

After winning the Leagues Cup weeks prior, Messi was powerless to help his side as Inter Miami were completely dominated in the final, with the Dynamo deservingly hoisting the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, the top knockout soccer competition in the United States.

Houston Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen won the competition for a second time, 10 years after he led D.C. United to the title in 2013.

The Sporting News brings you everything about the history, games, name, and more with the U.S. Open Cup now stepping into the limelight.

MORE: All the fixtures and results from the 2023 U.S. Open Cup with Inter Miami in the final

What is the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup?

Having concluded its 108th year of existence with the 2023 competition, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States, and furthermore, the oldest major trophy in U.S. professional sports.

The U.S. Open Cup is currently the top knockout soccer competition in the country, much like the FA Cup in England or the Copa del Rey in Spain.

In its current format, clubs from all professional leagues in the United States are eligible to participate. Those leagues include Major League Soccer (MLS), USL Championship, USL League One, National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the United States Adult Soccer Association (USAAA), and US Club Soccer. At least 80 clubs have participated since 2014, and in 2023, 99 teams were involved.

First held in 1914, it was originally dubbed the "National Challenge Cup" and kept that name until 1999. That year, the competition was renamed to its current iteration, which honors former NASL and MLS executive Lamar Hunt, who was the principal founder of both leagues and is credited with ushering U.S. club soccer into the modern age.

MORE: How many goals has Lionel Messi scored with Inter Miami?

US Open Cup champions all-time

No team has won more than five U.S. Open Cup championships in the competition's history, which spans over 100 years, proving the parity across soccer in the United States over the years.

Of the two clubs with five titles, neither remains in existence. Bethlehem Steel FC dissolved in 1930 after 23 years of play (not to be confused with the USL club founded in 2015, which is now Philadelphia Union II), while Maccabee Athletic Club only played from 1971-1982.

Amongst Major League Soccer clubs, which currently make up the top flight of the American soccer hierarchy, three are tied for the most U.S. Open Cup titles: Chicago Fire, Seattle Sounders, and Sporting KC have all won four.

Eleven MLS clubs have won U.S. Open Cup titles, meaning there are 19 top-flight sides currently in existence that have never won the competition.

Clubs with U.S. Open Cup titles all-time

5 titles: Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee Los Angeles.

4 titles: Chicago Fire, Seattle Sounders, Sporting KC, Fall River FC, Greek American AA, Philadelphia Ukrainians.

3 titles: DC United, NY Pancyprian-Freedoms.

2 titles: FC Dallas, LA Galaxy, Brooklyn Hispano, Brooklyn Italians, Elizabeth SC, Greek-American AC, Harmarville Hurricanes, Houston Dynamo, LA Kickers, NY Americans, St. Louis Kutis, St. Louis Simpkins-Ford, Chicago Sparta, Stix Baer and Fuller FC.

1 title*: Atlanta United, Columbus Crew, New England Revolution, Orlando City SC, AAC Eagles, El Farolito, New York Hota Bavarian FC, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Rhinos, San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, San Jose Oaks, St. Petersburg Kickers.

*Due to the huge list of now-defunct clubs who won this competition in its early days, this list only reflects teams currently in operation in the present-day U.S. Soccer setup, as well as some select historically significant clubs no longer in existence.

U.S. Open Cup champions since 2000

The last lower-league team to win a U.S. Open Cup came in 1999 when the now-defunct Rochester Rhinos defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in that year's final.

Year Champion Final Runner Up
2023 Houston Dynamo 2-1 Inter Miami
2022 Orlando City  3-0 Sacramento Republic
2019 Atlanta United 2-1 Minnesota United
2018 Houston Dynamo 3-0 Philadelphia Union
2017 Sporting KC 2-1 NY Red Bulls
2016 FC Dallas 4-2 New England Revolution
2015 Sporting KC 1-1** Philadelphia Union
2014 Seattle Sounders 3-1* Philadelphia Union
2013 DC United 1-0 Real Salt Lake
2012 Sporting KC 1-1** Seattle Sounders
2011 Seattle Sounders 2-0 Chicago Fire
2010 Seattle Sounders 2-1 Columbus Crew
2009 Seattle Sounders 2-1 DC United
2008 DC United 2-1 Charleston Battery
2007 New England Revolution 3-2 FC Dallas
2006 Chicago Fire 3-1 LA Galaxy
2005 LA Galaxy 1-0 FC Dallas
2004 KC Wizards 1-0* Chicago Fire
2003 Chicago Fire 1-0 NY MetroStars
2002 Columbus Crew 1-0 LA Galaxy
2001 LA Galaxy 2-1* New England Revolution
2000 Chicago Fire 2-1 Miami Fusion

* Final went to extra-time
** Final was decided via penalty shootout

The U.S. Open Cup was not held during the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023 US Open Cup

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami fell short of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup title, with the Houston Dynamo winning their second Cup title in club history.

MLS Clubs enter the competition by the Round of 16, and thus, below is the 2023 bracket from that stage on through the final of the U.S. Open Cup. Lower league clubs are listed in italics.

Final

Date Time (ET) Fixture  
Wed, Sep. 27 8:30 p.m. Inter Miami 1-2 Houston Dynamo HIGHLIGHTS

Semifinals

Date Fixture  
Wed, Aug. 23 FC Cincinnati 3-3 Inter Miami*
(Inter Miami advance 5-4 on pens)
HIGHLIGHTS
Wed, Aug. 23 Houston Dynamo 3-1 Real Salt Lake
(a.e.t.)
HIGHLIGHTS

Quarterfinals

Date Time (ET) Fixture
Tue, Jun. 6 7 p.m. FC Cincinnati 3-1 Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Tue, Jun. 6 8:30 p.m. Chicago Fire 1-4 Houston Dynamo
Wed, Jun. 7 8 p.m. Birmingham Legion 0-1 Inter Miami
Wed, Jun. 7 9:30 p.m. Real Salt Lake 3-2 LA Galaxy

Round of 16

Date Time (ET) Fixture
Tue, May 23 7:30 p.m. Inter Miami 2-1 Nashville SC
Tue, May 23 7:30 p.m. NY Red Bulls 1-1 FC Cincinnati*
Tue, May 23 8:30 p.m. Houston Dynamo 4-0 Minnesota United
Tue, May 23 10:30 p.m. LAFC 0-2 LA Galaxy
Wed, May 24 7 p.m. Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1-0 Columbus Crew
Wed, May 24 7 p.m. Birmingham Legion 1-0 Charlotte FC
Wed, May 24 9 p.m. Austin FC 0-2 Chicago Fire
Wed, May 24 10 p.m. Colorado Rapids 0-1 Real Salt Lake

* Team advanced via penalty shootout

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.