MLS to field all 27 US-based teams in 2025 US Open Cup
Major League Soccer will feature all 27 of its US-based teams in the 2025 US Open Cup, according to a report from Backheeled. This move signals a return to full league participation in the nation's oldest soccer competition after a three-year period with limited representation.
The decision reverses a prior MLS policy that restricted the number of its clubs entering the tournament. Since 2024, the league had opted to send only a portion of its teams, along with reserve squads, into the competition.
Shifting Participation and League Concerns
Beginning in 2024, MLS initially limited its involvement, and for 2025 and 2026, entered 16 of its 30 teams, prioritizing those not participating in the Leagues Cup or Concacaf Champions Cup. This followed a rejected 2023 proposal by MLS to field only its MLS Next Pro reserve teams in the Open Cup.
League Commissioner Don Garber previously voiced concerns in May 2023 regarding the presentation and professionalism of Open Cup matches. He described the tournament as a "very poor reflection" on the league's aspirations for top-tier soccer, citing issues with venues, broadcast quality, and scheduling congestion, particularly with the expanded Leagues Cup.
The US Soccer Federation, which oversees the Open Cup, rejected the league's initial plan to send only reserve teams. A subsequent agreement saw eight MLS teams enter the 2024 competition.
Controversy and Future Outlook
MLS's decision to withdraw most of its teams from the Open Cup previously ignited significant controversy, with criticism that has not entirely subsided. The Open Cup, a single-elimination tournament, has run continuously since 1914, with only two editions missed due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The competition traditionally includes teams from all levels of the soccer system, with MLS clubs typically entering in later stages.
Nashville SC notably won the 2025 US Open Cup, defeating Austin FC in the final. The league's full return for 2025 will align with its planned shift to a fall-to-spring schedule beginning in late 2027, a transition that will require further integration with the tournament's existing format.
Reporting: The Guardian