The largest field of teams and a significant increase in prize money highlight the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which kicks off May 7.
The tournament is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. It was first held in 1913-14, when it was called the National Challenge Cup.
Sporting Kansas City is the defending Open Cup champions, having beaten the Seattle Sounders FC on penalty kicks.
The 2013 tournament features 68 teams, and increase from the 64 that competed last year, marking the largest field in the modern era (1995-present). This year also marks the second-consecutive year in which all U.S. based Division I, II and III teams will participate in the tournament proper.
That means 16 from Major League Soccer, six from the North American Soccer League and 12 from USL PRO.
The amount of prize money distributed will also see a substantial increase with the overall champion earning a total of $250,000 (up from $100,000 in recent years). The tournament runnerup gets an increase of $10,000 to $60,000 and the team that advances the furthest from each lower division will receive $15,000 (up from $10,000).
Another significant change for 2013 is the process for determining the site for the Open Cup tournament semifinals and championship game. In the past, the sites for the final three matches of the tournament had been determined through a sealed-bid process, but this year the hosts of those games will be determined by a coin flip.
The tournament had received some criticism for the sealed bid process, which resulted in D.C. United hosting 11 straight matches, including two finals from 2008-2010. The Seattle Sounders FC hosted 11 of 14 matches in its three championship seasons from 2009-2011.
Home teams throughout the entire tournament will be determined by random selection.
Beyond the Division I, II, and III teams, the remaining 34 spots will be filled by amateur teams from the Adult Council category. There will be 16 from the USL Premier Development League, eight from U.S. Adult Soccer Association regional qualifying, eight from the National Premier Soccer League, one from US Club Soccer and one from the United States Specialty Sports Association.
The tournament starts on May 7 with the Play-In Round. The tournament will conclude with the championship game, scheduled for either Oct. 1 or 2.
The intrigue of the U.S. Open Cup comes from the opportunity for lower level teams to competed in one-and-done games against higher division team, and the chance to win those games.
Last year the Cinderella story was Cal FC, coached by former U.S. MNT forward Eric Wynalda, which reached the fourth round of the tournament, knocking out three professional teams, including the upset of Major League Soccer’s Portland Timbers. They were beaten in the fourth round by the defending three-time champion Seattle Sounders.
The Milwaukee Bucks were the last standing PDL team in 2012, also reaching the fourth round.
The Richmond Kickers, from what was then the USISL Premier League, won the 1995 US Open Cup. The Kickers won a 4-2 penalty kick shootout after a 1-1 tie after extra time against the El Paso Patriots.
Since then, MLS teams have won 16 of 17 tournaments. The last non-MLS team to win was the Rochester raging Rhinos in 1999.