The most important thing to know about the U.S. Open Cup competition that LAFC is participating in is that there’s a trophy on the line—a historic one.
LAFC’s GM and Co-President, John Thorrington, says it often, including this preseason – This club tries to win every competition. Forward Nathan Ordaz reiterated it earlier this season when asked about the U.S. Open Cup: “We’re always trying to win whatever we’re in. Not being in Champions League this season will make us push for every single trophy even more.”
So what is the U.S. Open Cup? LAFC is taking part, for the fifth time, in the oldest national soccer competition in the U.S., and the third-oldest in the world.
First played in 1913-14 (when it was known as the National Challenge Cup), the U.S. Open Cup was founded earlier than the NHL (1917), the NFL (1920), and the NBA (1946).
The annual competition is open to professional and amateur clubs in the United States. In this 109th edition of the tournament, lower division pro and amateur teams battle it out to advance to the Round of 32, which is when MLS teams like LAFC get involved. U.S. Open Cup matches are interspersed among the MLS regular-season games played by LAFC and other leagues’ participants.
PRIORITIES
When LAFC played in the U.S. Open Cup in 2023, the Black & Gold was making its way to the Concacaf Champions League final – the title game of most prestigious competition in this part of the world. As such, LAFC started mostly second-team players from LAFC2 in its Round-of-32 win over Monterey Bay in May 2023—a thrilling match that LAFC’s young lineup won on penalties.
That same young LAFC side fell 2-0 to the Galaxy in the next round, bowing out of the single-elimination tournament while keeping its first-choice players rested and healthy for the demanding Champions League schedule.
This year, LAFC’s focus is different. It intends to pursue the Open Cup more vigorously. After all, the winner will be granted a berth in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup (previously known as Champions League).
5 WINS TO THE TROPHY
LAFC started its 2024 Open Cup journey with a 3-1 win on the road against former affiliate team, the Las Vegas Lights of the USL Championship (Division II). Coincidentally, that result was also the first win in the Black & Gold's current club-record unbeaten streak, which stands at 12 across all competitions as of Monday, July 8.
Next up was a Round of 16 showdown versus Loudoun United (who also play in the USLC). The Black & Gold took care of business with a 3-0 home win against the D.C.-area club back on May 21.
Now in the Quarterfinal round, LAFC will face a third straight USLC squad, but in New Mexico United, the Black & Gold face one of the best Div. II teams in the country as the boys from the Land of Enchantment sit in first place in the USL Championship Western Conference. Should LAFC advance to the Semifinals, they will travel to meet the winner of the other Western Quarterfinal between Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) and Seattle Sounders (MLS).
2024 U.S. OPEN CUP SCHEDULE:
- 3-1 W @ Las Vegas Lights (USLC) - Round of 32
- 3-0 W vs. Loudoun United (USLC) - Round of 16
- 3-1 W LAFC vs. New Mexico United (USLC) - Quarterfinals
- Aug. 27-28 @ Seattle Sounders FC - Semifinals
- Sept. 25 - U.S. Open Cup Final
LAFC AND USOC
LAFC has a record of 10W-3L-1D over four appearances in the U.S. Open Cup. Its best finish came in 2018 when the Black & Gold made it to the semifinals before falling to the eventual champs, the Houston Dynamo, on penalty kicks. Diego Rossi (currently with the Columbus Crew) had a hat trick for LAFC that day as the Black & Gold fought back from a 3-1 deficit to send the game into 30 minutes of extra time, then the deciding penalty shootout.
PREVIOUS OPEN CUP CHAMPIONS CURRENTLY WITH LAFC
A few members of the Black & Gold have raised the U.S. Open Cup while playing for other clubs:
Ante Razov – LAFC asst. coach
three-time champion with Chicago Fire: 1998, 2000, 2003
John Thorrington – LAFC Co-President & GM
D.C. United: 2013
Ilie Sanchez
Sporting KC: 2017
Ryan Hollingshead
FC Dallas: 2018
Kei Kamara
Sporting KC: 2012
LA CONNECTION
LAFC, Las Vegas, Orange County SC, and Loudoun United were grouped together for the Round of 32 and the Round of 16. The group was named the Mark Division after Sam Mark, the owner of the Fall River Marksmen and the New Bedford Whalers that together won five Open Cups from the mid 1920s to the early '30s.
Mark, a first generation American born to Jewish Ukrainian immigrants, also commissioned the building of one of the first soccer specific stadiums in the United States – Mark's Stadium – in North Tiverton, Rhode Island in 1922. By 1955, Mark had relocated to Los Angeles where he helped form Los Angeles Kickers, one of the city's first professional soccer teams.
LAFC continues its bid for the U.S. Open Cup on Wed., July 10, with a Quarterfinal match against the New Mexico United. Kickoff is scheduled for 8p.m. PT at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. All remaining U.S. Open Cup matches this year will stream for FREE on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Radio coverage will be available on 710 AM ESPN, the ESPN LA App and KFWB 980 AM La Mera Mera.
