All MLS clubs will drop into the 2027 U.S. Open Cup in July, kicking off at the Round of 64, with the championship slated for December. Sources say the new format respects the Leagues Cup calendar and avoids clashes.
Recent years have seen the tournament get a boost, notably the prize pool swelling to $1 million in 2025. CBS secured the broadcast rights for the 2025‑26 editions.
For the first time since 2023, every eligible MLS side will compete in the historic cup that traces back to the 1913‑14 season. The league sparked controversy when it withdrew in December 2023, barely weeks after Lionel Messi’s arrival and Inter Miami’s loss in the final, with Messi sidelined by injury.
Backheeled broke the story.
MLS said congestion forced its pull‑out, yet the move coincided with the launch of the commercially‑driven Leagues Cup between MLS and Liga MX. The league also cedes control of broadcast, marketing and standards to U.S. Soccer, which can claim up to half the gate receipts for semifinals and the final. In my view, the league sacrificed influence for short‑term cash.
At a May 2023 U.S. Soccer board meeting, commissioner Don Garber dismissed the Open Cup as “a very poor reflection of what we’re trying to achieve at the highest level.”
The exit opened a path for MLS Next Pro clubs to step onto the national stage. The third‑division league, launched by MLS, has been hungry for tougher opposition, and the vacancies gave its teams a chance.
The backlash forced U.S. Soccer to bend its Professional League Standards, eventually permitting MLS to field only a subset of clubs. The league entered eight teams in 2024 and will expand to 16 in both 2025 and 2026. Will the full‑team rollout in 2027 revive fan enthusiasm for the cup?