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MLS reportedly plans to enter all 27 US-based clubs in next year's US Open Cup
The reported move would conclude a three-year stretch of restricted participation by top-flight American soccer teams.
The short version
- Major League Soccer reportedly intends to allow all 27 of its US-based franchises to compete in the US Open Cup next year.
- The decision follows three years of limited MLS involvement after the league reduced participation starting in 2023 over scheduling, broadcasting, and venue concerns.
- A major unknown remains how the tournament will integrate with MLS's planned calendar shift to a fall-to-spring format in late 2027.
Key facts
- A report from Backheeled indicates that MLS plans to field all 27 of its US-based teams in the US Open Cup next year.[The Guardian]
- MLS previously limited participation to eight clubs in 2024 and 16 clubs in both 2025 and 2026 following disputes with the US Soccer Federation over scheduling and presentation standards.[The Guardian]
- League commissioner Don Garber had cited fixture congestion from the expanded Leagues Cup, uneven broadcast coverage, and playing at smaller venues as justifications for pulling back first-team participation.[The Guardian]
- Four MLS clubs—St. Louis City, the Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, and Orlando City—comprise the semi-finalists for the 2026 US Open Cup scheduled for September 16.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unannounced how full US Open Cup participation will align with MLS's planned transition to a fall-to-spring season schedule in late 2027.[The Guardian]
Sources
- MLS reportedly will return all 27 US-based teams to the US Open CupThe Guardian - US