Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Rules & Brackets Explained Ahead of Lionel Messi & Inter Miami’s Final

The final of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is just around the corner. Inter Miami will face 1x US Open Cup champion Houston Dynamo in the final. Soccer enthusiasts are eager to witness Lionel Messi’s performance with the aspiration of seeing the World Cup champion secure the victory. This Cup competition is the oldest soccer tournament in the USA, dating back to 2014. Teams battle out against each other for supremacy. Like all tournaments, there are specific rules and regulations each franchise should comply with. 

Orlando City won the 2022 US Open Cup. Therefore, this year’s tournament follows each rule set by the organizers when the competition starts. So, what are they?

Rules and regulations of the US Open Cup

The 108th edition of the competition saw 99 teams battling it out to make the final. Even clubs from the US Professional and semi-professional ranks went against each other. The first round commenced on March 21-23. The MLS teams will enter in the third round, and the rest start from the Fourth Round/Round of 32. Meanwhile, the remaining teams to enter the round of 32 are from the four clubs participating in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League. They are New York City FC, Colorado Rapids, Seattle Sounders, and the New England Revolution.  

The Eastern and Western Conference performances select the rest of the four. It encourages the lower-ranked teams to make the round of 32. Due to this, a draw will be held according to the regions for the Third Round. Now, the round of 32 will have eight MLS teams. They divide the MLS teams into eight groups to not face each other. The round of 16 goes through knockout rounds with normal proceedings to continue. Apart from that, there is also a hosting fee. 

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For a match involving the MLS teams, they will add a $6000 hosting fee to the traditional 15% take over $100,000 matchday revenue. Commonly, the teams don’t go over the $100,000 ticket revenue. So the teams pay just the $6000 hosting fee. 

Prices for hosting matches!

When the teams reach the round of 32, the hosting fee amounts to $12,000, while they will have a hosting fee of $18,000. The cost increases with the quarterfinals having a fee of $25,000 and $50,000 for the semi-final. And the final goes for $250,000 when a team reaches that stage. In the semi-finals, 50% of the matchday income will go to US Soccer if it goes over $100,000 and 50% of $300,000 in the final.

Out of the other changes, the teams would need to arrive 90 minutes before kick-off at the venue. The US Open Cup remains one of the oldest club cup competitions on the planet. With Messi fighting for another trophy, fans cannot wait for the spectacle to begin. Who do you think will win the US Open Cup?

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