ST PETERSBURG, Fla – (March 29, 2021) The United Soccer League announced on Monday the Tampa Bay Rowdies are set as one of the five teams to represent the league in the 107th edition of the U.S. Open Cup this year.
A recent vote from the USL Championship’s Board of Governors determined the four clubs who reached the Western and Eastern Conference Championship matches in 2020 would be the league’s representatives in Open Cup play. That includes the Rowdies, Louisville City FC, Phoenix Rising FC, and El Paso Locomotive FC. USL League One’s Board of Governors decided that league’s 2020 title winner Greenville Triumph FC would receive its slot in the competition.
Last week, U.S. Soccer’s Open Cup Cup Committee elected to cancel the Opening Round of the tournament that was previously scheduled for May 4-5, citing the challenges still in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic given the competition is played across the country involving clubs from multiple professional and amateur divisions and leagues.
The cancellation means the tournament is set to feature 16 teams which will play four rounds of single elimination to determine which team will win this year’s Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup title. A tentative draw for the Round of 16 is set for April 7, and the Committee will next review matters by April 19 to confirm whether the Open Cup can commence with the Round of 16 on May 18-19 for its 107th edition. All matches from the Round of 16 through to the Final will be shown live on ESPN+.
2021 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Competition Schedule:
April 7: Draw held to determine Open Division participants into Round of 16
April 19: Date for confirming Round of 16
May 3: Date for determining MLS participants into Round of 16
May 4: Round of 16/Quarterfinal Draw
May 18-19: Round of 16 (8 D-I teams vs. 4 D-II, 2 D-III, 2 Open Division clubs)
May 25-26: Quarterfinal Round
June 15-16: Semifinal Round
June 29 or 30: Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final
