.png)
Let’s be real for a second. The US Open Cup 2024 shouldn’t have worked. By all accounts, it was supposed to be the year the oldest soccer tournament in the United States—a competition that’s survived World Wars, the Great Depression, and the collapse of multiple professional leagues—finally hit the wall.
It started with a massive power struggle. Major League Soccer (MLS) essentially tried to pull the plug, citing "congested schedules" and the rise of the Leagues Cup. They wanted to send their developmental MLS Next Pro teams instead of the big stars. Fans were furious. Lower-league clubs felt betrayed. For a few weeks in late 2023 and early 2024, nobody actually knew if the tournament would exist.
✨ Don't miss: UT Kentucky Football Game: Why the 2025 Border Battle Felt Different
But it did.
Eventually, a compromise was struck. It wasn't perfect, but it kept the dream of "the cups" alive. Only eight MLS teams participated—the defending champs Houston Dynamo and seven others who weren't in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The rest of the field was filled by the USL Championship, USL League One, NISA, and the gritty amateurs who make this tournament special. What followed was a 109th edition that felt more like a "us against the world" statement than a standard trophy hunt.
The Format That Confused Everyone
Because of the MLS drama, the structure of the US Open Cup 2024 looked like a patchwork quilt. It wasn’t the usual "everyone joins at once" vibe.
Instead, we had this staggered entry system. The first round was a pure celebration of the grassroots. You had teams like El Farolito—a legendary amateur side from San Francisco named after a burrito shop—taking down professional squads. That’s the magic. Where else does a guy who worked a 9-to-5 shift on Tuesday go out and slide-tackle a guy making six figures on Wednesday?
The USL Championship teams, like Louisville City and Sacramento Republic, basically became the protagonists of the story. With most of the MLS heavyweights sitting at home, the door was blown wide open. It felt like the tournament had returned to its roots, even if the reason for it was a corporate standoff.
Why the "Big Teams" Staying Away Actually Helped
There is a weird irony here. By MLS limiting its participation, the US Open Cup 2024 actually got more eyeballs from hardcore soccer fans who were tired of the "sanitized" version of the sport. Every game felt like a protest. Supporters' groups across the country held up banners. They wore "Save the Cup" patches.
Suddenly, a mid-week game between a USL side and a developmental MLS squad had stakes. It wasn't just about the score; it was about proving that the open pyramid matters.
LAFC and the Path to the Final
While the tournament was built on the backs of the underdogs, the quality at the top remained undeniable. Los Angeles FC (LAFC) didn't treat this like a secondary thought. They saw a trophy, and they went for it.
Their road wasn't exactly a cakewalk. They had to navigate a tricky semifinal against Seattle Sounders, a team that historically owns this competition. That game at Starfire Sports Complex was peak Open Cup. Tight pitch. Rain. Hostile atmosphere. Denis Bouanga, who is arguably too good for any defense in this hemisphere, proved to be the difference-maker.
✨ Don't miss: How Old Is Mia Hamm? Why the Soccer Icon Still Dominates the Conversation
On the other side of the bracket, Sporting Kansas City was quietly putting together a vintage run. They’ve won this thing four times. Peter Vermes, their manager, treats the Open Cup with a level of reverence that you just don't see everywhere else. He knows that in a year where his team struggled in the MLS regular season, the US Open Cup 2024 was the lifeline for their entire campaign.
The Final at BMO Stadium
The final on September 25, 2024, was a collision of two very different philosophies. You had LAFC, the "Black and Gold" Hollywood powerhouse, and Sporting KC, the gritty, established Midwestern stalwarts.
It went to extra time. Of course it did.
When Omar Campos and Kei Kamara (the ageless wonder himself) found the net in the 30-minute extension, the atmosphere in Los Angeles shifted from nervous to celebratory. LAFC won 3-1. It was their first Open Cup title. For a club that has won MLS Cups and Supporters' Shields, this trophy felt different because of the context of the year. They didn't just win a tournament; they conquered the chaos of the 2024 season.
Lessons from the Grassroots
If you only watched the final, you missed the best parts of the US Open Cup 2024.
I’m talking about New Mexico United’s deep run. I’m talking about Indy Eleven knocking off Atlanta United in a game that felt like a seismic shift in the North American soccer landscape. When Indy’s Augustine Williams scored, you could feel the shockwaves. That's a USL team beating a billion-dollar MLS brand.
- The El Farolito Run: They made it to the Round of 32. An amateur team. Think about that.
- The Attendance Factor: Despite the lack of "big" MLS names, stadiums in Omaha, Des Moines, and Charleston were packed.
- The Broadcast Shift: Moving the games to Apple TV and US Soccer's own platforms made it more accessible than the weird YouTube streams of years past.
Honestly, the 2024 edition proved that the "Open" part of the name is what people actually care about. If you take away the chance for the small guy to punch the big guy in the mouth, you're just watching another corporate league.
What This Means for 2025 and Beyond
The fallout of the US Open Cup 2024 is still being felt in the boardrooms of US Soccer. The "hybrid" model of 2024 was a band-aid. It wasn't a permanent solution.
There is a massive debate happening right now about the 2025 edition. Fans are demanding a full return of all MLS teams. The USSF (United States Soccer Federation) is under pressure to mandate participation. But the 2024 tournament gave the USL a lot of leverage. They showed they can carry the broadcast numbers and provide the drama without needing every single MLS superstar on the pitch.
The biggest takeaway? The tournament is harder to kill than people thought.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Clubs
If you're a fan of the American game, there are three things you should actually do based on what we learned in 2024:
📖 Related: Jamaica Run Golf Course Ohio: Why Locals Still Love This Germantown Gem
- Support Your Local "Lower League" Side: The Open Cup survives because of ticket sales at the USL and NISA levels. If you want the cup to stay "Open," show up to the early rounds in March and April.
- Watch the Qualifying Rounds: The tournament actually starts months before the "Round of 32." The local qualifying rounds are where the real stories are born.
- Pressure Your MLS Club: If you support an MLS team that didn't play in 2024, let them know. Supporters' groups have more power than they realize when it comes to competition entry.
The US Open Cup 2024 was a messy, beautiful, disorganized, and thrilling reminder that soccer in this country isn't just about what happens in the big stadiums—it’s about the fact that anyone, from anywhere, has a shot at glory. It survived the 2024 crisis. Now, it's about making sure it thrives in 2025.