The U.S. Open Cup, a single-elimination tournament that has been held every year since 1914, has been criticized by MLS Commissioner Don Garber for its poor reflection of the level of soccer played professionally in America.
The Problem
Garber’s criticism came in response to a presentation by USSF Chief Commercial Officer David Wright, who said that the tournament is “front and center” now that the USSF’s commercial rights are in-house. However, the tournament suffers from a general lack of awareness and some MLS teams do not prioritize it, often fielding reserve sides in the competition’s early rounds. Additionally, the games are hard to find for viewers and are often played on subpar fields.
The Solution
Wright admitted that the USSF does not have all the answers in terms of growing the tournament, but the organization is committed to getting there. To increase the event’s profile, the USSF will be holding a U.S. Open Cup Summit later this summer. Garber and Wright both agreed that the tournament needs to improve and Garber expressed interest in participating in the effort to do so.
Despite the criticism, the current edition of the U.S. Open Cup is still underway, with 24 of the 26 eligible MLS teams still in contention. The winner will earn $300,000 in prize money and a berth in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League.
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