History of the U.S. Open Cup
Encyclopedia
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
is an American soccer competition open to all United States Soccer Federation
affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League Soccer
. The following is the history of the U.S. Open Cup tournament.
Before the creation of the United States Soccer Federation
, soccer in the United States was organized on regional levels, with no governing body overlooking regional soccer leagues. The first non-league organizing body within the United States was the American Football Association
(AFA) which was incarnated in 1884. The AFA sought to standardize rules for teams competing in northern New Jersey
and southern New York
. Within two years, this region began to widen to include teams in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
Within a year of its founding, the AFA organized the first non-league cup in U.S. soccer history, known as the American Cup
. Clubs from New Jersey and Massachusetts dominated the first twelve years. It would not be until 1897 that a club from outside those two states won the American Cup
. Philadelphia Manz brought the title to Pennsylvania for the first time. Due to internal conflicts within the AFA, the cup was suspended in 1899, and it was not resumed until 1906. The conflicts within the AFA led to a movement to create a truly national body to oversee American soccer. Drawing on both its position as the oldest soccer organization and the status of the American Cup, the AFA argued that it should be the nationally recognized body.
In October 1911, a competing body, the American Amateur Football Association (AAFA) was created. The association quickly spread outside of the Northeast
and created its own cup in 1912, the American Amateur Football Association Cup
. That year, both the AFA and AAFA applied for membership in FIFA
, the international governing body for soccer. In 1913, the AAFA gained an edge over the AFA when several AFA organizations moved to the AAFA. On April 5, 1913, the AAFA reorganized as the United States Football Association, presently known as the United States Soccer Federation
. FIFA quickly granted a provisional membership and USFA began exerting its influence on the sport. This led to the establishment of the National Challenge Cup that fall. The National Challenge Cup quickly grew to overshadow the American Cup. However, both cups were played simultaneously for the next ten years. Declining respect for the AFA led to the withdrawal of several associations from its cup in 1917. Further competition came in 1924 when USFA created the National Amateur Cup
. That spelled the death knell for the American Cup. It played its last season in 1924.
The actual tournament began play following FIFA sanctioning of the American Amateur Football Association (AAFA), which rebranded as United States Football Association (USFA). Following the provisional sanctioning of FIFA in 1913, USFA quickly attempted to earn full sanctioning with the creation of an official national cup competition, which was called the National Challenge Cup, the roots of the modern day Open Cup. In 1914, the USFA overlooked the inaugural National Challenge Cup
. In the first final, the Brooklyn Field Club
of Brooklyn, New York took on cross-borough rival Brooklyn Celtic. Played at Coates Field in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
, Field Club defeated Celtic 2-1 thanks to goals from Field Club's Adamson and Ford. In the first ever final, nearly 10,000 fans piled into Coates to watch the match.
or the New England
-corridor make it to the finals, in which the clubs played in local regional leagues. However, with the creation of the American Soccer League
, the competition became dominated by these ASL clubs, as well as clubs that played in the St. Louis Soccer League
(STLSL).
One of the first STLSL clubs to break through the domestic cup competition was Scullin Steel
, who won the 1922 National Challenge Cup
. While Scullins found success in the tournament, ASL clubs typically had more luck in the competition as ASL titans such as Bethlehem Steel
, Fall River Marksmen
and Paterson F.C.
The competition dates back to 1914, when it was known as the National Challenge Cup. In 1999, U.S. Soccer honored one of American soccer's most important patrons, Lamar Hunt, by changing the official title of the tournament to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The winners of the tournament were awarded the Dewar Cup, donated by Sir Thomas Dewar for the promotion of soccer in America in 1912, until it was retired due to poor condition in 1979. It was brought back into use by the United States Adult Soccer Association in 1997, but is now back on permanent display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York, and the recent winners of the tournament have been awarded a new, different trophy. Despite this, the name of each winning club is still added to the base of the original Dewar Cup.
The initial issue with the ASL had been the scheduling of the National Challenge Cup, which had been straining for the ASL season schedule. Typically, the National Challenge Cup had been played during the ASL's offseason, which made it difficult for ASL clubs to compete in the tournament. Consequently, the ASL boycotted the 1925 Challenge Cup
due to scheduling conflicts, and the lack of cooperation the USFA inflicted on the ASL. American soccer historians claim that the real issue was the ASL vying to be the premier soccer body in the United States.
In 1927, the issue intensified as ASL clubs were accused by FIFA for signing European players who were already under contract to European clubs. Due to the conflict and apparent corruption in the ASL, then USFA president, Andrew M. Brown
traveled to Helsinki
, Finland
for the 1927 FIFA Congress
in the hopes of removing any penalizations imposed on the ASL and USFA. Other issues regarding the soccer league involved the closed league model and the lack of American soccer players dominating the league. It resulted in ASL owners wanting to run their soccer clubs more like Major League Baseball
teams, as many ASL owners owned MLB franchises. According to owners of ASL clubs, they saw these rulings as restrictions imposed on themselves, including the National Challenge Cup.
With the hope of breaking away from the National Challenge Cup, Charles Stoneham
, an owner of the New York Nationals
proposed that the ASL would create their own tournament to determine the champion of the ASL, and thus ultimately determine the top American soccer club. This was the creation of early forms of playoffs culminating a regular season. Additionally, the proposal included expanding into the Midwest to include clubs from the Ohio River Valley and St. Louis regions, and create a new division for these clubs. Stoneham's plan involved having the two divisions compete in their own season, and the top clubs in each division playing in the ASL tournament to determine the ASL champion. Before the proposal, the National Challenge Cup was seen as the ultimate title in American soccer since most professional leagues in the United States focused on a specific region, rather than encompassing the entire country as a whole.
, the New York Giants S.C.
and the Newark Skeeters
, rejected the proposal, played in the 1928 National Challenge Cup
and were subsequently suspended from the league and fined $1,000. Hence the ASL's decision, the USFA suspended the ASL which ignited the "Soccer Wars". In the 1928–29 American Soccer League, the Steel, Giants and Skeeters did not play in the ASL and joined local semi-professional leagues agglommerating to form the Eastern Professional Soccer League.
Support for the USFA from other national federations, along with financial disadvantages the ASL faced as an unsanctioned league, eventually convinced the ASL that it could not win this "soccer war" and should yield. The "war" between the USFA and ASL was finally settled in early October 1929. During that time the ASL had already begun its 1929-30 season, halted during the settlement. Thanks to the settlement, the ASL was reassembled, and played the remainder of the 1929–30 year under the moniker "Atlantic Coast League".
. The abrupt and intense economic impact drastically affected the ASL in the league's Spring 1930 season
, in which several clubs defaulted during the season, and clubs did not finish the season with the same amount of matches played. Initially, the struggles in ASL did not affect the league's stronger clubs, as the Fall River Marksmen
completed the double
by winning both the 1930 season and the 1930 National Challenge Cup
.
As the Great Depression
intensified, the original ASL folded following the Fall 1932
season, which was its 15th season in existence. At the apex of the Depression, several surviving clubs created an incarnation of the ASL which began play in 1933, but the stringent economy lessened the ability of ASL teams to field strong teams, and thereby lacked the financial means nor interest to attract foreign players. This consequently caused a dark age of soccer in which the sport as well as the National Challenge Cup fell out of popularity and into obscurity.
In spite of the decline in the sport's popularity, several pockets of the country, primarily the Heartland
and New England
regions, as well as the New York City
and St. Louis metropolitan areas, continued to see excessive popularity of the sport, specifically with ethnic groups and expatriates. The popularity of soccer in these areas reflected on the Challenge Cup during the later Great Depression years, through the World War II
years. Most clubs participating were either top amateur teams or semi-professional clubs that hoisted a handful of U.S. internationals, who worked part-time jobs.
raged on, the National Challenge Cup continued to hold the annual tournament, in spite of several other European nations putting their domestic cups on hold, most which attributes to the fighting itself taking place overseas. During the early 1940s, the competition was dominated by Northeastern clubs, particularly Brooklyn Hispano
and their cross-town rivals
, Brookhattan
who each made it to the Challenge Cup finals for a combined six times in the 1940s.
In spite of the rise of the North American Soccer League
, NASL clubs declined to participate in the tournament, fearing it would divert interest away from the NASL Playoffs, as well as the perception that playing a mix of minor league clubs and amateur clubs would detract interest.
, Los Angeles
and Philadelphia area. These regions were the only areas that heralded an Open Cup champion from 1959
, until 1976
when San Francisco A.C.
of the San Francisco Bay Area
won the Open Cup.
During the early to mid-1960s, the competition was heavily dominated between the Philadelphia Ukrainians
and their expatriate counterparts, the New York Ukrainians
. To some, this was considered a budding rivalry. The rivalry between Philadelphia and New York did not make its way to the Open Cup Final, because of the Eastern vs. Western bracket set up, in which the final typically included a Mid-Atlantic
or New England
er team, against a team from the Greater Los Angeles
or San Francisco Bay Area
of California. For both the Philadelphia and N.Y. Ukrainians, their domination came to an end with the rise of Cosmopolitan Soccer League
juggernaut, Greek American Atlas
, who won three Open Cup titles consecutively, winning their first tile in 1967
against Orange County
. The club's dynasty in the Open Cup came to end in the 1970 edition of the Open Cup, where they lost to eventual Open Cup runners-up Elizabeth S.C.
in the semifinals.
, who won three domestic titles between 1979
and 1982
, and Maccabi Los Angeles
who made it to the Open Cup finals seven times in nine years, from 1975 to 1984. In fact, the two teams met twice in the Open Cup finals; in 1980
and 1982 with the Pancyprian-Freedoms defeating Maccabi both times.
which featured a mix of amateur and professional teams made it the first time in nearly 45 years that the two levels were integrated into Open Cup play.
The arrival of professional clubs on the scene dwarfed amateur clubs, and consequently, no amateur club has won or been to the Open Cup final in the second professional era. With the arrival of Major League Soccer
in 1996, MLS franchises had the option to participate in the tournament on their terms. However, in 2006, all MLS franchises that were based in the United States had to participate in the tournament propers. Ever since the creation of MLS, an MLS club has won the Open Cup every year except 1999, when the Rochester Rhinos of the A-League
defeated Colorado Rapids. The most successful MLS club in Open Cup play is the Chicago Fire who have accumulated four domestic titles in their existence. The four titles puts the Fire in a six-way tie for the second most Open Cup titles won.
In spite of MLS clubs' success, the competition has long been seen as a second-tier sporting competition for MLS sides, whereas amateur and lower division teams see the chance to play in the Open Cup as the ultimate glory, since the tournament allows teams to compete with MLS clubs and earn a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League
, a right that has been given since 2008.
who has been considered by many to be one of the greatest patrons for the growth and development of professional American soccer. Hunt, who owned three MLS clubs at the time was a key cog in creating MLS and its predecessors, the North American Soccer League
and United Soccer Association
.
The tournament starting in 1999 was known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and has been called that since.
who play their Open Cup matches at Starfire Sports Complex
or D.C. United
who play their games at Maryland SoccerPlex
or George Mason Stadium
.
In spite of the disinterest in the Open Cup, some signs have indicated an upswing in the tournament importance and popularity. Some cite the competitions' long history as a critical factor in driving interest. One instance has involved the 2009
and 2010
finals, which have drawn the sixth largest and largest ever crowds in Open Cup history, respectively. The 2009 final, which featured storied MLS club D.C. United
, saw a crowd of 17,239 attend the Open Cup final at RFK Stadium, making it the second largest Open Cup crowd in the 2000s. The reasoning behind the large crowd has been attributed to the fact that D.C. United's management marketed the Open Cup as a tournament for the team to add an additional trophy to their collection and earn a preliminary berth in the CONCACAF Champions League
. For the Seattle Sounders
, the club played in and hosted the 2010 edition of the final, in front of a crowd of 31,311. The crowd, made it the largest attendance for an Open Cup final in its history, outpacing the second largest crowd by 10,000. The likelihood of such a crowd was considered to be the result of the Sounders' large fan base and desire to defend their 2009 Open Cup title.
Currently, eight teams from each level of the American Soccer Pyramid take part in the competition proper, with each league narrowing its delegation separately in the spring before the competition officially begins in the summer. In some cases, additional teams play in qualifying rounds to gain entry. One example is found with MLS clubs, as only the top six from the previous regular season get an automatic bid, while the bottom U.S.-based MLS teams face each other to qualify for the remaining two MLS slots.
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
is an American soccer competition open to all United States Soccer Federation
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. The following is the history of the U.S. Open Cup tournament.
Pre-Open Cup
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
, soccer in the United States was organized on regional levels, with no governing body overlooking regional soccer leagues. The first non-league organizing body within the United States was the American Football Association
American Football Association
American Football Association was the first attempt in the United States to form an organizing soccer body. It is best known for being the second oldest sports league to form, behind Major League Baseball in 1876, as well as being the oldest soccer league in the United States. The Association was...
(AFA) which was incarnated in 1884. The AFA sought to standardize rules for teams competing in northern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and southern New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Within two years, this region began to widen to include teams in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
Within a year of its founding, the AFA organized the first non-league cup in U.S. soccer history, known as the American Cup
American Cup
The American Cup was the first major U.S. soccer competition open to teams beyond a single league. It was first held in 1885. In the 1910s, it gradually declined in importance with the establishment of the National Challenge Cup...
. Clubs from New Jersey and Massachusetts dominated the first twelve years. It would not be until 1897 that a club from outside those two states won the American Cup
American Cup
The American Cup was the first major U.S. soccer competition open to teams beyond a single league. It was first held in 1885. In the 1910s, it gradually declined in importance with the establishment of the National Challenge Cup...
. Philadelphia Manz brought the title to Pennsylvania for the first time. Due to internal conflicts within the AFA, the cup was suspended in 1899, and it was not resumed until 1906. The conflicts within the AFA led to a movement to create a truly national body to oversee American soccer. Drawing on both its position as the oldest soccer organization and the status of the American Cup, the AFA argued that it should be the nationally recognized body.
In October 1911, a competing body, the American Amateur Football Association (AAFA) was created. The association quickly spread outside of the Northeast
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
and created its own cup in 1912, the American Amateur Football Association Cup
American Amateur Football Association Cup
The American Amateur Football Association Cup was an American soccer competition open to amateur teams affiliated with the American Amateur Football Association . It played only two years, 1912 and 1913 before being superseded by the National Challenge Cup, now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S...
. That year, both the AFA and AAFA applied for membership in FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
, the international governing body for soccer. In 1913, the AAFA gained an edge over the AFA when several AFA organizations moved to the AAFA. On April 5, 1913, the AAFA reorganized as the United States Football Association, presently known as the United States Soccer Federation
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
. FIFA quickly granted a provisional membership and USFA began exerting its influence on the sport. This led to the establishment of the National Challenge Cup that fall. The National Challenge Cup quickly grew to overshadow the American Cup. However, both cups were played simultaneously for the next ten years. Declining respect for the AFA led to the withdrawal of several associations from its cup in 1917. Further competition came in 1924 when USFA created the National Amateur Cup
National Amateur Cup
The National Amateur Cup is an American soccer competition open to all amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation...
. That spelled the death knell for the American Cup. It played its last season in 1924.
National Challenge Cup era
1914 National Challenge Cup
The 1913–14 National Challenge Cup was the first season that the modern-day Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup formed. Brooklyn Field Club won the title.-Open Cup Bracket:Home teams listed on top of bracket replay after tied match...
. In the first final, the Brooklyn Field Club
Brooklyn Field Club
Brooklyn Field Club was a soccer team that existed from 1898 to 1924, one of the few to predate the United States Soccer Federation. The club played in Brooklyn, New York. Between 1909 and 1916 they played in the second National Association Football League , winning the 1913-1914 league title...
of Brooklyn, New York took on cross-borough rival Brooklyn Celtic. Played at Coates Field in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Pawtucket is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 71,148 at the 2010 census. It is the fourth largest city in the state.-History:...
, Field Club defeated Celtic 2-1 thanks to goals from Field Club's Adamson and Ford. In the first ever final, nearly 10,000 fans piled into Coates to watch the match.
First Professional Era
Throughout the latter part of the 1910s, the competition typically saw clubs from New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
or the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
-corridor make it to the finals, in which the clubs played in local regional leagues. However, with the creation of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
, the competition became dominated by these ASL clubs, as well as clubs that played in the St. Louis Soccer League
St. Louis Soccer League
The St. Louis Soccer League was a soccer league based in St. Louis, Missouri, that existed from 1907 to 1938. At its founding, it was the only fully professional soccer league in the United States.-History:...
(STLSL).
One of the first STLSL clubs to break through the domestic cup competition was Scullin Steel
St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C.
St. Louis Scullin Steel was a U.S. soccer team established in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. It spent seven seasons in the St. Louis Soccer League, winning three league titles and one National Challenge Cup.-History:...
, who won the 1922 National Challenge Cup
1922 National Challenge Cup
The 1921–22 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.-History:...
. While Scullins found success in the tournament, ASL clubs typically had more luck in the competition as ASL titans such as Bethlehem Steel
Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel Football Club was one of the most successful early American soccer clubs. Known as the Bethlehem Football Club from 1911 until 1915 when it became the Bethlehem Steel Football Club, the team was sponsored by the Bethlehem Steel corporation and played their home games first at East...
, Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen was a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They originally played as Fall River United before becoming known as the Marksmen after their owner, Sam Mark. During the 1920s and early 1930s they were one of the most successful soccer clubs in the United...
and Paterson F.C.
The competition dates back to 1914, when it was known as the National Challenge Cup. In 1999, U.S. Soccer honored one of American soccer's most important patrons, Lamar Hunt, by changing the official title of the tournament to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The winners of the tournament were awarded the Dewar Cup, donated by Sir Thomas Dewar for the promotion of soccer in America in 1912, until it was retired due to poor condition in 1979. It was brought back into use by the United States Adult Soccer Association in 1997, but is now back on permanent display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, New York, and the recent winners of the tournament have been awarded a new, different trophy. Despite this, the name of each winning club is still added to the base of the original Dewar Cup.
ASL vs. USFA conflicts
Towards the latter portions of the 1920s a period in American soccer known as the "American Soccer Wars" ignited. The Soccer Wars regarded the internal conflicts with the American Soccer League and their affiliated clubs participating in the National Challenge Cup. The debate involved whether the United States Football Association or the American Soccer League was the true chief organization of American soccer at the time, and consequently wrecked the reputation and possibly even the popularity of the sport domestically. The colloquial "war" has been considered responsible for the fall of the ASL, and the end to the first golden age of American soccer.The initial issue with the ASL had been the scheduling of the National Challenge Cup, which had been straining for the ASL season schedule. Typically, the National Challenge Cup had been played during the ASL's offseason, which made it difficult for ASL clubs to compete in the tournament. Consequently, the ASL boycotted the 1925 Challenge Cup
1925 National Challenge Cup
The 1924–25 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.-History:...
due to scheduling conflicts, and the lack of cooperation the USFA inflicted on the ASL. American soccer historians claim that the real issue was the ASL vying to be the premier soccer body in the United States.
In 1927, the issue intensified as ASL clubs were accused by FIFA for signing European players who were already under contract to European clubs. Due to the conflict and apparent corruption in the ASL, then USFA president, Andrew M. Brown
Andrew Brown (soccer)
Andrew M. Brown was a Scottish soccer player, executive and coach who had a short tenure as coach of the United States men's national soccer team....
traveled to Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
for the 1927 FIFA Congress
FIFA Congress
The FIFA Congress is the supreme legislative body of the International Federation of Association Football , commonly known by the acronym FIFA . FIFA is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football.The congress may be ordinary or extraordinary...
in the hopes of removing any penalizations imposed on the ASL and USFA. Other issues regarding the soccer league involved the closed league model and the lack of American soccer players dominating the league. It resulted in ASL owners wanting to run their soccer clubs more like Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
teams, as many ASL owners owned MLB franchises. According to owners of ASL clubs, they saw these rulings as restrictions imposed on themselves, including the National Challenge Cup.
With the hope of breaking away from the National Challenge Cup, Charles Stoneham
Charles Stoneham
Charles A. Stoneham was the owner of the New York Giants baseball team, New York Giants soccer team, the center of numerous corruption scandals and the instigator of the "Soccer Wars" which destroyed the American Soccer League.-Business ventures:Stoneham began his career as a board boy, updating...
, an owner of the New York Nationals
New York Nationals
New York Nationals may refer to:*New York Nationals, a basketball team - another name for the Washington Generals in their games against the Harlem Globetrotters*New York Nationals - a 1920s New York soccer team....
proposed that the ASL would create their own tournament to determine the champion of the ASL, and thus ultimately determine the top American soccer club. This was the creation of early forms of playoffs culminating a regular season. Additionally, the proposal included expanding into the Midwest to include clubs from the Ohio River Valley and St. Louis regions, and create a new division for these clubs. Stoneham's plan involved having the two divisions compete in their own season, and the top clubs in each division playing in the ASL tournament to determine the ASL champion. Before the proposal, the National Challenge Cup was seen as the ultimate title in American soccer since most professional leagues in the United States focused on a specific region, rather than encompassing the entire country as a whole.
The "American Soccer Wars"
The problem with this system was the fact that the American Soccer League was operating under a closed league model with a fixed number of franchises. This new tournament, or playoffs, would permanently cap the number of clubs entering this premier competition, unlike the National Challenge Cup, which the tournament was open to any USFA-affiliated team. Due to such reasons, three teams, Bethlehem SteelBethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel Football Club was one of the most successful early American soccer clubs. Known as the Bethlehem Football Club from 1911 until 1915 when it became the Bethlehem Steel Football Club, the team was sponsored by the Bethlehem Steel corporation and played their home games first at East...
, the New York Giants S.C.
New York Giants (soccer)
New York Giants was a name used by three different New York soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894...
and the Newark Skeeters
Newark Skeeters
The Newark Skeeters was an American soccer club based in Newark, New Jersey and was a member of the American Soccer League and the Eastern Soccer League.The club folded upon the merger of the ASL & ESL after the fall 1929 season.-Year-by-year:...
, rejected the proposal, played in the 1928 National Challenge Cup
1928 National Challenge Cup
The 1928 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.-Eastern Division:-Western Division:-Final:...
and were subsequently suspended from the league and fined $1,000. Hence the ASL's decision, the USFA suspended the ASL which ignited the "Soccer Wars". In the 1928–29 American Soccer League, the Steel, Giants and Skeeters did not play in the ASL and joined local semi-professional leagues agglommerating to form the Eastern Professional Soccer League.
Support for the USFA from other national federations, along with financial disadvantages the ASL faced as an unsanctioned league, eventually convinced the ASL that it could not win this "soccer war" and should yield. The "war" between the USFA and ASL was finally settled in early October 1929. During that time the ASL had already begun its 1929-30 season, halted during the settlement. Thanks to the settlement, the ASL was reassembled, and played the remainder of the 1929–30 year under the moniker "Atlantic Coast League".
Great Depression and collapse of ASL I
Just two weeks following the United States Football Association and American Soccer League settlement, the stock market crashedWall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
. The abrupt and intense economic impact drastically affected the ASL in the league's Spring 1930 season
Spring 1930 American Soccer League
-League standings: GP W D L GF GA PTS PCT Fall River Marksmen 26 18 7 1 80 38 43 .814 New Bedford Whalers 33 12 11 10 56 50 35 .530 Hakoah All Stars 33 14 7 12 65 61 35 .530...
, in which several clubs defaulted during the season, and clubs did not finish the season with the same amount of matches played. Initially, the struggles in ASL did not affect the league's stronger clubs, as the Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen was a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They originally played as Fall River United before becoming known as the Marksmen after their owner, Sam Mark. During the 1920s and early 1930s they were one of the most successful soccer clubs in the United...
completed the double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
by winning both the 1930 season and the 1930 National Challenge Cup
1930 National Challenge Cup
The 1929–30 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.-Eastern Division:-Western Division:a) aggregate after 3 games-Final:-Source:*...
.
As the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
intensified, the original ASL folded following the Fall 1932
Fall 1932 American Soccer League
-League standings: 1st half GP W D L GF GA PTS Fall River F.C. 19 10 7 2 27 Pawtucket Rangers 19 10 5 4 25 New York Americans 11 6 3 3 14...
season, which was its 15th season in existence. At the apex of the Depression, several surviving clubs created an incarnation of the ASL which began play in 1933, but the stringent economy lessened the ability of ASL teams to field strong teams, and thereby lacked the financial means nor interest to attract foreign players. This consequently caused a dark age of soccer in which the sport as well as the National Challenge Cup fell out of popularity and into obscurity.
In spite of the decline in the sport's popularity, several pockets of the country, primarily the Heartland
Heartland
- Education :* Heartland Baptist Bible College, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma* Heartland Community College, in Illinois* Heartland Elementary School, public school, Kansas- Film :* Heartland , a 1979 film starring Rip Torn and Conchata Ferrell...
and New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
regions, as well as the New York City
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
and St. Louis metropolitan areas, continued to see excessive popularity of the sport, specifically with ethnic groups and expatriates. The popularity of soccer in these areas reflected on the Challenge Cup during the later Great Depression years, through the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years. Most clubs participating were either top amateur teams or semi-professional clubs that hoisted a handful of U.S. internationals, who worked part-time jobs.
World War II and ASL II
As World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
raged on, the National Challenge Cup continued to hold the annual tournament, in spite of several other European nations putting their domestic cups on hold, most which attributes to the fighting itself taking place overseas. During the early 1940s, the competition was dominated by Northeastern clubs, particularly Brooklyn Hispano
Brooklyn Hispano
The Brooklyn Hispano was an American soccer club based in Brooklyn, New York that was an inaugural member of the reformed American Soccer League. The club was named the Brooklyn Giants for the 1942/43 season only....
and their cross-town rivals
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
, Brookhattan
Brookhattan
New York Brookhattan was an American soccer club based in New York, New York that was a member of the professional American Soccer League. The club joined the ASL for its final season....
who each made it to the Challenge Cup finals for a combined six times in the 1940s.
Amateur Era
With the fall of the First American Soccer League, and the declining amount of professional clubs in the American Soccer League II, the competition began being dominated by several amateur sides, particularly clubs that were based in inter-city areas. From the mid-1940s until the mid-1990s, the competition finals only featured amateur teams. In fact, the United States Soccer Football Association (USSFA) eventually gave primary control of the tournament to the United States Adult Soccer Association, which presently overlooks the fifth tier of American soccer.In spite of the rise of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, NASL clubs declined to participate in the tournament, fearing it would divert interest away from the NASL Playoffs, as well as the perception that playing a mix of minor league clubs and amateur clubs would detract interest.
Inter-City dominance
Throughout the amateur era, the Open Cup was heavily dominated by clubs based in inter-city, urban cores, particularly in the New York CityNew York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
, Los Angeles
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
and Philadelphia area. These regions were the only areas that heralded an Open Cup champion from 1959
1959 U.S. Open Cup
The 1959 U.S. Open Cup was the 46th edition of the oldest soccer competition in the United States. The McIlvane Canvasbacks defeated the Fall River S.C. to win.- External Links :...
, until 1976
1976 U.S. Open Cup
The 1976 U.S. Open Cup was the 63rd edition of the oldest ongoing soccer competition in the United States. Teams from the North American Soccer League declined to participate. The San Francisco A.C. of San Francisco defeated the New York Inter-Giuliana of New York City in the final game...
when San Francisco A.C.
San Francisco A.C.
San Francisco A.C. was an American soccer team which won the National Challenge Cup in 1976....
of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
won the Open Cup.
During the early to mid-1960s, the competition was heavily dominated between the Philadelphia Ukrainians
Philadelphia Ukrainians
The first Philadelphia Ukrainians team was also known as the "Philadelphia Tridents" is also known as the Ukrainian Nationals team that was an American soccer club based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was a member of the American Soccer League...
and their expatriate counterparts, the New York Ukrainians
New York Ukrainians
New York Ukrainians is an American soccer club based in New York. The club was founded by Ukrainians that had been settled in New York after second world war.-History:...
. To some, this was considered a budding rivalry. The rivalry between Philadelphia and New York did not make its way to the Open Cup Final, because of the Eastern vs. Western bracket set up, in which the final typically included a Mid-Atlantic
Mid-Atlantic
Mid-Atlantic can refer to:*Mid-Atlantic English, a mix between British English and American English*Mid-Atlantic Region , one of the United States geographic divisions of the Little League World Series...
or New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
er team, against a team from the Greater Los Angeles
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
or San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
of California. For both the Philadelphia and N.Y. Ukrainians, their domination came to an end with the rise of Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Cosmopolitan Soccer League
The Cosmopolitan Soccer League is an amateur soccer league consisting of clubs based in and around New York City. Established in 1923, it is one of the oldest soccer leagues in the United States and has contributed greatly to the nation's soccer history...
juggernaut, Greek American Atlas
Greek American AA
Greek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
, who won three Open Cup titles consecutively, winning their first tile in 1967
1967 U.S. Open Cup
The 1967 U.S. Open Cup was the 54th annual national open challenge cup held by the United States Soccer Football Association. The tournament was won by Greek American Atlas of New York City.-Bracket:-Final:- External links :*...
against Orange County
Orange County F.C.
Orange County F.C. was an amateur American soccer club based in Anaheim, California. The club made it to the final of the 1967 U.S. Open Cup, where they lost to Greek American AA. National team players Bayardo Abaunza and Werner Mata spent time with Orange County in the 1960s....
. The club's dynasty in the Open Cup came to end in the 1970 edition of the Open Cup, where they lost to eventual Open Cup runners-up Elizabeth S.C.
Elizabeth S.C.
Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
in the semifinals.
LA v. NY finals
Towards the latter portion of the 1970s into the 1980s, the Open Cup featured a final more times than not between a soccer club based in New York and Los Angeles, the two largest metropolises in the United States. Two of the strongest clubs during this time included the New York Pancyprian-FreedomsNew York Pancyprian-Freedoms
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms is an American amateur soccer team based in Jamaica, New York, United States. Founded in 1974, the team plays in Region I of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.The team plays its home...
, who won three domestic titles between 1979
1979 U.S. Open Cup
The 1979 U.S. Open Cup was the 66th edition of the oldest ongoing soccer competition in the United States. Teams from the North American Soccer League declined to participate. Brooklyn Dodgers S.C. of Brooklyn, New York defeated the Chicago Croatia of Chicago, Illinois in the final game. The score...
and 1982
1982 U.S. Open Cup
The 1982 U.S. Open Cup was the 69th edition of the oldest ongoing soccer competition in the United States. Teams from the North American Soccer League declined to participate. The New York Pancyprian-Freedoms defeated Maccabee A.C. in the final game in extra time by a score of 4-3.- External Links :...
, and Maccabi Los Angeles
Maccabi Los Angeles
Maccabi Los Angeles is a semi-professional soccer club based in Los Angeles California that competes in the National Soccer League of Los Angeles.- History :...
who made it to the Open Cup finals seven times in nine years, from 1975 to 1984. In fact, the two teams met twice in the Open Cup finals; in 1980
1980 U.S. Open Cup
The 1980 U.S. Open Cup was the 67th edition of the oldest ongoing soccer competition in the United States. Teams from the North American Soccer League declined to participate. New York Pancyprian-Freedoms defeated Maccabee A.C. in the final game. The score was 3-2.- External Links :...
and 1982 with the Pancyprian-Freedoms defeating Maccabi both times.
Second Professional Era
Starting in 1995, professional clubs would retain their USSF sanctioning if their clubs agreed to participate in the tournament. The 1995 U.S. Open Cup1995 U.S. Open Cup
- First Round :* AAC Eagles 1-2 Chicago Stingers * Connecticut Wolves 0-3 New York Centaurs * Tampa Bay Cyclones 2-4 Atlanta Ruckus * Richmond Kickers 6-1 Maryland Spartans...
which featured a mix of amateur and professional teams made it the first time in nearly 45 years that the two levels were integrated into Open Cup play.
The arrival of professional clubs on the scene dwarfed amateur clubs, and consequently, no amateur club has won or been to the Open Cup final in the second professional era. With the arrival of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
in 1996, MLS franchises had the option to participate in the tournament on their terms. However, in 2006, all MLS franchises that were based in the United States had to participate in the tournament propers. Ever since the creation of MLS, an MLS club has won the Open Cup every year except 1999, when the Rochester Rhinos of the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
defeated Colorado Rapids. The most successful MLS club in Open Cup play is the Chicago Fire who have accumulated four domestic titles in their existence. The four titles puts the Fire in a six-way tie for the second most Open Cup titles won.
In spite of MLS clubs' success, the competition has long been seen as a second-tier sporting competition for MLS sides, whereas amateur and lower division teams see the chance to play in the Open Cup as the ultimate glory, since the tournament allows teams to compete with MLS clubs and earn a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
, a right that has been given since 2008.
Competition Rebranded
In 1998, the United States Soccer Federation passed a notion to rebrand the U.S. Open Cup as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, to honor Lamar HuntLamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
who has been considered by many to be one of the greatest patrons for the growth and development of professional American soccer. Hunt, who owned three MLS clubs at the time was a key cog in creating MLS and its predecessors, the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
.
The tournament starting in 1999 was known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and has been called that since.
Resurgence in Popularity
For most of MLS' existence, league clubs could not draw the same crowds for Open Cup matches as they would for the regular season nor playoff matches. Some of it attributes to the fact the MLS clubs typically play a majority of their matches against lower tier clubs, which consequently create a lack of interest. Additionally, all Open Cup matches are scheduled mid-week, which can be inconvenient for fans and supporters. Often, it is considered that the MLS team that wins the Open Cup is one with great depth on their roster, or one that has nothing much to play for in league competition. The fact that there is a lesser amount of interest in the competition leads most MLS clubs to play their home Open Cup games at smaller stadiums, usually high school or smaller college football fields or on their training facilities due to the lower seating capacity, and to create a more "intimate" setting. Examples include the Seattle SoundersSeattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
who play their Open Cup matches at Starfire Sports Complex
Starfire Sports Complex
Starfire Sports Complex is a sporting facility in Tukwila, Washington, on the banks of the Green River, near Seattle. It is operated by the non-profit corporation Starfire Sports. At the time of its opening, CEO Chris Slatt believed it to be "the largest synthetic-turf soccer complex in the...
or D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
who play their games at Maryland SoccerPlex
Maryland SoccerPlex
Maryland Soccerplex is a sports complex in Germantown, Maryland, United States . There are nineteen natural grass fields, three artificial fields, and eight indoor courts...
or George Mason Stadium
George Mason Stadium
George Mason Stadium is a 5,000-seat stadium in Fairfax, Virginia on the campus of George Mason University. It serves as the home to George Mason's soccer and lacrosse teams....
.
In spite of the disinterest in the Open Cup, some signs have indicated an upswing in the tournament importance and popularity. Some cite the competitions' long history as a critical factor in driving interest. One instance has involved the 2009
2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final
The 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on September 2, 2009, at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. The match determined the winner of the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open to amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with the United States...
and 2010
2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final
The 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on October 5, 2010, at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The match determined the winner of the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open to amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation. This...
finals, which have drawn the sixth largest and largest ever crowds in Open Cup history, respectively. The 2009 final, which featured storied MLS club D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
, saw a crowd of 17,239 attend the Open Cup final at RFK Stadium, making it the second largest Open Cup crowd in the 2000s. The reasoning behind the large crowd has been attributed to the fact that D.C. United's management marketed the Open Cup as a tournament for the team to add an additional trophy to their collection and earn a preliminary berth in the CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
. For the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
, the club played in and hosted the 2010 edition of the final, in front of a crowd of 31,311. The crowd, made it the largest attendance for an Open Cup final in its history, outpacing the second largest crowd by 10,000. The likelihood of such a crowd was considered to be the result of the Sounders' large fan base and desire to defend their 2009 Open Cup title.
Currently, eight teams from each level of the American Soccer Pyramid take part in the competition proper, with each league narrowing its delegation separately in the spring before the competition officially begins in the summer. In some cases, additional teams play in qualifying rounds to gain entry. One example is found with MLS clubs, as only the top six from the previous regular season get an automatic bid, while the bottom U.S.-based MLS teams face each other to qualify for the remaining two MLS slots.
See also
- American CupAmerican CupThe American Cup was the first major U.S. soccer competition open to teams beyond a single league. It was first held in 1885. In the 1910s, it gradually declined in importance with the establishment of the National Challenge Cup...
- American Football AssociationAmerican Football AssociationAmerican Football Association was the first attempt in the United States to form an organizing soccer body. It is best known for being the second oldest sports league to form, behind Major League Baseball in 1876, as well as being the oldest soccer league in the United States. The Association was...
- American Soccer LeagueAmerican Soccer LeagueThe American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
- List of U.S. Open Cup broadcasters
- List of U.S. Open Cup winners
- Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
- St. Louis Soccer LeagueSt. Louis Soccer LeagueThe St. Louis Soccer League was a soccer league based in St. Louis, Missouri, that existed from 1907 to 1938. At its founding, it was the only fully professional soccer league in the United States.-History:...
- United Soccer LeaguesUnited Soccer LeaguesThe United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
- United States Adult Soccer Association