Key Takeaways
- The 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals feature only MLS clubs; Orlando City and St. Louis City have already advanced to the semifinals.
- On May 20, Columbus Crew hosts New York City FC and Colorado Rapids hosts San Jose Earthquakes; only the Crew (2002) has previously won the tournament.
- All quarterfinal matches stream on Paramount+, with select games on CBS Sports Golazo Network and CBS Sports Network.
- The U.S. Open Cup, modeled after England’s FA Cup, is the nation’s oldest annual team‑sport tournament, running continuously since 1913 (except 2020‑21).
- Since MLS’ inception in 1996, MLS teams have captured all but one title (Rochester Rhinos, 1999); the Chicago Fire, Sporting KC and Seattle Sounders each have four championships, while Bethlehem Steel and Maccabi Los Angeles share the all‑time record of five.
- Winners earn a berth in the Concacaf Champions Cup, reinforcing the cup’s role as a pathway to continental competition.
The 111th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup reached its quarterfinal stage on May 19‑20, 2026, and, unlike many earlier years, every remaining participant is a Major League Soccer club. Orlando City and St. Louis City secured semifinal berths the previous day: Orlando City defeated Atlanta United 4‑1, while St. Louis City edged the Houston Dynamo 2‑2 before winning a penalty shoot‑out 4‑2. Orlando City is a former champion, having lifted the trophy in 2022.
On Wednesday, May 20, the remaining quarterfinal pairings took place. In Columbus, Ohio, the Columbus Crew hosted New York City FC at ScottsMiracle‑Gro Field, with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff broadcast on the CBS Sports Golazo Network. Later that night, the Colorado Rapids welcomed the San Jose Earthquakes at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado, for a 10:00 p.m. ET match aired on CBS Sports Network. Both contests were also available live on Paramount+, the tournament’s primary streaming platform.
Historically, only the Columbus Crew among the four Wednesday teams has previously won the U.S. Open Cup, capturing the title in 2002. The Rapids, Earthquakes, and New York City FC are all seeking their first championship. Their aspirations fit a broader trend: after Los Angeles FC won in 2024 and Nashville SC in 2025, the 2026 tournament could produce a third consecutive first‑time winner, underscoring the increasing competitiveness of MLS sides in the cup.
The U.S. Open Cup, officially the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, traces its origins to 1913 as the National Challenge Cup, making it the oldest annual team‑sport tournament in the United States. Modeled after England’s FA Cup, it is a single‑elimination competition open to both amateur and professional U.S.-based clubs. The winner earns the distinction of national champion of American men’s club soccer and secures a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup, the region’s premier continental club tournament.
Since MLS began in 1996, league teams have dominated the competition, winning every edition except the 1999 final, when the Rochester Rhinos (then of the A‑League/USL) upset the Colorado Rapids. The old North American Soccer League largely ignored the cup, which explains why historic NASL powers such as the New York Cosmos or Chicago Sting do not appear in its roll of honor. In recent years, lower‑division sides have still made deep runs: USL Championship clubs Indy Eleven (2024 semifinalist), Sacramento Republic FC (2022 finalist), and FC Cincinnati (2017 semifinalist, before joining MLS in 2019) have demonstrated that the tournament remains open to giant‑killing feats.
When examining the all‑time leaderboard, Bethlehem Steel and Maccabi Los Angeles share the record with five U.S. Open Cup titles each. Bethlehem Steel’s dominance came in the tournament’s early years, winning five championships between 1915 and 1926 before the club folded in 1930. Maccabi Los Angeles, a semi‑professional outfit active from 1971 to 1982, matched that total in the latter half of the twentieth century. Among MLS franchises, the Chicago Fire, Sporting Kansas City, and Seattle Sounders each have four titles, placing them just one shy of the historic leaders. Other multiple‑time winners include D.C. United (three), the LA Galaxy (three), and the Houston Dynamo (two).
The tournament’s schedule for 2026 followed the traditional progression: opening rounds in March, the Round of 32 in mid‑April, the Round of 16 in late April, quarterfinals on May 19‑20, semifinals set for mid‑September, and the final slated for October 21. The continued prominence of MLS clubs in the later stages reflects both the league’s growth and the cup’s enduring relevance as a national knockout competition that bridges amateur roots with the professional era.