U.S. Open Cup First Round Play Begins Tonight

The nation’s oldest national soccer tournament is back!

The 103rd edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup begins tonight. Founded as the National Challenge Cup, the competition pits MLS, NASL, USL, and amateur league teams against each other. The amateur teams play in the earlier rounds, with the professional league teams coming into play in the third and fourth rounds. Since the formation of the MLS in 1996, major league teams have dominated the competition, including every champion since 2000. 

Orlando City SC will enter the tournament in the fourth round, which doesn’t start until June 15. However, the local Kraze United, which play out of the University of Central Florida’s Track and Field Stadium, begin play tonight against the Villages FC.

While none of the amateur league teams are likely to go far, a couple of squads made surprising runs by going deeper into the tournament than expected. Harpo’s FC, a pub team based in Boulder, Colorado, won their opening round match against the BYU Cougars on penalty kicks and advanced to the second round. The PSA Elite defeated a USL and pro developmental team en route to the fourth round, where they faced the five-time MLS Cup-winning LA Galaxy.

The overall champion receives $250,000, the runner up receives $60,000 and the team from each division that goes the furthest in the tournament receives $15,000.

Sporting Kansas City are the reigning champs and look to defend their 2015 title.

Below are the match ups and start times for the first round, some of which are being streamed live. Audio and video links, if they are available, can be found by clicking the hyperlinked matchups below. 

Note: All game dates are Wednesday, May 11th.