First round pairings announced for 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

CHICAGO – U.S. Soccer has determined the pairings for the First Round of the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with 38 Open Division teams facing off March 24-25 across 14 states to kick off the 107th edition of U.S. Soccer’s National Championship.

The 38 Open Division teams include 13 local qualifiers, 14 National Premier Soccer League clubs and 11 USL League Two sides. The teams, which constitute the best amateur sides from across the country, will each battle another Open Division club during one of the opening two days of the single-elimination tournament. As part of a First Round provision that allows avoidance of extensive travel at this stage of the competition, five of the 19 matches are between teams from the same qualifying pool.

A number of First Round matchups feature clubs with strong Open Cup pedigrees established by continuous success in recent tournaments. Virginia United FC, making their second-consecutive Open Cup appearance representing the Asociation Nacional de Fútbol en USA, hosts 2017 Cinderella story Christos FC (Md.) in a battle of big Open Division names in the Mid-Atlantic, while farther north, reigning U.S. Adult Soccer Association Amateur Cup Champion Newtown Pride FC (Conn.) will face first time Open Cup qualifiers from the NPSL’s Keystone Conference Atlantic City FC.

Down in Texas, NTX Rayados, one of the Open Cup’s most consistent Open Division performers, will get an early road test when they travel to NPSL club Denton Diablos. In California, the state which leads the way with seven Open Division participants, FC Golden State Force (USL League Two), the amateur club to reach the farthest in the 2018 Open Cup, will look to begin another electrifying run when it hosts rising NPSL side FC Arizona, while 2012 Round of 16 protagonist Cal FC takes on multiple-time qualifier Ventura County Fusion (USL League Two).

The 19 First Round winners will earn the opportunity to face professional clubs in the Second Round, which is scheduled for April 7-9. Twenty-five USL Championship (Division II), 6 USL League One (Division III) and 8 National Independent Soccer Association (Division III) professional teams await the First Round winners in the only major American team sports competition in which amateurs can earn the chance at meaningful games against professional clubs and players.

The Second Round pairings and possible pairings will be announced on January 29.

• READ: 2020 U.S. Open Cup Bracket Format and Schedule Finalized
• READ: Record-Setting 100 Teams, Slot Allocation Confirmed

Eleven lower-seeded U.S.-based Division I Major League Soccer clubs will enter in the Third Round, which will be played April 21-23, while the remaining 12 MLS sides will take the field in their first Open Cup action in the Round of 32, which takes place May 19-20.

Home teams for each round are determined by random selection among those who apply to host. Clubs whose venue meets minimum tournament standards are given priority.

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2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Competition Schedule – First Round

Northeast Region

Southeast Region

Central Region

West Region

April 7-9 Second Round (Division II and III teams enter)
April 10 Third Round Draw
April 21-23 Third Round (11 lower-seeded Division I teams enter)
April 24 Round of 32 Draw
May 19-20 Round of 32 (12 higher-seeded Division I teams enter)
May 21 Round of 16/Quarterfinal Draw
June 10 or June 23-24 Round of 16
June 23-24 or July 14-15 Quarterfinals
July 14-15 or Aug. 11-12 Semifinals
Aug. 11-12 or Sept. 22-24 Final