CHICAGO (Nov. 22, 2022) – The 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup continues with a Fourth and Final Qualifying Round on the weekend of December 17-18. The schedule, matchups and venues are now set for that ultimate phase of Open Division Qualifying which will send nine clubs to the 2023 Open Cup Proper.
Seven of the 18 remaining Open Division teams are aiming to reach their second consecutive U.S. Open Cup Proper. Lansdowne Yonkers (N.Y.), Azteca FC (Colo.), D'Feeters Kicks SC (Texas), Brockton FC United (Mass.), Miami United FC (Fla.) West Chester United SC (Pa.) and NoVa FC (Va.) all took part in the 2022 edition of U.S. Soccer’s National Championship – which wrapped in September with MLS side Orlando City defeating USL Championship contenders Sacramento Republic.
Lansdowne Yonkers, the 2021 National Amateur Cup-champions, have won three Qualifying games with a combined goals-scored tally of 12 (conceding only once). The side, led by former Arsenal academy product Sean Kelly and ace striker Shamir Mullings, will meet the only surviving New Jersey representative, SC Vistula Garfield, in the Fourth Round.
NoVa FC, out of Leesburg, Va., earned their 1-0 Third Round result the hard way against DCFC in the nation’s capital. They'll now host an outstanding West Chester United SC side who’ve won all three of their Qualifiers on the road (and will be asked to do so again if they want to reach the Open Cup Proper for a second time on the trot).
Dallas’
D’Feeters Kicks SC, who stretched reigning USL Championship toppers San Anotnio FC in
the Second Round of last year’s Open Cup Proper, travel to
Nashville to take on a Beaman United FC outfit who edged an
eight-goal thriller (plus a shootout) in Georgia in the last round.
Massachusetts contenders Brockton United FC, founded by ambitious
high school coach Herminio Furtado and
pulling in talent from the area’s local Cape Verdean community, will face Chicago House AC at home in the Fourth Round.
Three-time Open Cup Proper participants Miami United FC tangle with
Naples City FC (the only other Florida side left in contention) while
Azteca FC of Colorado play host to UDA Soccer of New Mexico
Inter San Francisco, a club for just two years, have been in imperious
form out west and are aiming to reach their first Open Cup Proper.
Built on the experience of former
Chicago Fire striker (and 2014 Open Cup Semifinalist) Matt Fondy, they’ve yet to concede a goal in their three Qualifiers while putting
14 into the opposition nets (including two 5-0 blowouts) .
Fellow Californians Orange County FC have also been hitting the high
notes. The reigning UPSL national champions and 2019 Open Cup Proper
giant-killers are coming off a 7-3 extra-time victory over Escondido FC
ahead of a win-and-you’re-in Fourth Round home showdown with Capo FC.
Chicago House AC, the latest club founded by
four-time Open Cup champion executive and soccer pioneer Peter Wilt, face a second road test on the trot. A trip to Randolph, Mass. to
face Brockton United follows fast on the heels of their journey to
southern Indiana, where they beat Metro Louisville FC 2-1.
The nine Fourth Round winners will join 1983 Open Cup runners-up and
2019 participants Bavarian United, out of Glendale, Wisconsin, who
earned a direct place in the 2023 Open Cup by winning the U.S. Adult
Soccer Association (USASA) National Amateur Cup this summer.
2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Schedule
First Qualifying Round (September 17-18, 2022)
Second Qualifying Round (October 15-16, 2022)
Third Qualifying Round (November 19-20, 2022)
Fourth Qualifying Round (December, 17-18, 2022)
About the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Entering its 108th edition, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – U.S. Soccer's National Championship – has crowned a champion annually since 1914 (excepting 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The tournament is conducted on a single-game, knockout basis and open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor United States soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.
usopencup.com
is the official website of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Fans and
members of the media can enjoy comprehensive video and written coverage
of the tournament there. You can also follow the Open Cup on
Twitter
and
Instagram
(@OpenCup) and
Facebook
(@OfficialOpenCup).
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer
competition in the United States and the world's third-longest-running
open soccer tournament.
