2008 U.S. Open Cup

The 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will run from June through August 2008.

The Cup schedule is being shortened in 2008, ending in August instead of October, so as to avoid interfering with Major League Soccer's end-of-season playoff drive in the fall and the new CONCACAF Champions League. [1]

The 13 US-based MLS clubs will participate, although only 8 will compete in the main tournament. Qualifying is similar to the 2007 tournament, with the top 6 MLS clubs from 2007 qualifying automatically, and the other 7 playing off during the early part of the 2008 season for the remaining 2 spots.

United Soccer Leagues have a separate qualifying plan for each tier. The 8 US-based USL-1 teams qualify automatically (for FIFA and USSF purposes, Puerto Rico Islanders are not considered a "United States-based" club). 8 of the 9 US-based USL-2 teams will qualify. The defending USL-2 playoff champions, the Harrisburg City Islanders, and the 2007 regular-season champion Richmond Kickers qualify automatically. The remaining 7 teams will play off for 6 spots, based on early regular season results. The PDL will also use selected early regular-season games for qualification. The top two teams in the Eastern and Central conferences, and the top teams in the Mid-South, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest divisions, will qualify.

The tournament will be rounded out by 8 amateur USASA clubs. USASA qualifying began in the fall of 2007.

Matchdays

Date	Round	Notes
June 10	First	32 USL and USASA clubs enter
June 24	Second
July 1	Third	8 MLS clubs enter
July 8	Quarterfinals
Aug. 12	Semifinals
Aug. 26	Final

Qualified Teams

• Major League Soccer
  • Chivas USA
  • D.C. United
  • FC Dallas
  • Houston Dynamo
  • New England Revolution
  • New York Red Bulls
  • 2 teams from 7-team playoff
• USL First Division
  • Atlanta Silverbacks
  • Carolina RailHawks
  • Charleston Battery
  • Miami FC
  • Minnesota Thunder
  • Portland Timbers
  • Rochester Rhinos
  • Seattle Sounders
• USL Second Division
  • Charlotte Eagles
  • Cleveland City Stars
  • Crystal Palace Baltimore
  • Harrisburg City Islanders
  • Pittsburgh Riverhounds
  • Real Maryland Monarchs
  • Richmond Kickers
  • Western Mass Pioneers
• USL Premier Development League
  • Austin Aztex
  • Brooklyn Knights
  • Fredericksburg Gunners
  • Los Angeles Legends
  • St. Louis Lions
  • Yakima Reds
  • Second Central Conference qualifier
  • Southeast Division qualifier
• United States Adult Soccer Association
  • AAC Eagles
  • Arizona Sahuaros
  • ASC New Stars
  • Boston Olympiakos
  • Clearwater Galactics
  • Hollywood United
  • New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  • RWB Adria

Qualifying

See also: 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualification

See also

• United States Soccer Federation
• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
• Major League Soccer
• United Soccer Leagues
• USASA
• National Premier Soccer League