2027 U.S. Open Cup Format and Schedule: 96 Teams, Final on December 15
The 112th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will have 96 teams, up from 80 in 2026. All 27 U.S.-based MLS clubs will take part. The tournament also moves later in the year, with the Final set for December 15, 2027.
2027 schedule
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| First Round | April 13-14 and April 20-21, 2027 |
| Round of 64 | July 8-11, 2027 |
| Round of 32 | September 14-15, 2027 |
| Round of 16 | To be confirmed |
| Quarterfinals | November 23-24, 2027 |
| Semifinals | December 1, 2027 |
| Final | December 15, 2027 |
U.S. Soccer says all dates are subject to change. The last five rounds all come after Labor Day.
Who plays when
First Round. 64 teams. Half are professional teams from Division II and Division III. The other half are amateur teams from the Open Division.
Round of 64. The 32 First Round winners meet 32 new entrants: all 27 U.S.-based MLS clubs and five seeded USL Championship clubs.
The five USL Championship clubs that skip the First Round are the Players' Shield winner, the playoff champion, the top seed in each conference and the USL Cup champion.
What's different from 2026
- 96 teams instead of 80.
- All 27 U.S.-based MLS clubs enter, compared with 16 in 2026.
- MLS clubs enter in a Round of 64 instead of the Round of 32.
- There's no Second Round.
- The Final moves from October 21 to December 15.
- Matchday rosters grow from 18 to 20 players.
The prize purse stays at $1 million, and the winner still earns a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Where the amateur teams come from
Half of the 32 amateur places go to teams that win through the fall 2026 Qualifying Rounds. The other 16 go to teams that earned byes through their results in selected 2026 competitions.
Three MLS NEXT Pro teams are eligible because they aren't affiliated with an MLS club: Carolina Core FC, Chattanooga FC and Connecticut United FC.
What comes next
U.S. Soccer plans to announce the First Round pairings in early 2027. Here's how the 2027 draw works. In the meantime, the full 2026 bracket has every result from this year.