My Realistic US Open Cup Mock Format

From my fantasy idea, to actually mocking a true answer to fix the Open Cup

This article is the most important of the many ideas to make the US Open Cup better, and have a common sense discussion. I must admit that comparing or trying to use England's FA Cup format was the correct way to go, but now I can truly see it's flawed. Very flawed.

Because what is truly missing is a certain professional division, and now, with USL about to create their first division league for the future, the time for daydreaming is over. Now we have to get down to brass tacks.

Without a doubt, having multiple leagues inside a single division is not ideal for clarity in the sport, nor the Open Cup. We continue to see issues right now in the Third Division where the growth is getting slower and slower, but thankfully we are seeing new additions coming.

For USL League One they will now add Fort Lauderdale FC, and just recently announced North Jersey USL as they will play at the historic Hinchcliff Stadium in Paterson, NJ in 2026.

But as I have said, the United Soccer League is adding a new division at the wrong end of the ladder. The sport continues to grow, plus we have multiple clubs in four to five different divisions in four regions at USL League 2.

What we need is a true professional fourth division created by USL or have a new party come into play and gain sanctioning from US Soccer to become that fourth division in the professional ranks. That can truly help the Open Cup get better and have more clarity across the board.

Until that does happen, here is my realistic idea to make the Open Cup better with another full mock. While I have been trying to bring in the format ideas of the English FA Cup to the Open Cup, I realized that it will never work.

The regional format is the best way to go, but the starting points for those clubs from MLS, USL Championship, USL League One, NISA and the non affiliated MLS Next Pro Clubs are going to need a different starting point. This will also include the new USL First Division League.

We have to make sure that all positions in every round are satisfied when it comes to the number of games played, so we get to the proper number in each round. Even numbers are always the best when we get to these domestic club knockout competitions.

I believe that we have to make the U.S. Open Cup like the DFB Pokal in Germany. All the professional clubs join the amateur sides in the opening round and move on till the final. But up to a point, there will be a slight separation.

FIRST ROUND: All Clubs from the second division and lower will begin in the opening round. While there will be more expansion coming every season, with USL Championship, USL League One, (hoping for a new pro fourth division league) the short season leagues and amateurs.

SECOND ROUND: Depending on the number of clubs in MLS per region, and my belief of twelve clubs starting the new USL First Division (have three clubs per region), all of them will start in the second round, while joined by the 26 or 27 round one winners.

THIRD ROUND: 16-second round winners will face each other

(ALTOGETHER 64 CLUBS IN ALL FOUR REGIONS)

FOURTH ROUND: 8-third round winners will face each other

(ALTOGETHER ROUND OF 32 IN ALL FOUR REGIONS)

FIFTH ROUND: 4-fourth round winners will face each other

(ALTOGETHER ROUND OF 16 IN ALL FOUR REGIONS)

QUARTERFINALS: 2-Fifth round winners will face each other

(ALTOGETHER 8 CLUBS IN ALL FOUR REGIONS)

SEMI-FINALS: The winners in each region reach this part of the tournament as the East battles the South, while the Central battles the West

FINALS: The two Semi-Final Winners battle each other for the Title

Here are the four regions that are set up in this Mock Format.

EAST REGION

SOUTH REGION

CENTRAL REGION

WEST REGION

Once again, there will be a blind draw for each region, and there can still be a side that doesn't want to host the Open Cup match if pulled first as the home team.

While Tournament commishioner David Applegate has done a brilliant job in handling the current format of the Open Cup, at the same time, seeing him managing the draws of the third round and fourth round on the CBS Sports Golazo Network was fabulous, it's time to enhance and improve this fabulous cup competition to the level it was meant to be at.

While I truly believe my work is done, we shall wait for the next season when more clubs are coming to American Soccer and continue to fix this wonderful tournament that mirrors the NCAA Final Four Basketball tournament, which has always been considered by me and now to all of you the National Championship of American Soccer.

And we can continue to call these special nights an Open Cup Night Across America.