U.S. Soccer announced today the format, schedule, and participating teams for the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. After reaching and hosting the 2025 U.S. Open Cup Final, Austin FC will once again take part in U.S. Soccer’s historic national club championship tournament. The Verde & Black are set to enter in the Round of 32 with a match to be played on either April 14 or 15, 2026.
Format
A field of 80 teams from several leagues and divisions within American soccer will compete for a $1 million purse with a place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup also up for grabs. CBS Sports will return as the multi-media rights partner for the 2026 competition.
The U.S. Open Cup format will feature seven (7) single elimination rounds. Austin’s entry in the Round of 32 means that as in 2025, the Verde & Black will need to win five (5) matches to lift the trophy.
Ahead of the 2026 edition, U.S. Soccer adjusted two (2) rules. First, a one-club, one-entry rule applies to all divisions. Under this rule, a professional club must enter its highest-level professional team. Second, all numerical limits to the number of players that can be eligible for a competition roster have been removed across all divisions. All players from a club are eligible to participate, and players can be added up to one day prior to a match -- subject to league and U.S. Soccer player registration regulations as well as competition eligibility rules related to cup-ties, length of loan and disciplinary action.
Schedule
- First Round: Tuesday, March 17 – Thursday, March 19
- Second Round: Tuesday, March 31 – Wednesday, April 1
- Round of 32 (Austin FC enters): Tuesday, April 14 – Wednesday, April 15
- Round of 16: Tuesday, April 28 – Wednesday, April 29
- Quarterfinals: Tuesday, May 19 – Wednesday, May 20
- Semifinals: Tuesday, Sept. 15 - Wednesday, Sept. 16
- Final: Wednesday, October 21
U.S. Soccer will announce First and Second Round draws and schedule in January. The first live draw will be held Tuesday, April 2, when Austin FC will learn the opponent for its Round of 32 matchup. The overall format, draw groups and pairings will be based on geography. Random selection will be used to solve a lack of logical geographic fit.
Austin FC in the Open Cup
Austin FC won four (4) U.S. Open Cup matches in 2025, advancing past El Paso Locomotive FC, Houston Dynamo FC, San Jose Earthquakes, and Minnesota United FC to reach the Final. The Verde & Black finished as Open Cup runners up and have an all-time record of five (5) wins and three (3) losses in the competition.
