ACFC to Join US Open Cup Qualifying
Akron City Football Club has been selected to participate in the qualifying rounds for the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament. The U.S. Open Cup is a knockout (single elimination) tournament featuring teams from the professional leagues as well as select teams from the amateur/semi-pro leagues. It is the oldest national soccer competition in the US, and is the only time that amateur and professional teams meet on the pitch. Professional leagues include MLS, USL Championship, USL League One, and National Independent Soccer Association, while the amateur/semi-pro entries come from USL2, NPSL, United States Adult Soccer Association, and US Club Soccer.
Amateur/semi-pro teams may qualify for the final draw of the US Open Cup by participating in in a series of qualifying rounds. Local teams that have been selected for these qualifying rounds include ACFC (USL2), Cleveland SC (NPSL), Croatia Cleveland (USASA).
Akron City has received a bye for the first round and will begin play the weekend of October 11 & 12. The qualifying rounds are as follows:
Round One – September 13 & 14 (ACFC has a bye)
Round Two – October 11 & 12
Round Three – November 1 & 2
Round Four – November 22 & 23
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is in its 111th year, and this year’s qualifying round sees a record number of teams. 145 teams will be competing for 16 qualifying spots. ACFC is one of only four USL2 teams to be included in the qualifying round. They will join Ballard FC, Western Mass Pioneers, and our Great Forest Division rivals Steel City FC in the competition. The 16 teams that qualify for the tournament proper will join 16 other amateur/semi-pro teams that qualify via other means.
For more information about the US Open Cup, please visit the US Soccer website.
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