The 1996 United States Open Cup was the 83rd edition of the tournament, and the first Open Cup to include Major League Soccer teams.

1996 U.S. Open Cup
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Teams17
Final positions
ChampionsD.C. United
(1st title)
Runner-upRochester Rhinos
Tournament statistics
Matches played15
Goals scored56 (3.73 per match)
← 1995
1997 →

D.C. United defeated the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3–0 in the final at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Originally, four of the ten MLS teams entered the tournament. Five ended up participating, as D.C. United replaced the Los Angeles Galaxy (due to the Galaxy's congested schedule), and the Colorado Rapids replaced the Colorado Foxes (when the team could not reschedule its third-round match against Kansas City). The A-League Rochester side beat two MLS teams en route to the final before falling to already-crowned MLS Cup champion United.

Bracket

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Second round Quarterfinals Semifinal Final
            
MLS Dallas Burn 3
A-L Seattle Sounders 2
USASA San Jose Oaks 0
A-L Seattle Sounders 1
MLS Dallas Burn 0
MLS D.C. United 2
MLS D.C. United 2
USISL Carolina Dynamo 0
A-L New York Fever 0
USISL Carolina Dynamo 1
MLS D.C. United 3
A-L Rochester Rhinos 0
A-L Rochester Rhinos 2
USISL Fort Myers Manatees 0
A-L Rochester Rhinos (AET) 4
MLS Tampa Bay Mutiny 3
A-L Rochester Rhinos 3
MLS Colorado Rapids 0
MLS Kansas City Wiz 2
MLS Colorado Rapids 3
A-L Colorado Foxes 5
USISL El Paso Patriots 1

First Round

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July 3, 1996 (1996-07-03) Carolina Dynamo (USISL) 5–0 Mo's Sport Shop (USASA)
Report
July 4, 1996 (1996-07-04) El Paso Patriots (USISL) 3–0 RWB Adria (USASA)

Second Round

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August 4, 1996 (1996-08-04) Colorado Foxes (A-League) 5–1 El Paso Patriots (USISL) Commerce City, Colorado
Report
  • Guardado   39',   86'
Stadium: Mile High Greyhound Park
Attendance: 1,623
Referee: Keith Hageman

Quarterfinals

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D.C. United (MLS)2–0Carolina Dynamo (USISL)
Report
Attendance: 1,829
Referee: Ruben Rodhas (USA)

Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-L)4–3 (a.e.t.)Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS)
Report
Attendance: 12,428
Referee: Robert Sheker (USA)

Kansas City Wiz (MLS)2–3Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Report
Attendance: 5,009
Referee: Ron Corey (USA)

Note: The Colorado Rapids replaced the Colorado Foxes when the team could not reschedule its Quarterfinal match after player availability conflicts due to CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying.


Dallas Burn (MLS)3–2Seattle Sounders (A-L)
Report
Attendance: 1,305
Referee: Kevin Terry (USA)

Semifinals

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Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-L)3–0Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Report

Dallas Burn (MLS)0–2D.C. United (MLS)
Report
Attendance: 1,958
Referee: Kevin Terry (USA)

Final

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D.C. United
(MLS)
3–0Rochester Raging Rhinos
(A-League)
Report
Attendance: 7,234
Referee: Esse Baharmast (USA)

See also

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1996 National Amateur Cup

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