2020 U.S. Open Cup qualification

2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualification
Tournament details
Dates	September 21 – November 24,; 2019
Teams	88
Tournament statistics
Matches played	76
Goals scored	337 (4.43 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Mohamed Sesay (9 Goals)
	← 2019 2021 →

The 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper featured teams from all five tiers of the men's American soccer pyramid.

Qualification for the 2020 tournament included local qualifying matches contested by 88 teams, with a majority being amateur, and took place in late 2019 from September to November. One team also qualified by winning the 2019 National Amateur Cup, and other clubs playing in national leagues that are not fully professional qualified based on their results in 2019 league play.

The Open Division Local Qualifying tournament was launched in 2016 as an alternative to holding state and regional qualifying tournaments. Now, all teams from any US Soccer-affiliated leagues just need to register. The competition begins in the fall and all entrants are divided up regionally to minimize travel, with the teams that advance the furthest qualifying for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup which will begin in the spring.^[1]

National Amateur Cup

Newtown Pride FC defeated Horizon FC, 4–0, on Saturday, August 3, to win the 2019 National Amateur Cup and qualify for the 2020 U.S. Open Cup.^[2]

National league track

National Premier Soccer League

The NPSL ranked its 87 eligible U.S.-based clubs based on results of its 2019 season for the purposes of qualification for the 2020 U.S. Open Cup.

The NPSL champion earned the top ranking, and the other finalist is second. The national semifinal loser from the region with the larger number of teams is ranked third, and the remaining national semifinalist is ranked fourth. The four regional final losers are ranked fifth through eighth based on the number of teams in their region, from largest to smallest. The remaining ranks are allocated among the regions based on their sizes and ensuring each of the NPSL's conferences has at least one team represented.

Due to a number of teams either leaving the NPSL or being unable to field a team due to the March 2020 tournament start, the following teams denied their invitations into the tournament: Miami FC (National Champion), New York Cosmos B (National Runner-up), Detroit City FC (quarterfinalist), Midland-Odessa Sockers FC, Chattanooga FC, and Brooklyn Italians.

The teams that qualified, in order of regional ranking, were:^[3]^[4]

Region	Teams
South	Tulsa Athletic (quarterfinalist), Naples United FC, Denton Diablos FC, Fort Worth Vaqueros FC
West	ASC San Diego (semifinalist), FC Arizona (quarterfinalist), FC Davis, Crossfire Redmond
Midwest	Cleveland SC (semifinalist), Minneapolis City SC, Med City FC
Northeast	Atlantic City FC, West Chester United SC, FC Motown

USL League Two

USL League Two elected to use the results of the 2019 USL League Two season to rank its 67 U.S.-based teams for the purposes of qualification for the 2020 U.S. Open Cup. The highest placing teams from each division, provided that they are American, are ranked first in order of points. The remaining teams are then ranked based on points regardless of division. The 2019 USL League Two regular-season standings tiebreaker system is invoked when needed.

Due to the tournament starting in late March 2020, two teams that would have qualified for the tournament opted to decline their invitations. The 2019 National Finalist Reading United AC and the National Champion Flint City Bucks both announced they would not take part in the Open Cup.^[5]^[6] Reading's decline breaks the club's record streak of consecutive U.S. Open Cup appearances at 12. Additionally, Mid-South Division champion Brazos Valley Cavalry FC also declined its invitation while Colorado Pride Switchbacks U23, the Mountain Division champion, folded following the season.

The rankings of the USL League Two teams for 2020 U.S. Open Cup qualification are shown in the table below.^[7]^[8]

Pos	Team	Points	Explanation
1	Des Moines Menace	36	Heartland Division champion
2	Western Mass Pioneers	36	Northeast Division champion
3	FC Golden State Force	34	Southwest Division champion
4	South Georgia Tormenta FC 2	32	Deep South Division champion
5	The Villages SC	32	Southeast Division champion
6	Chicago FC United	28	Great Lakes Division champion
7	North Carolina Fusion U23	26	South Atlantic Division champion
8	GPS Portland Phoenix	29
9	SC United Bantams	29
10	Ventura County Fusion	28
11	Corpus Christi FC	26

Local qualifying

U.S. Soccer originally announced that 89 teams would participate in local qualifying, however this number was reduced to 88 before the start of round one.^[9]^[10] The teams represented 18 different states and the District of Columbia (21 different state associations) and featured teams from 26 different leagues. For the fifth year in a row, the most represented league was the United Premier Soccer League which entered 33 teams, which was two fewer than the 35 they entered in the previous year's competition, and six fewer than the 39 that participated in the 2018 qualifying tournament.^[1] Of the 88 teams, 53 had competed in the Open Division tournament before, leaving 35 new teams.

	States	Number
1	California	20
2	Colorado	10
2	Texas	10
4	Florida	8
5	Pennsylvania	7
6	Virginia	5
6	Maryland	5
8	Massachusetts	4
9	Michigan	3
9	New Jersey	3
11	Georgia	2
	Louisiana
	New York
	South Carolina
15	District of Columbia	1
	Illinois
	Oregon
	Tennessee
	Utah

First qualifying round

The draw for the first qualifying round took place on August 26 with 42 matches originally being scheduled and five teams receiving byes into round two.^[11] However, due to one team being disqualified from the competition, three additional teams were given byes and the total number of matches was decreased to 40 on September 11. Most of the games were played on September 21 and 22.^[12]^[13] One game was postponed due to inclement weather and was later played on September 28.

East Region

September 21	Kendall Wanderers	0–5	Safira FC	Cambridge, Massachusetts
12:00 ET	Whelan 10' Sweeney 35' Arling 68'	Report	Jimenez 20, 78', 50' Bomfim 54' Rincon 71' Teixeira 74'	Stadium: Danehy Park - Field 3

September 21	Juve-Pro Soccer	0–1	Brockton FC United	Ashland, Massachusetts
19:00 ET	Victor 66' Pinheiro 68' Louro 88'	Report	Monteiro 20' Alves 37', 73' Veiga 89'	Stadium: Ashland High School

September 21	SOCA	1–4	World Class Premier Elite FC	Charlottesville, Virginia
19:00 ET	Da Silva 16' Rowe 64'	Report	Sesay 31' Banjo 37' Ajagu 44' Toure 45' Blystone 64' Ankrah 85'	Stadium: Charlottesville High School - Stadium Turf Field

September 21	Steel FC	3–1	Germantown City FC	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
19:45 ET	McDyer 15' Virgara 37' Lewandowski 39'	Report	Diego Velazquez 84'	Stadium: Shady Side Academy

September 22	CSA Westchester	2–1	Jackson Lions FC	Mahwah, New Jersey
12:00 ET	Riordan 30' Katona 52' Oakley 89'	USSF Report TheCup.us Report	Calderon-Boteo 57' Bailey 87' Dickson 87' Benjamin Vergara 87'	Stadium: Ramapo College of New Jersey

September 22	Steel Pulse FC	2–3	Tartan Devils Oak Avalon	Elkridge, Maryland
14:00 ET	Keita 69' Ndebugre 88'	USSF Report TheCup.us Report	Shaffer 32' Annan 43' Casas 45' Thiel 87'	Stadium: Troy Park

September 22	Danubia Swabian	0–5	West Chester United	Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
14:30 ET	Aguirre 17' Hotruong 75'	Report	Bishop 4' Wilson 24, 66, 84' Bollinger 90'	Stadium: Rosemont College - Main Varsity Field

September 22	Ukrainian Nationals	1–4	Vereinigung Erzgebirge	North Wales, Pennsylvania
15:00 ET	Wright 53' Arciprete 75' Tsekirov 78'	Report	Shertzer 4, 45' Antonini 75' Mettee 76'	Stadium: Ukrainian American Sports Center - Main Turf Field

September 22	FC Millennium International	2–3	CD Huateras	Hyattsville, Maryland
18:00 ET	Cruz 1', 70' Quincin 3' 72' Colinders 60'	Report	Echeverría 19', 77' Najar 22' Martinez 72' Rodriguez 82'	Stadium: Heurich Community Park - Turf Field

September 22	Doradus FC	1–2	Alianza Futbol Club	Woodbridge, Virginia
18:00 ET	Obour 89'	Report	Martinez 18' Bailey 21' Ramirez 29' Arias 61' Gavarrete 87'	Stadium: Howison Homestead Soccer Complex

September 22	Clifton Elite FC	2–4	Lansdowne Yonkers FC	Clifton, New Jersey
20:15 ET	Bello 66', 90, 90+1' Lakhrif 83'	Report	Dillon 23, 45' Arvidsson 36' Andersen 44'	Stadium: Athenia Steel Recreation Complex

Received bye to second round of qualification:

Christos FC
Federal City Wanderers
New York Pancyprian Freedoms
United German Hungarians
Virginia United

Central Region

September 21	Celtic Cowboys Premier	7–1	Central Texas Lobos	Austin, Texas
12:00 CT	O'Brien 35, 42' Riad 44' Wright 56, 68, 84, 86' Cperk 81'	Report	Ali 58'	Stadium: Onion Creek Soccer Complex - Field 8

September 21	Atletico Miami CF	3–7	Miami United FC U23	Miami, Florida
16:30 ET	Jaramillo 37' Tomas 50' Harvey 53'	Report	Fraggetti 8' Riascos 13, 82' Rodriguez 26', 46' Stamatis 28, 34, 71'	Stadium: Kendall Soccer Park

September 21	NTX Rayados	4–2	FC Fort Worth Soccer Club	Balch Springs, Texas
17:00 CT	Ortiz 31' Wilson 45' Hernandez 53' Sesay 71, 90'	Report	Matamoros 16' Solorzano 35' Guzman Jr. 89'	Stadium: Premier Park - Field 1

September 21	Club ATLetic	0–1	Georgia Revolution FC Reserves	Sandy Spring, Georgia
19:00 ET	Henry 12'	USSF Report TheCup.us Report	Sinclair 25' Sandoval 30'	Stadium: Dunwoody Springs Elementary School

September 21	Coyotes FC	2–3	San Antonio Runners	Temple, Texas
19:00 CT	Camarena 16' Jaimes-Diaz 34', 69' Collins 72'	Report	Flores 6', 62' Mendoza 49' Maldonado 73' Beltran 76'	Stadium: Holy Trinity Catholic High School, Field 1

September 21	Louisiana Krewe FC	5–2	Northshore United	Lafayette, Louisiana
19:00 CT	Pimpao 15, 50, 64' Caliman 21' Barrozo 48' Gremillion Jr 53'	Report	Baudean 20' 82' Abdelaziz 31' Guthrie 42' McInnis 45' Louisiana Krewe FC 67' (o.g.)	Stadium: St. Thomas More Catholic High School

September 21	Hurricane FC	1–1 (9–8 p)	International Soccer Association	Delray Beach, Florida
20:00 ET	Castellon 18' Elizor 56' Astudillo 62' Wesselburg 64'	USSF Report TheCup.us Report	Arcanjo 21' Milord 42' Andrade 71' Garzon 120' Fagiani 120' Borges 120'	Stadium: Seacrest Soccer Complex - Field 1

September 22	Charleston United	1–1 (2–4 p)	Soda City Sorinex FC	Charleston, South Carolina
16:00 ET	Brito 49' Carcamo 60' Danna 105'	USSF Report TheCup.us Report	Charleston United 23' (o.g.) Smith 53' Pondy 58' Jermstad 79' Ortega 115'	Stadium: Drayton Hall Elementary School
	Penalties

September 22	Athletic Katy FC	Postponed	Houston FC	Houston, Texas
11:00 CT		Report		Stadium: San Jacinto College South Campus

September 22	Lone Star Republic	1–2	Inocentes Futbol Club	Addison, Texas
14:00 CT	Faki 60' Cantor 65' Ketterhagen 70' Gokhale 86' 89'	Report	Rodriguez 45' Kovacevic 51'	Stadium: The Greenhill School - Frankel Field

September 22	Deportivo Lake Mary	1-2 (a.e.t.)	Orlando FC Wolves	Sanford, Florida
17:30 ET	Hernandez 16' Ponce 57' Cardona 73' Salvagno 96'	Report	Leon 18' Flemmings 86' 112' Allen 99' 120' Bond II 113' Blackhurst 120'	Stadium: Sylvan Lake Park

September 22	Florida Soccer Soldiers	2–0	Red Force FC	Miramar, Florida
18:00 ET	Andreo 7' Gutierrez 13' Valencia 33' Ruiz de Somocurcio 49' Orozco 55' Rios 69' Williams 90'	Report	Scott Gordon 33'	Stadium: Miramar Regional Park

September 22	Livonia City FC	2-2 (5–4 p)	Wayne County Sporting	Livonia, Michigan
20:30 ET	Dushkaj 56, 90' Arton 90'	USSF Report Livonia City FC PK Report	Al Shareefi 8', 90' Barajas-Dias 32' Chavira 74' Cuevas 112'	Stadium: Schoolcraft College
	Penalties
	Bruno Bechard Smith Smutek		Barajas-Dias

September 28^[a]	Athletic Katy FC	3–3 (5–4 p)	Houston FC	Houston, Texas
19:30 CT	Mosquera 11' Osevwe 12, 16' Medina 26' 90' Varela 32' Valencia Suárez 90'	USSF Report TheCup.us Report	Parker 45' Arney 49, 86, 93', 103' Resendiz 75' 75' Perlaza 85'	Stadium: Campbell Road Sports Park Stadium

Notes:

^ Match was postponed from originally scheduled date due to heavy rain.

Received bye to second round of qualification:

Ann Arbor FC
Nashville United
Springfield FC

West Region

September 21	Chula Vista FC	2–2 (5–4 p)	Rebels Soccer Club	Chula Vista, California
16:30 PT	Martinez 1' Chavez 43' Rubio 45' Diaz 45' Hernandez 57' Altamirano 71' Gonzalez 80' 90'	USSF Report TheCup.us Report	Burguillo 45' Gonzalez 45', 65' Padilla 45' Lua 60' Bennouna 90'	Stadium: Terra Nova Park

September 21	FC Denver	0–2	FC Boulder Harpos	Aurora, Colorado
19:00 MT	Peter Jacobson 51'	Report	Braun 26', 26' Jaime 66' Wheeler 78'	Stadium: Aurora Sports Park - Field 1

September 21	Logroñes Denver Soccer Club	2–6	Colorado Rovers	Denver, Colorado
19:30 MT	Salcido Jr 17' Rodriguez 50' Garcia 59' Alvarez 85' Montalvo 89'	Report	Emge 15', 18, 55' Pena 19', 57' Townsend 52' Kotschau 65' Herschberger 79' Hughes 87'	Stadium: North Stadium/1st Bank Field

September 21	USA Soccer Stars FC	1–2	Alta California Sol	Lake Forest, California
19:00 PT	Santos 17' Pacas 45' Marshall 50', 83' Baisie-Mensah 80' Lopez 84'	Report	Lozano 10' Lagunas 13, 76' Lopez 61'	Stadium: Lake Forest Sports Park - Field B

September 21	Newport FC	1–4	SC Trojans FC	Irvine, California
19:00 PT	Lopez 76'	Report	Dilla 16, 17' Queen IV 23' Azage 38'	Stadium: Orange County Great Park - Field 15

September 21	L.A. Monsters FC	4–0	Valley United SC	Irvine, California
19:30 PT	Delgado 3' Vargas 54' Valley United SC 82' (o.g.) Meza 84'	Report	Parks 38'	Stadium: Orange County Great Park - Field 19

September 21	Real San Jose	1–1 (2–4 p)	Outbreak FC	San Jose, California
19:30 PT	Castro 3' Martinez 60' Katser 118'	USSF Report TheCup.us Report	Barajas 10' Sanchez 78' Kolano 104'	Stadium: PAL Stadium

September 21	Oakland Stompers	1–0	Contra Costa FC	Oakland, California
20:30 PT	Hinostroza 68' Coulibaly 84'	Report	Mattes 38' Hernandez 45'	Stadium: Raimondi Park

September 22	San Juan FC	2–0	IPS/Marathon Taverna	Herriman, Utah
13:00 MT	Escobar 34' Kostovski 45', 54' Kanyare 79'	Report	Hernandez-Tavera 24' Romac 64' King 85' Atanasov 90'	Stadium: Zions Bank Stadium

September 22	Athletic Club of Sloan’s Lake	0–5	Azteca FC	Lakewood, Colorado
14:00 MT	Abiar 62'	Report	Richart 13, 23' Delgado 17' Anaya 52, 90', 74'	Stadium: Lakewood Memorial Field

September 22	Colorado Rush	3–2 (a.e.t.)	Club El Azul	Lakewood, Colorado
15:00 MT	Gaido 63' Hartman 63' Jones 67', 95' Barancoski 107, 112', 113' Kiger 115' Olvera 120'	USSF Report TheCup.us Report	Ruiz 2', 109' 113' Granados 13' Garcia Jr. 14' 120' Rojas 59' Lopez 70' Aguilera 80' 98' Reza 113' Alvarado 113' Chavez 120'	Stadium: Addenbrooke Park

September 22	Quickening	2–9	Cal FC	Lancaster, California
14:00 PT	Barron 37' Diaz 75'	Report	Barouch 15, 32' Raygoza 29, 44, 58' Lomeli 38' Alfaro 42' Cazarez 77' Aghasi 86'	Stadium: Lancaster National Soccer Center - Field 33

September 22	Gam United FC	1–2	FC Union Jerez	Denver, Colorado
16:00 MT	Austin 1' Soumah 45' 87'	Report	Hernandez Jr. 6' 90', 48' Rodriguez 22' Gonzalez 85'	Stadium: Lowry Sports Complex Park - Turf Field 2

September 22	Oxnard Guerreros FC	2–0	Santa Monica United FC	Oxnard, California
18:30 PT	Tamayo 53', 74' Aguilar 59' Yepez 61' Estrada 84'	Report	McKenna 52' Santana 60'	Stadium: Del Sol Stadium

September 22	Academica SC	4–1	PV United	Turlock, California
19:00 PT	Golbad 15' Madrigal 48' Ceja 61' Hernandez 77' Carmona 85'	Report	Alberto Garcia 86'	Stadium: Our Lady of the Assumption Park

September 22	JASA RWC	0–4	Olympic Club	Redwood City, California
19:00 PT	Demirlioglu 8' Abdel-Shafi 50'	Report	Fondy 45' Rovira 48' Kovar 58', 65' Sanner 72'	Stadium: Red Morton Community Park - Bechet Field

Second qualifying round

The draw for the second qualifying round took place on September 23.^[14] Most of the games were played on October 19 and 20.^[15]^[16] One game was postponed due to inclement weather and was played on November 2.