On heels of spirited final, U.S. Open Cup’s future can become more robust

All non-Canadian Major League Soccer teams are scheduled to return to the U.S. Open Cup next year following St. Louis City's shootout victory against the Columbus Crew in the 2026 final. The decision ends a period where MLS restricted participation by entering only 16 top-flight teams due to fixture congestion and financial concerns. Daniel Edelman converted the decisive penalty to seal St. Louis City's first trophy in franchise history.

The tournament's calendar will shift alongside MLS's transition to a summer-to-spring schedule, with the round of 64 taking place in July and the final scheduled for December. U.S. Soccer director of competitions David Applegate confirmed that full MLS involvement will resume, noting strong alignment among fans, players, and clubs to preserve the historic competition.