The U.S. Open Cup is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States. It is a single-elimination tournament open to all affiliated teams, from amateur sides to Major League Soccer clubs.
Founded in 1914 as the National Challenge Cup, the tournament was renamed in 1999 to honor American pro sports pioneer Lamar Hunt. Hunt is best known as the founder and former owner of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs. He was inducted into three major sports halls of fame: Pro Football (1972), National Soccer (1982), and International Tennis (1993).
The tournament is organized by the U.S. Soccer Federation and is one of the longest-running competitions in world soccer.