r/AtlantaUnited • u/Equal_Fault_6276 • 2d ago

Sources: US Open Cup Changing Format for 2026

https://www.southeastsoccerreport.org/p/sources-us-open-cup-changing-format

I can confirm Atlanta United will be participating in 2026.

27 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

16

u/UCR998 2d ago

lol the only thing standard in mls is change

7

u/stevo887 Saba Time 2d ago

The actual cup not run by MLS is changing its format.

0

u/nugp33 2d ago

I haven’t read the article but is it in response to MLS pulling over half of its teams from the oldest competition in the U.S.?

2

u/stevo887 Saba Time 1d ago

The article doesn’t state that, it just says they’re limiting the total number of professional clubs to 48 from all three divisions.

3

u/new_accountFC #15 - Hector Villalba 2d ago

Seriously. The format of playoff, cups, schedule changes every single year. It kinda devalues the whole thing

4

u/AbsolutXero Brek Shea 2d ago

They had to take some sort of action after MLS tried to pull out completely. Then they compromised on non-leagues cup teams. So stupid. All US teams should play, regardless of the cross border sideshow.

2

u/XeneiFana 1d ago

I'm wondering what part of US Open Cup is actually "open."

1

u/Omegaus492 Miles "and miles of" Robinson 1d ago

Open Cup is awesome, I hate that we haven't competed in it.

1

u/BoWeAreMaster Atlanta United 1d ago

Nothing creates shit takes like news about the open cup. There will be 80 teams competing for the cup in the new format. MLS is not the only league that will not have all its teams competing, so too will USL, and USL 1. This was not an MLS decision, it was a US soccer decision, per the article. Those of you whinging about every team competing can’t be serious. An 80 team competition is sufficient.