Open Cup (USA)

U.S. Open Cup (USA) (Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup) - the annual U.S. national knockout cup organized under the U.S. Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer), open to affiliated professional and amateur clubs, with the winner recognized as the national champion. Regulations: the competition is played as single-elimination, typically with one-off matches, while pairings and home team designation are set by the organizer via round procedures that combine draws and practical travel considerations. Match format: two 45-minute halves, if level - a short break and two 15-minute extra-time periods, if still level - a penalty shoot-out under the Laws of the Game; if lighting is insufficient, the match commissioner may reduce extra time or cancel it. The champion qualifies for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, if the champion already holds a slot it passes to the runner-up, and if that also overlaps it passes to the highest regular-season points club from MLS that has not yet qualified.