The 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup features a 96-team field joining 27 MLS clubs in the Round of 64, with five seeded USL Championship teams and 32 First Round entrants from USL Championship, USL League One, MLS NEXT Pro, and 32 Open Division clubs.

The format for 2027 brings MLS teams into the Round of 64 and expands the combined field from professional and Open Division levels, aligning with the summer-to-spring MLS schedule.

For 2027, the field includes 32 Division II & III entrants in the First Round (with selection rules if more than 32 eligible), plus 32 Open Division teams (16 via qualifying rounds and 16 byes), alongside the 27 MLS clubs and five seeded USL Championship clubs entering in the Round of 64.

Draws will be geography-based with possible random elements to resolve mismatches, and venue availability may influence group construction, all within a single-elimination knockout format.

The revised structure aims to reduce congestion and improve squad management by allowing broader player usage and resting strategies, addressing prior criticisms of competition overlap.

Roster rules allow up to 20 players per match with no cap on who can play, enabling participation from first-team, MLS NEXT Pro, and academy players to give minutes to younger players.

The tournament schedule shifts to the MLS calendar, with rounds starting in the summer and continuing after Labor Day, culminating in a December final.

The full 2027 tournament runs through December 15, featuring the final five rounds after Labor Day to align with the evolving professional calendar.

NYCFC’s participation under the new format signals a return to the traditional Open Cup structure and MLS culture.

All U.S.-based MLS teams are slated to participate in 2027, addressing previous fan concern over absences.

First Round matchups will be announced in early 2027 with geographic clustering, followed by a live draw after the Round of 64 to determine the Round of 32 and Round of 16 hosting and pairings.

Historically, the U.S. Open Cup has crowned a national champion since 1914 and remains the oldest ongoing national competition in U.S. soccer, open to professional and amateur clubs affiliated with U.S. Soccer.