Major League Soccer (MLS) announced a significant increase in participation for the U.S. Open Cup this season, with the number of teams set to double. Although the current holders, Los Angeles FC, will not defend their title, as they will be represented by their MLS Next Pro team, LAFC2.
MLS also has upcoming changes for the Leagues Cup, with only 18 teams competing, mirroring the number of Liga MX teams involved. Further updates will be revealed later, as these are managed separately from the U.S. Open Cup, which is overseen by U.S. Soccer.
Each team will now participate in a maximum of two Concacaf competitions among the U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup, Canadian Championship, and Concacaf Champions Cup, with exceptions for Inter Miami and Seattle Sounders who will also join the Club World Cup. The league plans to take a summer break during the Club World Cup and the Concacaf Gold Cup to minimize the workload on these teams.
The decision to limit competitions to two per team aims to address scheduling and workload concerns, which the league recognized has become increasingly overwhelming. Furthermore, this move reflects MLS’s commitment to improving its international profile as it enters its 30th year.
“What brought us to this is experience. Competing in international tournaments is essential to us and our fans have communicated that,” stated MLS’s Executive Vice President, Nelson Rodriguez.
For the upcoming competitions, it includes MLS Next Pro teams, 24 of 27 eligible MLS clubs will be showcased. This is a notable increase from 17 teams participating in the last edition. While complete participation may not be achievable yet, it signifies growth for the league.
Competition Qualification for Future Seasons
- Concacaf Champions Cup: Qualification determined by Concacaf.
- Leagues Cup: 18 MLS clubs will qualify, matching Liga MX clubs.
- U.S. Open Cup: MLS teams not in the Leagues Cup or Champions Cup qualify automatically.
- Canadian Championship: All three Canadian teams will participate.
These guidelines will remain under evaluation for the 2027 season, but for now, teams in talks to increase league stature and roster rules are underway, showing promising adjustments to competition structure moving forward.
