U.S. Open Cup qualifying draws 89 entrants amid high turnover

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Aug 22, 2019

U.S. Soccer released the names of the 89 teams that will take part this fall in the qualifying rounds for the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

In 2018, 95 teams entered Open Division qualifying, down from a record 108 in 2017 (when eight teams -- five in the first round and three in the second -- ended up forfeiting). The 108 teams was a record by a wide margin, reflecting the rapid growth of amateur leagues across the country, like the UPSL.

Open Division qualifying schedule:
First Qualifying Round: Sept. 21-23
Second Qualifying Round: Oct. 19-20
Third Qualifying Round: Nov. 23-24
Fourth Qualifying Round (if necessary): Dec. 21-22

Back again. All seven 2018 Open Division local qualifiers into the 2019 Open Cup are entered again in 2019 qualifying. They include the Florida Soccer Soldiers, who beat the USL Championship's Charlotte Independence in the second round. The others are Academica SC, Cal FC, FC Denver, NTX Rayados, Virginia United and West Chester United.

Three-time Open Cup champion New York Pancyprian Freedoms (1980, 1982 and 1983) is also back.

The Milwaukee Bavarians, who qualified for the Open Cup as the USASA Amateur Cup champions, aren't entered in 2019 Open Division qualifying.

Already through. Connecticut's Newtown Pride FC earned a direct slot into the first round of the 2020 Open Cup by winning the 2019 USASA Amateur Cup and will not compete in local qualifying, the second year running where a first-round berth has been reserved for the Amateur Cup champion.

There are just 36 newcomers in 2019 qualifying, down from 47 in 2018. One change that took effect for last year's competition that some clubs cited as their reason for not returning is that the entry fee is now $1,200 and includes a $1,000 refundable performance bond to deter teams from entering and forfeiting. The same fees are due this year.

The UPSL again leads all leagues with 32 entrants, down from 35 in 2018 and 38 in 2017.

Just 43 of the 95 teams entered last year are again entered. They include Newtown Pride FC.  Eleven states that had entrants last year don't have any entrants in 2019. They include Missouri, which produced 10 champions in the pre-MLS days.

In part because of issues related to travel, the entrants are concentrated in a few big states. Five states -- California, Colorado, Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas -- account for more than 60 percent of the entrants.

California (20)
LIGA NorCal (US Club Soccer)
Academica SC*; Turlock, Calif.
 
San Francisco Soccer Football League (USASA)
Olympic Club; San Francisco, Calif.
 
SoCal Premier League (USASA)
Chula Vista FC; Chula Vista, Calif.
L.A. Monsters FC; Irvine, Calif.
Outbreak FC; Long Beach, Calif.
Quickening; Palmdale, Calif.
Rebels Soccer Club; Chula Vista, Calif.
SC Trojans FC; Los Angeles, Calif.
 
United Premier Soccer League (USASA)
Alta California Sol; Santa Barbara, Calif.
Cal FC*; Wilmington, Calif.
Contra Costa FC; Walnut Creek, Calif.
JASA RWC; Redwood City, Calif.
Newport FC; Lake Forest, Calif.
Oakland Stompers; Oakland, Calif.
Oxnard Guerreros FC; Oxnard, Calif.
PV United; Watsonville, Calif.
Real San Jose; San Jose, Calif.
Santa Monica United FC; Santa Monica, Calif.
USA Soccer Stars FC; Glendale, Calif.
Valley United SC; North Hills, Calif.
 
Colorado (10)
Colorado Premier League (USSSA)
Athletic Club of Sloan’s Lake; Lakewood, Colo.
Azteca FC; Broomfield, Colo.
Club El Azul; Broomfield, Colo.
Colorado Rovers; Broomfield, Colo.
FC Boulder Harpos; Boulder, Colo.
FC Denver*; Aurora, Colo.
FC Union Jerez; Broomfield, Colo.
 
Colorado Super League (USASA)
Colorado Rush; Lakewood, Colo.
Logroñes Denver Soccer Club; Denver, Colo.
 
Mountain Premier League (US Club Soccer)
Gam United FC; Denver, Colo.

District of Columbia (1)
District Sports Premier League (USASA)
Federal City Wanderers; Washington, D.C.
 
Florida (8)
Central Florida Soccer League (USASA)
Orlando FC Wolves; Orlando, Fla.
 
United Premier Soccer League (USASA)
Atletico Miami CF; Miami, Fla.
Deportivo Lake Mary; Sanford, Fla.
Florida Soccer Soldiers*; Miramar, Fla.
Hurricane FC; Delray Beach, Fla.
International Soccer Association: Miami, Fla.
Miami United FC U23; Miami, Fla.
Red Force FC; Miami, Fla.
 
Georgia (2)
Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League (USASA)
Club ATLetic; Atlanta, Ga.
Georgia Revolution FC Reserves; Locust Grove, Ga.
 
Illinois (1)
United Premier Soccer League (U.S. Adult Soccer Assn.)
Springfield FC; Springfield, Ill.
 
Louisiana (2)
Gulf Coast Premier League (USASA)
Louisiana Krewe FC; Lafayette, La.
Northshore United; Mandeville, La.
 
Maryland (5)
Maryland Major Soccer League (USASA)
Christos FC; Ferndale, Md.
Izee Auto FC; Columbia, Md.
Steel Pulse FC; Windsor Mill, Md.
 
United Premier Soccer League (USASA)
FC Millenium International; Hyattsville, Md.
World Class Premier Elite FC; Boyds, Md.
 
Massachusetts (4)
Bay State Soccer League (USASA)
Brockton FC United; Brockton, Mass.
Kendall Wanderers; Cambridge, Mass.
 
United Premier Soccer League (USASA)
Juve-Pro Soccer; Ashland, Mass.
Safira FC; Sommerville, Mass.
 
Michigan (3)
Ann Arbor Premier League (USASA)
Ann Arbor FC; Ann Arbor, Mich.
 
Michigan Premier Soccer League (USASA)
Livonia City FC; Livonia, Mich.
Wayne County Sporting; Riverview, Mich.
 
New Jersey (3)
Cosmopolitan Soccer League (USASA)
CSA Westchester; Tinton Falls, N.J.

Garden State Soccer League (USASA)
Clifton Elite FC; Clifton, N.J.
Jackson Lions FC; Jackson, N.J.
 
New York (2)
Cosmopolitan Soccer League (USASA)
Lansdowne Yonkers FC; Yonkers, N.Y.
New York Pancyprian Freedoms^; Queens, N.Y.
 
Oregon (1)
Oregon Premier Soccer League (Oregon Adult Soccer Assn./USASA)
International Portland Select (IPS)/Marathon Taverna; Portland, Ore.
 
Pennsylvania (7)
Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League (USASA)
Steel FC; Pittsburgh, Pa.
Tartan Devils Oak Avalon; Pittsburgh, Pa.
 
United Soccer League of Pennsylvania (USASA)
Danubia Swabian; Philadelphia, Pa.
Ukrainian Nationals; North Wales, Pa.
United German Hungarians; Oakford, Pa.
Vereinigung Erzgebirge; Warminster, Pa.
West Chester United*; West Chester, Pa.
 
South Carolina (2)
Central League (USASA)
Soda City Sorinex FC; Columbia, S.C.
 
United Premier Soccer League (USASA)
Charleston United; Charleston, S.C.
 
Tennessee (1)
Middle Tennessee Soccer Alliance (USASA)
Nashville United; Murfreesboro, Tenn.
 
Texas (10)
Austin Men's Soccer Association (USSSA)
Celtic Cowboys Premier; Austin, Texas
 
Gulf Coast Premier League (USASA)
Central Texas Lobos; Austin, Texas
 
North Texas Premier Soccer Association (USASA)
NTX Rayados*; Balch Springs, Texas
 
United Premier Soccer League (USASA)
Athletic Katy FC; Houston, Texas
Coyotes FC; Temple, Texas
FC Fort Worth Soccer Club; Forth Worth, Texas
Houston FC; Houston, Texas
Inocentes Futbol Club; Forth Worth, Texas
Lone Star Republic; Addison, Texas
San Antonio Runners; San Antonio, Texas
 
Utah (1)
United Premier Soccer League (USASA)
San Juan FC; Herriman, Utah
 
Virginia (6)
Soccer Organization of the Charlottesville Area (USASA)
SOCA; Charlottesville, Va.
 
Woodbridge Soccer League (ANFUSA)
Alianza Futbol Club; Woodbridge, Va.
CD Huateras; Woodbridge, Va.
Doradus FC; Fairfax County, Va.
Germantown City FC; Woodbridge, Va.
Virginia United*; Woodbridge, Va.
* Advanced to 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup