Soapbox: U.S. Soccer Should Develop a Women's U.S. Open Cup

  

The 2024 U.S. Open Cup concluded on September 25, and the first qualifying round for the 2025 U.S. Open Cup kicked off ten days later with a record number of teams entered in the competition.

This historic competition is unique in the United States, because it's the only competition in our country that includes both amateur clubs and professional clubs competing for the same trophy. As a result, the U.S. Open Cup is the closest thing we have to an open sports system in the U.S. that provides more opportunity to an expansive number of clubs and organizations.

The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) should continue to expand opportunities to more of its stakeholders by developing a women's division of the U.S. Open Cup. Besides expanding more opportunities to more of its stakeholders, including a women's division of the U.S. Open Cup would make the crown jewel of the USSF's programming sparkle that much brighter.

The day when we need to distinguish between the Men's U.S. Open Cup and the Women's U.S. Open Cup should come sooner than later, and the competition will be even better when its great poster series also includes images of women hoisting the iconic trophy.