2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup kicks off on March 18 with 32-game first round, matching professional teams against amateurs

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will return with a 32-game first round which will start on March 18, U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday.

The USOC, now in its 110th edition, will have 64 teams participating in the first round. The 32 amateur teams include Open Cup qualifiers, USASA National Amateur Champion NY Pancyprian Freedoms, UPSL Spring Champion Soda City FC, NPSL teams, and USL League Two teams. They will face 32 professional teams from the USL Championship (DII), USL League One (DIII), and MLS NEXT Pro.

All 32 matches will be played between March 18-20, with the winners advancing to the second round, which starts April 1. MLS clubs will join in the Round of 32, which starts May 6-7.

A total of 26 teams are making their Open Cup debut, including clubs from USL League One, MLS NEXT Pro, and various amateur leagues. Pairings were determined geographically, ensuring each professional team faced an amateur opponent. In cases where multiple teams were in the same region, host selection was done randomly.

As seen in years past, there could be some teams primed to make noise in the tournament after doing so in previous editions, like FORO SC, Tulsa Athletic, FC Motown, and El Farolito -- all returning this year.

The final is set for Oct. 1, with the winner earning $300,000, a 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup berth, and the Dewar Challenge Trophy. LAFC is the defending champion, but will not be participating in the 2025 edition of the tournament due to newly instituted competition guidelines by MLS.

Hartford Athletic (USLC) vs. New York Shockers (NPSL) will be the opening match of the tournament, kicking off at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, CT at 6:30 p.m. ET.