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U.S. Soccer’s Open Cup Committee has officially canceled the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the 2021 Open Division qualifying games that were scheduled to take place this fall. The official announcement said it was due to “the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the USA, which has impacted travel, limited or eliminated fans in the stands at games, and necessitated strict testing protocols.”
The tournament has been running for 106 years, the second-longest streak for national cup competitions worldwide, trailing only the Irish Cup in Northern Ireland. During the pandemic of 1918-1920, the tournament was played.
Open Cup Commissioner Paul Marstaller remains optimistic for next year, saying that “despite this setback, the importance and significance of U.S. Soccer’s National Championship continues to grow, and we look forward to launching the 2021 tournament next spring with the same enthusiasm that was planned for this year’s 100-team competition.”
Read the entire announcement here.