Ah, the U.S. Open Cup. Does it get any better than this? With your Loons set to enter the Round of 32 tomorrow against Sacramento Republic FC, I simply couldn’t help taking a trip down memory lane, and before I knew it, I was full-on studying the history of this glorious competition. Needless to say, I’m ready for the test. 

With more than a century of often strange stories to sift through, America’s oldest cup competition is packed with fun facts that, while they won’t likely make you the life of a party, just might help you out in a (very) niche trivia night one of these days. Or, at least, I hope so, because I’ve got too many of these random facts packed in my head at this point. I get the benefit of dumping them out and sharing them with you, though. What you do with these fun facts is entirely up to you. 

This is Football Heritage

When Jose Mourinho said that, he was being a little cheeky. When I say it, I mean it. In a nation traditionally dominated by other sports, the U.S. Open Cup offers the most comprehensive, consistent source of American soccer history, and I love it. The first edition of the tournament was played during the 1913-14 season, when it was known as the National Challenge Cup. Since 1999, we’ve called it the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, honoring American sports icon Lamar Hunt, who fans may know was a pioneer in the growth of the NASL, MLS, and NFL during his lifetime.

The original trophy, the Dewar Cup, was donated by John Dewar, a Scottish whiskey distiller who wanted to see the game grow in the USA. Good on you, John; I think it worked. The trophy that bears his name was retired in 1979 and now resides in the National Soccer Hall of Fame at FC Dallas’ stadium. Though it’s no longer in use, the name of every new champion is still inscribed at the base of the original Dewar Trophy every year.

As time has gone on, the soccer landscape in the US has changed quite a bit. It feels like an endless list of leagues has come and gone over the last century, most notable of which is probably the original North American Soccer League. In many ways, it was MLS before MLS, attracting global superstars (anyone remember Pele these days?) to American shores and exciting audiences during its relatively short run from 1968 to 1984. Interestingly, that version of the NASL never competed in the U.S. Open Cup, so you won’t find the likes of the New York Cosmos, Minnesota Kicks, or Chicago Sting inscribed on the trophy anywhere.

What names will you find, though? Oh, I’m so glad you asked, because I hyper-fixated HARD on the list of past champions. Get ready for this, folks, and trust me, I’m not making this stuff up. 

Champions of Yore

Ever wondered how many different teams have won the USOC? Maybe who’s won the most? How many department stores have won it? The answers may surprise you. So, we’ll save those for the end. 

Since MLS began play in 1997, the title has been won by an MLS team in every season but 1999, when the Rochester Rhinos claimed the title. The last non-MLS team to even make the final was Sacramento Republic in 2022, when they lost to Orlando City. The most successful MLS team in the competition’s history is a three-way tie between the Seattle Sounders, SKC, and the Chicago Fire, all of whom have won four titles apiece. Now, let’s get to the good stuff. 

Your all-time best USOC teams are (drumroll please) Bethlehem Steel and Maccabee Los Angeles! These now defunct clubs earned five titles before they folded, with Bethlehem winning all five of theirs between 1915 and 1926. Maccabee’s equally dominant run came half a century later, when they won five titles between 1973 and 1981. They played in regional professional leagues in their time, with Bethlehem based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and sponsored by the local steel manufacturers. Maccabee represented the west coast well, and though they only existed for 11 years, made it to a total of seven Open Cup finals while playing in the Greater Los Angeles Soccer League. 

Now, some quick hits for you:

• In the 1930s, Stix Baer and Fuller F.C. won back-to-back titles (‘33 and ‘34), and were sponsored by the St. Louis-based department store of the same name (minus the F.C., of course)

• New York Greek American SC won three consecutive titles from 1967 to 1969, then added a fourth in 1974. The club still exists, and currently plays at the amateur level. Their rivals, New York Pancyprian Freedoms, won three out of four USOC titles from 1980 to 1983, and also play at the amateur level to this day. 

• The state of New York has the most cumulative titles (26) in competition history, followed by California (16) and Pennsylvania (14). 

• Representatives from 25 different states have reached the final, with your Loons becoming the first Minnesota-based club to compete for the trophy in 2019. 

And the list goes on. I know you’re craving more random facts, but that’s all I’ll give you this season. Come back next year for more! Now, Go! Spread the word! Share all of these at your next social outing; shout Open Cup praise from the rooftops. It’s the eve of the greatest competition known to mankind!