SPOKANE, Wash. — The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a single-game-knockout tournament, similar to the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament. The cup is open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer.
This year's tournament will include 96 teams including amateur and professional teams. They will play in a total of 95 games from March to September.
According to U.S. Soccer's website, the Lamar Hunt is the oldest ongoing national soccer companionship in the U.S. and the world's third-longest continuously run national cup tournament.
The first round of the tournament started Mar. 19 and wrapped on Mar. 21. In round one, the Spokane Velocity FC played Ballard FC, who are the 2023 USL2 Champions. Ballard had a home field advantage but fell to the Velocity FC 1-0.
"The First Round of the 2024 U.S. Open Cup will consist of 32 games with 32 amateur clubs from the Open Division meeting 32 professional teams from Division III," the U.S. Soccer website said. "The Open Division representatives include 11 Qualifying Round winners, 11 USL League Two teams... Division III representatives include 12 USL League One teams... The winners of the First Round will play each other in the Second Round of the tournament."
Looking ahead
This earned the Velocity FC to move on to the second round, where the Los Angeles Force will hit the pitch at the One Spokane Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on April 3. The LA Force beat Redlands FC in the first round 2-1.
Velocity FC on KREM 2 & KSKN 22
KREM 2 is excited to be part of the Spokane Velocity FC's inaugural season! The Spokane Velocity FC and KREM 2 have partnered to carry home games on KREM 2 and KSKN 22. Those matches will air live between now and September.
- Saturday, 5/11/24: Spokane Velocity vs. Union Omaha, 6 p.m. PST on KREM 2
- Saturday, 5/25/24: Spokane Velocity vs. Greenville Triumph SC, 6 p.m. PST on KSKN
- Saturday, 7/6/24: Spokane Velocity vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, 6 p.m. PST on KSKN
- Saturday, 7/27/24: Spokane Velocity vs. Charlotte Independence, 6 p.m. PST on KSKN
- Tuesday, 8/13/2024: Spokane Velocity vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm, 6 p.m. PST on KSKN
KREM 2 will also be hosting a KREM 2 Night at a Velocity match during the season.
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