This year, US Soccer has taken steps to minimize the overall total travel distance faced by teams in qualifying. All of the teams have been sorted into 14 geographical groups with three groups further split into sub-divisions. This means that for the first time, teams in qualifying know who they might play based on the pool of teams they are in. The groups are as follows:.
Thsi year, 49 clubs will make their debut in the qualifying tournament. Out of the 24 different states and the District of Columbia involved in the qualifying tournament, 26 different leagues are represented.
Follow TheCup. Below you will find a brief preview of all 32 games:. Another matchup of qualifying debutants. While City Soccer has won at least two games in its three previous qualifying appearances, Miami United have been their Open Cup boogeymen. After qualifying for the main tournament in with a win over Florida Soccer Soldiers , City fell to Miami United in the opening round.
Miami Soccer Academy are making their 4th qualifying appearance, and have won their opening game the previous three times. Desert FC are making their first qualifying appearance since , having not entered last year.
In , an opening win iver LA Monsters was followed by a forfeit loss to Capistrano FC due to a shortage of players. Chula Vista has considerably more qualifying experience, making their seventh appearance, though this year marks a return after a two year hiatus. During the Open Cup. Last year, House prevailed over Edgewater in the Third Round.
