U.S. Soccer rejects the request by Major League Soccer to have MLS Next Pro teams participate in the 2024 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The decision comes after MLS commissioner Don Garber announced first teams would not feature in the competition, with MLS’s development league set to participate in the country’s oldest soccer tournament instead.
“Major League Soccer has requested to allow MLS Next PRO teams to represent MLS in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. After thoughtful consideration, we have informed MLS that the U.S. Soccer staff recommendation, which was adopted by the Pro League Taskforce, is that the request be denied,” said U.S. Soccer in a statement.
“As we move forward, we will continue our review of the Open Cup to ensure it aligns with the U.S. Soccer strategic pillars. We remain committed to addressing the needs and concerns of all of our members, including MLS, and other stakeholders to enhance and improve the U.S. Open Cup.”
Don Garber and MLS originally defended the radical decision by stating “there are several essential goals and concerns that must be addressed in connection with the tournament.”
“MLS took that step [to remove its first teams] because it believes that there are several essential goals and concerns that must be addressed in connection with the tournament, including developing young professional players and providing them with greater opportunity to play before fans in meaningful competition in a tournament setting, prioritizing player health and safety, reducing schedule congestion for MLS clubs, and enhanced investment from U.S. Soccer,” MLS said in a statement.
Though the commissioner previously labeled the competition “a very poor reflection on what it is that we’re trying to do with soccer at the highest level,” the US Open Cup stands as the United States’ longest-running soccer competition.
Though MLS remains “committed to finding a viable solution for the 2024 tournament,” the U.S. Soccer rules are clear. The U.S. Soccer Federation’s professional league rules state that “U.S.-based teams must participate in all representative U.S. Soccer and CONCACAF competitions for which they are eligible.”
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