The Open Cup is nearing its end once again as most fans would know since the temperatures across the country have made a reach into the 100s which means it's time for the annual debate over how the tournament could be improved. The current scenario has four MLS clubs in the semifinals, which limits the interest of the local communities in which USL clubs exist. It is no secret that many fans of USL clubs are a little apprehensive about the teams in MLS if for no other reason than the fact that they are not their local clubs.
Another problem exists because of the way in which teams "qualify" for the Open Cup. All teams from the PDL, USASA, and whoever else decides to jump into the pool have to jump through hoops in an initial qualifying phase that only gets a few teams into the tournament. The D3 and A-league clubs all have to play in regional groups that count some games as both qualifiers and regular league games. It also eliminates several good clubs in the process by knocking out strong D3 opposition and pairing up some of the better A-League teams in their geographical groups.
Obviously this format was set into motion by someone who also wouldn't have minded just using an Ouija board to figure out who the finalists would be. Some of the groups were so absurd in the D3/A-League section of the bracket that it's hard to believe this format will last too much longer.
So what of all the suggestions we've heard such as starting the Open Cup before the season begins for most of the teams who would like to take part or maybe changing the qualifying system so that more lower division teams get a chance at the knockout phases? There have been many ideas floating around but the simplest solution would be to have a straight knockout competition from beginning to end. At the risk of stealing a colleague's idea let me just say that if MLS were to drop the All-Star game in favor of getting the Open Cup final on national television maybe it would revitalize this tournament.
How to replace the All-Star game, though, if the Cup is not started before the preseason? Simple, start the knockout competition at the start of the season with a first round that has the PDL, USASA, and all other comers. At the second round you re-draw with the D3 teams coming in. the third sees the A-League teams joining in with the MLS clubs jumping in at the following round. Once all the clubs are in you play until one is left standing. If it can all be worked out the proper way then it's possible that the Open Cup final could be a great way to prepare people for the MLS playoffs.
Either way something must be changed in the current system because right now it is difficult to follow and understand the earliest rounds which makes it less interesting for the casual fans who like to read about upsets. The current format also gives off the appearance of a bit too much favoritism towards the top league. If the tournament were set out in a simple format that didn't need rewriting for each round with each league's involvement explicitly stated there would be less room for people to complain about so-called favoritism or any other such thing.
The best reason for this system is that it gives a clear, simple, and easy way for fans to follow the longest running soccer event in the U.S. It also would be helped along if MLS and the USL could agree to ditch the midweek games that we all know draw so well in favor of making these Open Cup days. If this happens the midweek matches might be looked at as something special as opposed to a nuisance. Plus professional soccer gets a match on the weekend after the regular season to showcase the longest running national soccer championship.
With the willingness to make the necessary changes to revamp this tournament it might be possible to get the average soccer fan to pay more attention to it. Besides, who hasn't seen the commercial on a certain network that showed a quite gleeful Chicago Fire side after winning the Cup last year? Now, if we can just get some people to advertise it more than a week in advance….
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