US Soccer Denies MLS Request to Field NEXT PRO Sides in Open Cup

CHICAGO, IL–On Friday, Major League Soccer announce its intention to field NEXT PRO sides in place of first teams for the 2024 US Open Cup. Then, they asked US Soccer for permission to do. On Tuesday, US Soccer denied that request. Below is US Soccer’s statement in full:

“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. 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.”

MLS responded with its own statement:

“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,”

The statement is expected to receive little favor especially considering that MLS likely added to its schedule congestion by adding the Leagues Cup. Interestingly enough, it has been pointed out that the scheduled match days for the Open Cup are all open days on every MLS team’s calendar.

The scheduled Open Cup match days are all open days on every MLS teams calendar ??

— Austin Adams (@austinadams35) December 20, 2023

Some also feel that it’s a cynical attempt to control the hype surrounding Lionel Messi as he plays for Inter Miami. This year’s US Open Cup semifinals and final were on CBS Sports Network and Telemundo and not on Apple TV with whom Major League Soccer will be entering year two of a 10-year deal. Messi gets a share of revenue generated from new subscriptions from Apple TV for MLS Season Pass as a result of his arrival at Inter Miami.

COMMENT: We stand by our comment from Friday when MLS first announced this move. If Major League Soccer is worried about the health of players and fixture congestion, they might as well field NEXT PRO and Academy players in the early rounds and then field first team players if they feel they have a shot at a trophy. At last check, the US Open Cup winner gets a pass to the Concacaf Champions Cup like Houston Dynamo got this year.

With just the regular season, MLS Playoffs, and the Leagues Cup; a team could play as many as 48 matches. The US Open Cup may add six more matches to that and if you’re one of the eight MLS teams starting the Concacaf Champions Cup in February or March, then there’s the possibility of nine more matches.

LAFC played 53 competitive matches in total in 2023. The potential for one club who is in the Concacaf Champions Cup from the first round (nine matches), makes it all the way in that, the US Open Cup (possible six matches), Leagues Cup (seven matches), and the MLS Cup Playoffs playing the maximum number of matches there (seven matches), and the 34-match regular season; your fixture list could end up being 63 matches.

However, not all 26 US-based MLS clubs will end up playing that many matches. We also need to reiterate that MLS put most of this on themselves by adding matches to the MLS Playoffs and creating the Leagues Cup with Liga MX.

Few will raise a stink if MLS decides have the first teams be represents, where they would likely get a bye to the Round of 64 if not later depending on standing, and they can field NEXT PRO and Academy players then.

As much as Major League Soccer wants to own the soccer conversation, it needs to realizer that there are other people in the room such as US Soccer, USL, NPSL, and other semipro and amateur leagues who have a stake in the development and progress of soccer in this country.