2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

The 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup ran from June through September 2008.

The Cup schedule was shortened in 2008, ending in August instead of October, so as to avoid interfering with Major League Soccer's end-of-season playoff drive in the fall and the new CONCACAF Champions League. [ [http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/02/celebrating_presidents_day.html Celebrating Presidents' Day - Soccer Insider ] ]

The 13 US-based MLS clubs participated, although only 8 competed in the main tournament (Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, New England Revolution, Red Bull New York). Qualifying was similar to the 2007 tournament, with the top 3 teams from each conference in 2007 qualifying automatically, and the other 7 playing off during the early part of the 2008 season for the remaining 2 spots.

United Soccer Leagues had a separate qualifying plan for each tier. The 8 US-based USL-1 teams qualified automatically (for FIFA and USSF purposes, Puerto Rico Islanders are not considered a "United States-based" club). 8 of the 9 US-based USL-2 teams qualified. The defending USL-2 playoff champions, the Harrisburg City Islanders, and the 2007 regular-season champion Richmond Kickers qualified automatically. The remaining 7 teams played off for 6 spots, based on early regular season results. The PDL used selected early regular-season games for qualification. The top two teams in the Eastern and Central conferences, and the top teams in the Mid-South, Southeast, Northwest, and Southwest divisions qualified.

The tournament was rounded out by 8 amateur USASA clubs (Adria, Arizona Sahuaros, Boston Olympiakos, Clearwater Galactics, Eagles, Hollywood United, New Stars, New York Pancyprian-Freedoms). USASA qualifying began in the fall of 2007. Clubs from the NPSL enter the Cup through USASA qualifying.

The Charleston Battery were the first USL club in the final since the Rochester Rhinos won the cup in 1999.

D.C. United won the final 2-1 on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at RFK Stadium on a pair of goals from Brazilians Luciano Emilio and Fred.

Matchdays

Qualified Clubs

Major League Soccer (MLS)

*Chicago Fire
*Chivas USA
*D.C. United
*FC Dallas
*Houston Dynamo
*Kansas City Wizards
*New England Revolution
*Red Bull New York

United Soccer Leagues (USL)

;First Division (USL-1)
*Atlanta Silverbacks
*Carolina RailHawks
*Charleston Battery
*Miami FC
*Minnesota Thunder
*Portland Timbers
*Rochester Rhinos
*Seattle Sounders;Second Division (USL-2)
*Charlotte Eagles
*Cleveland City Stars
*Crystal Palace Baltimore
*Harrisburg City Islanders
*Pittsburgh Riverhounds
*Real Maryland Monarchs
*Richmond Kickers
*Western Mass Pioneers;Premier Development League (PDL)
*Austin Aztex U23
*Bradenton Academics
*Brooklyn Knights
*Fredericksburg Gunners
*Los Angeles Legends
*Michigan Bucks
*St. Louis Lions
*Yakima Reds

United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA)

* Adria
* Arizona Sahuaros
* Boston Olympiakos
* Clearwater Galactics
* Eagles
* Hollywood United
* New Stars
* New York Pancyprian-Freedoms

Open Cup bracket

Second Round winners advance to play one of 8 MLS clubs in 16-team knockout tournament
"Home teams listed on top of bracket"