Ballard FC is proud to announce our qualification and planned participation in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. This prestigious tournament, steeped in tradition, presents an exciting opportunity for Ballard FC to compete against professional teams on a national stage. Qualification was automatically granted to Ballard FC by the club winning the USL League 2 — and the team has accepted the invitation to participate. The first round of the tournament is likely to be in mid-March with more details will be released in January 2024.
In the event that we host, season ticket holders will receive first access to tickets and special discounted rates for the 2024 U.S. Open Cup matches featuring Ballard FC.
“When we started the club, one of our goals was to qualify for and compete in the U.S. Open Cup. This is such an exciting opportunity for us and we will put our best foot forward to make a run. It’s certainly not going to be easy to have our team and whole operation come together two months earlier than normal, but we’re confident we have the right staff, players, and community support to compete!” – Sam Zisette, Co-Founder and GM
The U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination style tournament with teams from all divisions. All professional teams in the U.S. Soccer pyramid receive automatic qualification while amateur/semi-professional teams like Ballard FC qualify through their league standing. Locally, the Sounders have won four U.S. Open Cup titles while many Washington teams have also participated in years past. Notably, the now-defunct Kitsap Pumas competed against the Sounders in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup in 2016 in front of a packed crowd at Starfire Stadium which saw the Sounders edge out a 2-0 win. For a more detailed look at the U.S. Open Cup structure and history, visit their Wikipedia page here.
The 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is not just a competition; it’s a chance for Ballard FC to make history, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s soccer landscape. Stay tuned for further details as we approach the new year, when more information about the first round match up will be unveiled. We invite our fans, supporters, and the entire community to join us on this thrilling journey.
