The nation’s oldest ongoing soccer tournament will include a record number of professional teams in its 106th iteration. Eighty-four teams will be competing for the Cup, one of those teams will be El Paso Locomotive FC. The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup began in 1914, making it not only the oldest and longest running soccer tournament in the United States but also the oldest annual tournament for team sports.
The story of soccer in this country is one that mirrors our history as a nation, as the two have become intertwined and amalgamated into one. Soccer is universal and possesses the capacity to provide commentary on society or the world’s transactions. From the industrial and company backed powerhouses like Bethlehem Steel, to the teams comprised of immigrants coming to the United States from all corners of the globe, many of these teams still exist to this day including; the Brooklyn Italians (1949), Milwaukee Bavarian SC (1929), New York Ukrainians (1947), and the Croatian Eagles (1922). These teams epitomize the spirit of soccer and reflect its ability to bring people together.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup reflects the ideologies of the American dream, in that, if you want it bad enough and are willing to work, then you have a shot. By allowing amateur teams to compete with USL and MLS professional clubs coupled with a single elimination format, the proverbial David’s have a shot at the Goliath’s. This tournament represents what the pillar of competition is comprised of; you have to be the best every match and bring the best onto the pitch with every touch, or you could be going home. There is one match to show the world what you are made of.
Kicking off May 7th and 8th with 19 First Round games and featuring a total of 84 teams from all levels, the competition culminates in August with America’s soccer champion lifting the Open Cup trophy after eight rounds of single-elimination play.
El Paso Locomotive and a handful of other USL Championship side clubs won’t see action until the Second Round of Open Cup play which begins on May 14th and 15th. Each club will battle to move on to the next round and prove that they have what it takes and step on the same pitch as MLS clubs. The team that lifts the Dewar Challenge Trophy in late August will be cemented in U.S. soccer history, etched forever on the trophy and displayed at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas. They will also receive a $300,000 prize with a spot in the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League.
El Paso and the city’s connection to the U.S. Open Cup is a story that has a rich history beginning in the early 90’s. The El Paso Patriots formed in 1989 and played in the former PDL. They were the city’s first glimpse at what soccer could become in the high desert. In 1995, they reached the final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in their first year of entering the competition. That final match was also hosted in the Sun City but saw the Patriots losing to the Richmond Kickers in penalties after a 1-1 regular time score. The Patriots remained El Paso’s team in one facet or another until they dissolved in 2013. A spark has rekindled the U.S. Open Cup’s relationship with El Paso, with a “first date” on the horizon.
Two El Paso based clubs could potentially face-off in the U.S. Open Cup this year, adding to the drama of the tournament. UPSL squad Southwest Wolves FC and your very own El Paso Locomotive FC may meet in the tournament with a place in the next round at stake. El Paso Locomotive may not know their opponent’s names yet, but that does not factor into the situation; the prize and the goal remain the same, regardless who stands in their way.