The original format for the 2021 U.S. Open Cup was set to be a boon for what has become a blossoming amateur soccer scene in the Tri State Area. Nearly a dozen local teams were originally slated to take part in the competition from nearly every division of the US system, including five from the amateur divisions. For a tournament where one of the main draws is seeing unique matchups and having professionals play a non-league side, it was looking like a great rebound from the cancelled 2020 tournament.
However, with the pandemic still a concern and after multiple format revisions, the number of total teams has dropped to 16 and only two amateur sides will take part.