U.S. Soccer and MLS announced this week changes to the 2021 U.S. Open Cup format and the process by which MLS teams will qualify for said tournament, respectively.
Because of ongoing issues related to the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Soccer slashed the field in half for this year’s Open Cup tournament, to just 16 teams now. Eight of those 16 will come from MLS.
But if you do the math, there’s 24 American MLS teams this year and only eight slots. How will MLS figure out who gets in the USOC field this time? They are going to go by points per game through MLS gameplay on May 3, which for most clubs will be three games of the 2021 MLS regular season.