The US Open Cup is my favorite domestic club competition, and I truly hate MLS’s campaign to devalue it in favor of Leagues Cup

MLS’s method of Open Cup qualification in recent years has been more a case of entering the teams left over after Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup participants have been decided, rather than sending its best teams. It has been more of a consolation prize rather than a place for the top teams to compete for another trophy. This qualification method has meant the last two champions, Los Angeles FC and Nashville SC, have not been able to defend their trophy, and that Messi has not been able to compete for this trophy in his two full seasons in MLS to date and isn’t doing so in 2026. The Open Cup needs these top MLS teams and players as much as it needs the charming lower-league storylines.