In an announcement Friday, the U.S. Soccer Federation unveiled revised plans for MLS’s participation in the 2024 national tournament, whose status was muddled this winter when the league attempted to send developmental squads instead of first teams.
In a compromise, eight of MLS’s 26 U.S.-based teams will enter the 96-team competition and nine others will use their developmental squads from the third division, known as MLS Next Pro.
That leaves nine MLS organizations without a presence, including D.C. United, a three-time tournament champion.
United’s first team was left out because of its low finish in the 2023 MLS season.