On Tuesday night, the Earthquakes take on the Portland Timbers in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. But what exactly is the Open Cup?
Dating back to 1914, the U.S. Open Cup is one of the oldest annual competitions in the world and certainly the oldest in United States soccer. Open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the States, the tournament features a single-elimination format.
The Cup allows smaller amateur clubs the opportunity to compete against the biggest and best the U.S. has to offer. Among the non-MLS teams the Earthquakes have faced in the competition are the Stanislaus United Cruisers (USL; 2000), Central Coast Roadrunners (PDL; 2001), Milwaukee Rampage (USL; 2001), Minnesota Thunder (USL; 2004) and Charleston Battery (USL; 2013).