SoccerBlogs

U.S. Soccer has announced the possible pairings and locations for the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.

All four MLS teams have a shot at winning the USOC with the Seattle Sounders going for their forth straight title. It won't be easy for them however.

FINAL Tuesday, Aug.

U.S. Soccer has announced the semifinal possible pairings and locations for the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The remaining eight-team field consists of five MLS teams three-time defending champion Seattle Sounders FC, Chivas USA, the Philadelphia Union, the San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting Kansas City.

Say what you will about the method but you have to give it up to the Portland Timbers, the Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake.

Each want the US Open Cup and they want to win it so bad. You can't get too upset at these clubs wanting to take the US Open Cup seriously here.

All were originally slated to hit the road in the 3rd round of the 2012 US Open Cup.

The forth round potential pairings for the US Open Cup are now set. The bracket is really starting to finally take shape.

Some potential big matches include Seattle at Portland, Houston at Dallas, and Salt Lake at San Jose.

2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
FOURTH ROUND Tuesday, June 5
New England Revolution (MLS) at New York Red Bulls (MLS):Â Red Bull Arena; Harrison, N.

The bracket is slowly filling out nicely here for the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Two more MLS sides now host third round games.

THIRD ROUND Tuesday, May 29 and Wednesday, May 30
Houston Dynamo (MLS) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL):Â Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.

The US Soccer Federation has approved a major change to the US Open Cup. A change that will certainly enhance how the tournament is played in the US.

The competition will feature a Modern Professional Era (1995-present) record 64 teams, including every US-based professional club in the American soccer pyramid from Major League Soccer (16 teams), the North American Soccer League (6 teams), and USL PRO (10 teams).

A change is coming to the US Open Cup that many of us have been hoping for. According to sources to theCup.us, the USOC will extend it's bracket out to all 16 US-based Major League Soccer teams and go to a 64-team bracket.

Over the last few years, the tournament has come under constant criticism for the way MLS teams enter the tournament.

It sounds like the USSF is tired of people like me and other bloggers beating the dead horse about the US Open Cup format. The Sporting News' Brian Straus is reporting that the USSF could propose a new format that does away with the current qualifying round for MLS clubs and it could see the end of the bidding process.