From Joe Roth to Adrian Hanauer to Sigi Schmid to players like Mike Fucito Seattle Sounders FC has been quite clear about their goals for this year. Another US Open Cup title will not be enough. It is a consistent organizational chorus that started at the End of Year Business Meeting and is hinted at in most conversations about the upcoming season.

Featured image: Courtesy Dan Morrison and bethlehemsteelsoccer.org

The 1913-14 season saw the launch of the National Challenge Cup, the competition now known as the US Open Cup, by the recently founded United States Football Association. While the National Challenge Cup would quickly become the singular competition for the title of Champion of the United States, the American Cup tournament had been founded in 1885 by the American Football Association, the first soccer governing body in America.

Featured image: Courtesy Dan Morrison and bethlehemsteelsoccer.org

The 1913-14 season saw the launch of the National Challenge Cup, the competition now known as the US Open Cup, by the recently founded United States Football Association. While the National Challenge Cup would quickly become the singular competition for the title of Champion of the United States, the American Cup tournament had been founded in 1885 by the American Football Association, the first soccer governing body in America.

The NASL released their 2012 Schedule on Thursday. After taking the league over from the USSF D2 Pro League in 2010, the NASL 2011 schedule was a bit more stretched out then the previous year which helped to layout a more balanced schedule with many more weekend games. This years schedule looks to improve upon [.

Brian Nielsen Playing Soccer: A Rare SightThe bulk of the New York Red Bulls squad gathered today at Montclair State University for the first training session of the 2012 season. It was a chance for new arrivals such as Ryan Meara and Jonathan Borrajo to meet their new teammates (well most of them anyway) and begin the process of building up fitness.

The recent changes to the Major League Soccer schedule and competition format are hardly the only ones impacting professional soccer teams in North America.

Coinciding with the MLS SuperDraft, U.S. Soccer and CONCACAF announced major changes to the CONCACAF Champions League and U.

Join the guys in the first episode of the 2012 Season. The guys talk about United's lack of action during the pre-season and their 7th round draft pick, Nick DeLeon. They also go over the rest of the moves across the league and discuss the changes in the US Open Cup and CONCACAF Champions League formats.

The MLS SuperDraft is over and teams are now gearing up for the start of training camps later this month. As typically happens this time of year, some of the best exposure for MLS came in the form of local newspaper articles about draftees. By covering the success of their locals products, these hometown papers expose the league and its teams to new audiences that typically don't receive coverage of soccer in their paper.

15The United States Soccer Federation unveiled huge changes with the 2012 U.S. Open Cup tournament that greatly alters the field. All U.S. based teams of MLS, NASL and USL Pro qualify for the tournament and join the schedule in later rounds, while the amateur levels will play the opening rounds for advancement.

The 99th Lamar Hunt US Open Cup will sport a new format this season which will included all 1st, 2nd and 3rd division pro men's teams in the US. It has also changed the rules to allow teams in the first 4 rounds of the competition a 50% chance to host the event if they [...]

The 99th Lamar Hunt US Open Cup will sport a new format this season which will included all 1st, 2nd and 3rd division pro men's teams in the US. It has also changed the rules to allow teams in the first 4 rounds of the competition a 50% chance to host the event if they [...]

Featured image: Nicolae Stoian

We'll have updates of today's SuperDraft throughout the day as well as reaction to the Union's selection. On to the news...

Philadelphia Union

Ives Galarcep's mock draft at Fox Soccer has this to say: "The Union are believed to be shopping forward Danny Mwanga, and even with the recent addition of young Costa Rican forward Josue Martinez, Philadelphia can use some depth up top.

The U.S. Soccer Federation yesterday announced an expanded Open Cup format and schedule, one that will incorporate all MLS and lower division teams in a newly and hopefully more condensed way. In essence, the changes allow the Lamar Hunt U.S. ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com for the rest of the story.

Five years ago the New England Revolution won their first major title: the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Since then, the team's participation in the 98-year-old tournament has been less than memorable.

The Revs fell in the semifinals in 2008, lost in the third round in 2009 and failed to qualify for the competition the past two seasons.

The US Open Cup will have a slightly different format this year:

The biggest news is expanding the field to 64 teams, making it the largest in a modern era that started in 1995 (previous: 42 in 2005-06). That's an increase of 24 teams from last year and all professional clubs from the top three tiers of U.

Today, US Soccer has announced changes to the US Open Cup that had been rumored for a few months. Plenty of changes have been made to the format and the design of the tournament. As a whole, all the moves that were made I would say were for the better.
First, all 32 professional teams in the United States will be competing in the tournament.

Today, US Soccer has announced changes to the US Open Cup that had been rumored for a few months. Plenty of changes have been made to the format and the design of the tournament. As a whole, all the moves that were made I would say were for the better.
First, all 32 professional teams in the United States will be competing in the tournament.

The United States Soccer Federation announced significant changes for the US Open Cup. The 2012 tournament will be larger than in previous years, and the organizers are bringing an end to Major League Soccer having an advantage in hosting games late in the tournament. The following is from the US Soccer press release announcing the 2012 format: 2012 Lamar Hunt U.

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).

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).

But does anyone, except Seattle - the Sounders are winners of three straight cups - care? I'm sure Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena is thrilled (not): After all it's not like the club has much on its plate this year. Here's more from AP on the U.S. Soccer decision announced today:

By FRANCO PANIZO

The 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will much different than any of its predecessors.

U.S. Soccer announced a number of changes for the 99th edition of the tournament. Those changes include a 64-team field (the largest in the modern era), a random selection process for determining home teams from the opening round until the quarterfinals, and the inclusion of all professional teams from the top three divisions, meaning the MLS qualifying bracket is no more.

Last year was a good year for one of MLS's premier franchises. The Sounders won yet another U.S. Open Cup and advanced past the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. While they could not vanquish their nemesis Galaxy in ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com for the rest of the story.

With the MLS Superdraft looming, I was curious about what the people here think the Timbers should do. Not so much about whether they should draft a specific player, but about how the team should approach the draft, and what strategy they should follow when acquiring young American talent.

The Timbers draft eighth in the draft this year, and as many people have noted are looking to make the leap into the playoffs and general Cup contention.

Sigi Schmid refers to his central midfielders as the engine room. Whether these players are glamorous playmakers, defensive stalwarts or a box-to-box man who gets ignored or pilloried by fans these are players who make or break seasons. For Seattle Sounders FC the center includes a player who many will claim is their best, the Honey Badger.

With it being New Year's Eve, I figured it was time to take a look back at the 2011 wishes that I'd posted at the end of last year.
1. Return to the Playoffs - This was filled 100%, not only did KC qualify for the playoffs again, but the team won the regular season Eastern Conference crown and had home field advantage.

Friday night was a busy night in professional indoor soccer as the MISL Whichita Wings hosted the Missouri Comets and in PASL action the Cincinnati Kings battled Louisville Lightining while the Turlock Express faced off against the Revolution Tijuana.
Kings Defeat Louisville 9-3 in US Open Play
Led by a four-goal night by Allen Eller, the Cincinnati Kings defeated the Louisville Lightning, 9-3, Friday night at the Cincinnati Gardens in a PASL league game that also doubled as a US Open Cup game.

On June 9, 1916, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, "Word was received in this city yesterday that all arrangements had been completed for an All-American soccer team to tour Sweden and Norway in July. The Sweden Football Association, through its secretary, C.L. Kornerup, has cabled a guarantee of $4000 to cover the expenses of the trip.

The Controversial US Open Cup Hosting Bid Process Explained

Josh Hakala of TheCup.us explains the often unpopular bid process of the US Open Cup and managers from all levels of US Soccer weigh in on the tournament.

File Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Philadelphia Union

Peter Nowak answered questions from reporters via tele-conference on Thursday on the club's recent signings. See our report, published on Thursday night, for an overview of what was discussed. Also, look for a second report from the press conference later this morning for more quotes and analysis, particularly in regards to how the team plan to handle the number of internationals now on the roster and the status of Keon Daniel.

The Seattle Sounders talent scout and assistant coach is often just thought of as Sigi's son, this discounts his work efforts as recently profiled at SoundersFC.com. A rare man of the Rave Green and Capitol Blue Ajah he hunts for players that hold that certain spark. He travels from Qalm (from where Cato is looking to succeed) to Shienar (a cold forlorn place where they are known to be good fighters).

US Open Cup's Problems Not So Easy To Fix

No one is a bigger fan of the US Open Cup than the guys at TheCup.US. Josh Hakala and company know more about the tournament than just about anyone this side of the organizers, and maybe more. That said, there are some scary facts in this piece. Perhaps the most bothersome is the fact that in the past three years, only nine of 117 matches not involving the Sounders drew at least 4,000 fans.

USL PDL Open Qualifying Change

According to the Kitsap Pumas (linked above) they automatically qualify for the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup since they won their division. Joining them would be the Portland Timbers U-23 side, as they were the best remaining American team.

Other qualifiers based on last year's standings in the PDL (and assuming that this is true for all PDL divisions) would be the Michigan Bucks, Chicago Fire, Des Moinse Menace, Real Colorado Foxes, Long Island Rough Riders, Reading United, MPS Portland Phoenix, New Hampshire Phantoms, Carolina Dynamo, Northern Virginia Royals, Laredo Heat, Chivas El Paso Patriots, Mississippi Brilla, Central Florida Kraze (now Orlando City U-23), Fresno Fuego, Ventura County Fusion

Now that would be 18, so I may be jumping the gun.

Seattle Sounders players vote to recognize their vision of the MVP and Defender of the Year. This differs slightly from recognition given by Sounder at Heart in that here there are awards for Offensive, Defensive and Young Players of a given season. Still there is a certain overlap.

Osvaldo Alonso's performance in 2011 earned him recognition from both his teammates and readers here.

photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
The rumors have been around basically since the season ended. The fact that Omar Bravo had only played 5 minutes in Sporting KC's playoff run certainly did nothing to temper those rumors. In the offseason Bravo's been linked with every club in Guadalajara, from Chivas to cash strapped Tecos.

In the Championship Match of the Pennsylvania Open Cup, to be contested this Sunday, December 11, 2011, 2:00pm, West Chester United will host Salone FC. The Cup winner will represent Eastern Pennsylvania in regional play this spring for a berth in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The match will be contested on the turf field next to the Chester County Government Services Center, 601 Westtown Road, West Chester PA.

As the Seattle Sounders retool for a run at multiple Cups in 2012 they declined options on Forwards Nate Jaqua and Pat Noonan, as well as Centerback Taylor Graham. They also declined the option on the retiring Terry Boss. Each player is between 30 and 31 years old and occupied senior roster slots.

The losses of James Riley and Tyson Wahl have Seattle Sounders FC adding allocation money only at this point. It is also rather apparent that their biggest low-budget success of 2011, Mauro Rosales, will be extended at a significantly higher figure, which should be announced very soon. There will also be a new keeper, likely with a budget number that is fairly large considering that the current leading candidate is Michael Gspurning, another situation we expect to be resolved shortly.

Well Vasco is back. I have been away for awhile, health issues. Well the MLS season is over and the best team money can buy in MLS won the whole darn thing. The Cup and the shield, congrats to Bruce and the gang on their victory.
Lets recap some of the 2011 season. We saw two new MLS teams, that came up from USL, Portland which started slow and came on strong, and almost made the playoffs, and Vancouver that came on weak, and got worse.

The bright blue leaked kit is in fact the official third kit for the Seattle Sounders. Today the team announced that the "super cyan" and "electricity yellow" kit will be the primary kit used in CONCACAF Champions League, US Open Cup and Friendlies. It will be worn in a cyan-cyan-cyan system from top to bottom.