Dynamo to compete in 2025 US Open Cup and Leagues Cup
(image via Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press)
US Soccer and MLS announced today the teams participating in the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and the Leagues Cup. The Houston Dynamo first team will take part in both tournaments again this season.
The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup will kick off March 18-20 with 32 games in the tournament’s First Round. The Dynamo will be one of 16 Major League Soccer teams in the USOC this year, along with 10 MLS NEXT Pro teams. All 16 MLS teams, including Houston, will enter the tournament in the Round of 32. The Dynamo will play away in the Round of 32 as one of the eight lower seeded MLS teams. US Soccer says they predetermined home and away to add operational and financial certainty. Opponents will still be decided by a random draw.
Nine MLS teams that are not in Concacaf Champions Cup or Leagues Cup were put into the US Open Cup. The remaining seven MLS spots were determined by Supporters’ Shield standings. This is how the Dynamo were chosen.
After winning the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in 2023, the Dynamo were allowed to try and repeat as champions in 2024 when they were named as one of eight MLS teams in the field, although they also played in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The title defense didn’t last long as Houston lost its first match of the tournament to USL Championship club Detroit City FC on penalty kicks.
Houston will also take part this summer in the Leagues Cup as one of 18 MLS teams in the tournament. The top 9 teams from each conference standings last season are in the tournament, with expansion side San Diego FC taking the place of the Vancouver Whitecaps who will play in the Canadian Championship and Concacaf Champions Cup.
All 30 MLS teams will participate in at least one cup competition in 2025 between Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, and the Canadian Championship. You can see which teams are in which tournaments in the graphic below.
(image via Major League Soccer)
More details are still to come, especially on the format for Leagues Cup, but we now know the Dynamo will take part in three competitions this season. They will of course have league play in Major League Soccer, and have now added the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and Leagues Cup. Houston will have a chance at two trophies from the tournaments and even more depending on how they do in league play. It’s going to be a busy 2025.
