Brooklyn Italians. Greek American AA. Maccabi Los Angeles. Philadelphia Ukrainians. These are just some of the often under-praised and unsung heroes that wrote the early days of American soccer history and culture. They are symbolic of the global reach of the beautiful game, United States immigration history and the American dream.
In many ways, there is no sporting event in the United States that manages to be so paradoxically both American and global as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which kicks off this week.
The beautiful game is undoubtedly the world’s sport and in America, nowhere is that more apparent than in the diverse and unique history of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Indeed, the U.S. Open Cup represents not just critical moments in American soccer history, but also American history as a whole.
One of the oldest soccer tournaments in the world, the U.S. Open Cup is similar to England’s FA Cup, but also a distinctive and defining element of American soccer culture. Founded in 1913, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup pre-dates any modern American professional soccer teams or leagues, giving the tournament an unparalleled foothold in the country’s soccer history.
Originally called the National Challenge Cup, the U.S. Open Cup charged into the American sporting landscape during the 1913-1914 season, with Brooklyn Field Club winning the inaugural Cup on May 14, 1914. The tournament was later renamed to the U.S. Open Cup in 1990 and then dedicated to MLS owner Lamar Hunt by the United States Soccer Federation in 1999.
In the early years of the tournament, the U.S. Open Cup mimicked the immigration and socioeconomic movements of the early 20th century. By 1920, the majority of Americans lived in urban areas, particularly large metropolitan cities along the East Coast, such as New York City. The greatest source of the urban population was immigrants, with about 18 million new immigrants arriving in the United States between 1890 and 1920.
Meanwhile, the lasting effects of the industrial growth of the late 19th century—particularly the rise of the steel industry in states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio—combined with the automobile industry and demand for oil also resulted in an factory based economy in much of the Eastern United States.
Bethlehem Steel won their fifth Open Cup Championship during the 1926 National Challenge Cup, a feat matched only by Maccabi Los Angeles' five titles Photo courtesy of U.S. Soccer.
As a result of the immigration and economic patterns, the early decades of the U.S. Open Cup were dominated by two core groups of clubs: postwar immigrant teams such Elizabeth SC, which was founded by German immigrants, and teams comprised of industrial workers such as Bethlehem Steel and Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C., a Missouri based team comprised of brewery workers.
While many European Cups were put on hold during World War II, the U.S. Open Cup (still called the National Cup) was still played throughout the war. Following the end of World War II, the subsequent influx of immigration to the United States led to a resurgence of teams with immigrant ties, in addition to slow growth towards teams in rapidly growing cities in the West such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. During this post-war era teams such as the Philadelphia Ukrainians, New York Ukrainians and Greek American AC dominated the U.S. Open Cup up until the establishment of the NASL in 1968.
During the NASL era, the U.S. Open Cup was still dominated by amateur teams, as the NSAL declined to participate. Throughout the Cold War era, clubs based in inner city urban cores dominated the U.S. Open Cup. Despite the rise of suburban America, the urban centers were more diverse and had a greater interest in the sport. Among the more notable clubs to win the cup multiple times in the 1970s and 1980s was Maccabi Los Angeles, a team founded by Israeli expatriates amidst the background of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East with several former Israeli national team players joining the team.
While the landscape of the U.S. Open Cup winners has dramatically changed since 1996 and the establishment MLS, to this day the tournament continues to be celebration of the diverse cultural landscape of the United States. Amateur teams such as CD Aguiluchos USA and New York Pancyprian-Freedoms continue to have deep cultural roots within their communities.
The modern era of the U.S. Open Cup continues to be a celebration and reflection of a changing and diverse American culture. For example, Republic FC’s roster, like the city of Sacramento itself, is one of the most diverse in the country. To-date, Republic FC players have come from 18 different countries around the world, including Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Northern Ireland and Montenegro.
The 103rd edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup kicks off on Wednesday, May 18 and features a record 92 teams. Sacramento Republic FC are set to make their third run in the historic tournament when they host a Second Round match on Wednesday, May 18 at Bonney Field at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
Brooklyn Italians. Greek American AA. Maccabi Los Angeles. Philadelphia Ukrainians. These are just some of the often under-praised and unsung heroes that wrote the early days of American soccer history and culture. They are symbolic of the global reach of the beautiful game, United States immigration history and the American dream.
In many ways, there is no sporting event in the United States that manages to be so paradoxically both American and global as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which kicks off this week.
The beautiful game is undoubtedly the world’s sport and in America, nowhere is that more apparent than in the diverse and unique history of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Indeed, the U.S. Open Cup represents not just critical moments in American soccer history, but also American history as a whole.
One of the oldest soccer tournaments in the world, the U.S. Open Cup is similar to England’s FA Cup, but also a distinctive and defining element of American soccer culture. Founded in 1913, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup pre-dates any modern American professional soccer teams or leagues, giving the tournament an unparalleled foothold in the country’s soccer history.
Originally called the National Challenge Cup, the U.S. Open Cup charged into the American sporting landscape during the 1913-1914 season, with Brooklyn Field Club winning the inaugural Cup on May 14, 1914. The tournament was later renamed to the U.S. Open Cup in 1990 and then dedicated to MLS owner Lamar Hunt by the United States Soccer Federation in 1999.
In the early years of the tournament, the U.S. Open Cup mimicked the immigration and socioeconomic movements of the early 20th century. By 1920, the majority of Americans lived in urban areas, particularly large metropolitan cities along the East Coast, such as New York City. The greatest source of the urban population was immigrants, with about 18 million new immigrants arriving in the United States between 1890 and 1920.
Meanwhile, the lasting effects of the industrial growth of the late 19th century—particularly the rise of the steel industry in states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio—combined with the automobile industry and demand for oil also resulted in an factory based economy in much of the Eastern United States.
Bethlehem Steel won their fifth Open Cup Championship during the 1926 National Challenge Cup, a feat matched only by Maccabi Los Angeles’ five titles Photo courtesy of U.S. Soccer.
As a result of the immigration and economic patterns, the early decades of the U.S. Open Cup were dominated by two core groups of clubs: postwar immigrant teams such Elizabeth SC, which was founded by German immigrants, and teams comprised of industrial workers such as Bethlehem Steel and Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C., a Missouri based team comprised of brewery workers.
While many European Cups were put on hold during World War II, the U.S. Open Cup (still called the National Cup) was still played throughout the war. Following the end of World War II, the subsequent influx of immigration to the United States led to a resurgence of teams with immigrant ties, in addition to slow growth towards teams in rapidly growing cities in the West such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. During this post-war era teams such as the Philadelphia Ukrainians, New York Ukrainians and Greek American AC dominated the U.S. Open Cup up until the establishment of the NASL in 1968.
During the NASL era, the U.S. Open Cup was still dominated by amateur teams, as the NSAL declined to participate. Throughout the Cold War era, clubs based in inner city urban cores dominated the U.S. Open Cup. Despite the rise of suburban America, the urban centers were more diverse and had a greater interest in the sport. Among the more notable clubs to win the cup multiple times in the 1970s and 1980s was Maccabi Los Angeles, a team founded by Israeli expatriates amidst the background of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East with several former Israeli national team players joining the team.
While the landscape of the U.S. Open Cup winners has dramatically changed since 1996 and the establishment MLS, to this day the tournament continues to be celebration of the diverse cultural landscape of the United States. Amateur teams such as CD Aguiluchos USA and New York Pancyprian-Freedoms continue to have deep cultural roots within their communities.
The modern era of the U.S. Open Cup continues to be a celebration and reflection of a changing and diverse American culture. For example, Republic FC’s roster, like the city of Sacramento itself, is one of the most diverse in the country. To-date, Republic FC players have come from 18 different countries around the world, including Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Northern Ireland and Montenegro.
The 103rd edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup kicks off on Wednesday, May 18 and features a record 92 teams. Sacramento Republic FC are set to make their third run in the historic tournament when they host a Second Round match on Wednesday, May 18 at Bonney Field at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com.