What Is 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

Overview

The 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 96th edition of the United States' oldest ongoing national soccer competition. Organized by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), it featured professional and amateur teams from across the country vying for the prestigious title and a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League.

This year marked a historic moment for expansion side Seattle Sounders FC, who captured their first major trophy in their inaugural Major League Soccer (MLS) season. The tournament ran from June to September 2009, culminating in a dramatic final at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

• Seattle Sounders FC won the tournament, defeating D.C. United 2–1 in the final on September 2, 2009.
• The competition included 40 teams, comprising MLS clubs, USL teams, and amateur sides from the PDL and USASA.
• Second-half goals from Fredy Montero and Blaise Nkufo secured the victory after D.C. United opened the scoring.
• The Sounders became the first expansion team in MLS history to win the U.S. Open Cup in their debut season.
• Winning the cup earned Seattle a berth in the 2010–11 CONCACAF Champions League, a significant international opportunity.

How It Works

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup operates as a single-elimination tournament open to all affiliated soccer teams in the United States, from amateur to professional levels. The format emphasizes inclusivity, allowing lower-division clubs to compete against MLS teams, often creating dramatic upsets.

• Eligibility: Teams from MLS, USL Championship, USL League One, NISA, and amateur leagues such as USL League Two and USASA qualify based on league performance or regional representation.
• Bracket Structure: The tournament uses a random draw system for early rounds, with seeding introduced in later stages to pair higher-level teams appropriately.
• Match Format: Games are 90 minutes long, with ties resolved by two 15-minute overtime periods and, if needed, a penalty shootout.
• Hosting Rules: The higher-seeded team hosts each match, determined by league level and past performance, giving lower-division clubs rare home-field advantages against MLS sides.
• Prize and Qualification: The winner earns $300,000 in prize money and a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League, the region’s premier club competition.
• Historical Significance: First held in 1914, it is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S., named after soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt in 1999.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2009 U.S. Open Cup compares to other major soccer tournaments in structure and scope:

The U.S. Open Cup is unique in its open format, allowing amateur clubs to compete with professionals. While smaller in scale than Europe’s major domestic cups, it remains a vital part of American soccer culture, fostering underdog stories and community engagement.

Why It Matters

The 2009 U.S. Open Cup was significant not only for crowning a champion but also for validating the competitive potential of expansion teams and the tournament’s inclusive spirit. It showcased the depth of American soccer and provided national exposure for clubs outside the traditional power structure.

• Seattle’s victory demonstrated that expansion teams could succeed immediately, raising expectations for future MLS newcomers.
• The tournament gave lower-division clubs like Cal FC and Miami FC rare national spotlight moments in early rounds.
• Winning the cup secured international competition access, elevating the stakes beyond domestic prestige.
• High attendance at the final—over 31,000 fans—proved strong public interest in knockout soccer.
• The Sounders’ triumph helped establish their club identity early in their history, fueling a passionate fanbase.
• It reinforced the importance of domestic cup competitions in a league-dominated U.S. sports landscape.

The 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup remains a landmark edition, symbolizing growth, opportunity, and the enduring appeal of underdog narratives in American soccer.