Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced its decision to send teams from MLS Next Pro, the league's development league, to participate in the historic Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2024. MLS Commissioner Don Garber expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of the tournament during the U.S. Soccer Federation board of directors meeting, stating that it was not reflecting the highest level of soccer.

Garber further addressed this issue during his state of the league address before MLS Cup, emphasizing the need for all parties involved to embrace and support the oldest tournament of its kind in the country. The decision to involve MLS Next Pro teams comes in response to concerns raised by clubs about fixture congestion, especially after the introduction of the expanded Leagues Cup competition with Liga MX last year.

MLS has recognized the diminishing prestige of the Open Cup despite its rich history and intends to collaborate with U.S. Soccer to evolve and elevate the tournament's status in the future. A final determination about MLS's ongoing involvement will be made after the conclusion of the 2024 season.

The U.S. Open Cup, founded in 1914, has been an important platform for competition between the country's first division and the rest of the American soccer ecosystem. It provided the only meaningful opportunity, considering the absence of promotion and relegation in the United States.

The Open Cup has also been significant for the United Soccer League (USL), with its teams and players using the tournament as a chance to test themselves against the best in the country. Notably, the USL Championship team Sacramento Republic reached the Open Cup final in 2022, losing to MLS' Orlando City. The last non-MLS team to win the tournament was the Rochester Rhinos in 1999.

The announcement raises questions about the future of the tournament's winner being awarded a place in the Concacaf Champions League, now known as the Champions Cup. It remains uncertain how this decision by MLS will impact the allocation of the spot.

In recent years, some MLS teams had already opted to field weakened lineups in the Open Cup, prioritizing the competition as they progressed. However, moving forward, first-team MLS players will not be allowed to join MLS Next Pro teams in the latter stages of the competition, according to an MLS spokesperson.

The MLS's decision to involve MLS Next Pro teams in the U.S. Open Cup marks a shift in approach and a commitment to shape the tournament's future. It reflects the league's efforts to manage fixture congestion while reestablishing the Open Cup's significance within the American soccer landscape.