The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic continues as U.S. Soccer announced on Friday that the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has been temporarily suspended.
U.S. Soccer’s decision comes one day after Major League Soccer decided to suspend the season for at least 30 days in the wake of the spread of COIVD-19, the name of the disease which has spread globally. MLS’ decision, along with the USL, NWSL, USL League One and NISA, played a part in the suspension of the U.S. Open Cup.
“The health and safety of players, coaches, staff and fans is our main priority,” U.S. Open Cup Commissioner Paul Marstaller said in a statement. “Given the unique nature of the competition, which encompasses clubs from multiple leagues that have suspended their seasons, we are taking this action and will look to determine future dates to allow the 2020 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to be played.”
The competition was supposed to begin on March 24, and the first three rounds were scheduled for March 24-25, April 7-9 and April 21-23.
The outbreak of the coronavirus, which was declared a national emergency on Friday, has shaken the sports world. Along with MLS, every other major sports league in the U.S. has temporarily suspended its leagues.
The U.S. Open Cup is the longest-running soccer cup competition in the country. It began in 1914 and has run consecutively since its first season. One hundred teams are scheduled this year to compete for the title, and the winner of the knockout tournament qualifies for the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.
U.S. Soccer rolled out a new format for the tournament this year, which includes 11 MLS teams entering in the third round. In previous years, MLS teams entered the tournament in the fourth round.
Teams from MLS, USL, USL League One, NISA and amateur teams compete in the tournament.
Atlanta United are reigning champions after defeating Minnesota United 2-1 in August.