US Soccer has confirmed that both the Seattle Sounders and Tacoma Defiance will not be competing in the 2026 US Open Cup. As it may be no surprise that the defending Leagues Cup champions will play in the next year’s tournament, but it’s a letdown for the Seattle area that the Defiance will also not compete despite having a commendable run in last year’s USOC competition.
Via US Soccer, the MLS teams that will not participate in the 2026 USOC are:
– All 2026 Leagues Cup participants
– Any 2026 Champions Cup MLS team
Original photos courtesy of Area Sports Network
The MLS teams that didn’t place in the top nine in their respective conference will play in next year’s USOC. Those clubs will be ranked on the 2025 Supporters’ Shield standings based on who hosts their first game.
As for the Tacoma Defiance, based on US Soccer’s “One Club, One Entry†rule, the Tacoma Defiance will not participate due to the affiliation with the Sounders. Even though the Sounders aren’t participating in the tournament, the One Club, One Entry rule now states that clubs must field their highest-level professional team. Therefore, only two MLS NEXT Pro teams will qualify (Carolina Core & Chattanooga).
This rule change was made recently, ahead of the participating teams announcement by US Soccer and is why the Defiance competed in the 2025 USOC.
Cover Photo: Niko Antoun / House of Sounders
