The Open Cup Matters

Austin Anthem is an ardent supporter of soccer in our country. We believe it is fundamental to our mission to support soccer at all levels, not just the top one. The US Open Cup, founded in 1914, is the original national tournament that invites teams from all backgrounds, all skill levels, and all histories to participate in the beautiful game on a level playing field. Its existence may not seem critical to MLS leadership in New York, but it is critical to hundreds of teams and communities across the country.

Long before there was an Austin FC, there were Austin teams in the US Open Cup. It set the foundation for soccer in our community long before we were even on the map for a top-flight team.

The 2023 decision by Major League Soccer to withdraw the majority of top-flight teams from the 2024 competition on the grounds of "schedule congestion" is a farce, as Austin FC will play zero MLS matches for 34 days after the home Charlotte FC match on July 20th to accomodate the recently-created Leagues Cup.

It should be noted that MLS clubs have issued statements of support for the US Open Cup despite their lack of participation mandated by the league. We have heard no public statement of support from anyone at Austin FC.

Through these actions, it becomes apparent to us that our league and club care far more about the Leagues Cup than the US Open Cup, and by extension, care more about Apple TV money than our nation's soccer. We cannot support this.

As an organization, we:

Encourage members to not attend any Leagues Cup match if they feel so inclined.

Encourage those who do attend to consider skipping concessions and merchandise.

Will not promote any aspect of any Leagues Cup match on any platform.

Will not distribute any tickets for any Leagues Cup match.

Will not organize member support of any kind for any Leagues Cup match.

Will not supply or wave flags.

Reject the ongoing attempts to turn our sport into even more of a cash grab than it already is at the expense of local communities, players, and history of the game.

We will continue to have conversations with the club regarding the appropriate return of the US Open Cup to Q2 Stadium. They have our contact info when they are ready to talk.

Why are you not calling for a complete boycott?

Everyone has a different relationship with soccer and the US Open Cup. We strongly believe that attending the Leagues Cup in any form will signal to MLS leaders that the US Open Cup doesn't matter, and that this made-for-TV tournament is more important. However, not everyone may feel this way, and we're not going to shame anyone for the way they enjoy the beautiful game.

There is more than one way to lodge a protest.

What do we do with our tickets if we're not attending?

If you choose to not go, consider holding on to your tickets, or transferring them to an Austin FC fan directly. Selling tickets on the SeatGeek market could result in them being purchased by non-Austin FC fans, and that's not the goal.

How can you say you're supporters if you're not attending?

We believe the long-term viability and health of soccer in this country is more important than being at Q2 Stadium for two tournament games in July against opponents from a different country. We strongly support the players and understand that while we may not be in the stands for these matches, they will continue to have our support throughout this break and even louder in person starting on August 31st.

What more can we do?

For those who are season ticket members, email your ticket rep. The generic email address is memberships@austinfc.com if you don't have yours handy.

You can help raise awareness by telling your friends and family who might attend, or by using #SaveTheCup on social media.

What is the difference between the Leagues Cup and Open Cup?

The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup was founded in 1914 and is a single-elimination knockout tournament open to all teams in the United States. It is organized by the United States Soccer Federation, and the first edition was won by the Brooklyn Field Club in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It is the equivalent of the FA Cup in England, where teams from lower level divisions have a chance to advance and play against big name sides. When an upset occurs, it's frequently attributed to "the magic of the Cup". The tournament runs concurrent to the regular season, with matches played mid-week and the luck of the draw determining which club is hosting all the way to the final. Austin FC is 1-0-2 in US Open Cup play. In 2023, we defeated USL Championship side New Mexico United in front of 20,019 at Q2 before falling to Chicago Fire FC.

The Leagues Cup is a closed cup competition created by Major League Soccer and Liga MX that was created in 2019, but did not include more than 8 teams until 2023. Groups of three are formed, with at least one team from each league in each group. Teams play the other two teams in their group. No matches are played in Mexico, even if a match features two Liga MX teams. League play stops for about a month to play in this tournament. Austin FC is 0-0-2 in Leagues Cup play.

Didn't we play in the Open Cup this year?

Austin FC did not play in the Open Cup this year. Austin FC II played in the US Open Cup at Parmer Field earlier this season, falling in penalties to amateur side Foro SC in March. Tickets were not made available to the general public.