CARSON, Calif. - The Los Angeles Galaxy will play the Columbus Crew in a U.S. Open Cup qualifying match at 4:30 p.m. (PT) on Tuesday, April 24 at Crew Stadium. If the Galaxy defeat the Crew, it will advance to the final round of qualifying where it will play the New York Red Bulls (date, time and location TBA), with the winner of that game qualifying for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
For the first time since 2002, all eligible MLS teams will not participate in the U.S. Open Cup tournament proper due to schedule congestion, with international and club events this summer. However, each team will have the chance to qualify for the tournament.
The top six MLS teams from the 2006 standings are being placed in the tournament proper, while the six remaining teams will play qualifying matches. The Crew, Galaxy, Kansas City Wizards and Real Salt Lake will play in the first qualifying round, with the winners facing the New York Red Bulls and Colorado Rapids for a chance to qualify for the tournament. The eight MLS teams that qualify for the U.S. Open Cup will enter the tournament in the Third Round.
Dating back to 1914, the U.S. Open Cup is the oldest soccer competition in the United States and among the oldest in the world. Open to affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States, the annual U.S. Open Cup is a 93-year old, single-elimination tournament based upon similar competitions played across the world, concurrent with domestic league competition.
The Galaxy first entered the Open Cup in 1999 and have reached the Final of the tournament four times, winning twice. In 2001 and 2005, the Galaxy lifted the prestigious Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, defeating the New England Revolution 2-1 in extratime and FC Dallas 1-0 respectively. In 2002 and 2006, the Galaxy reached the Open Cup Final but were unable to repeat as champions.
