U.S. Soccer announced Thursday that FC Dallas will host the Miami FC Blues in the 3rd Round of the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, July 1 at Pizza Hut Park (7:30 p.m. CT). Miami FC, of the United Soccer Leagues' First Division, defeated league rivals Atlanta Silverbacks 1-0 on June 24 in the 2nd Round game held in Florida.
FC Dallas season ticket holders should use Bonus Game "C" for the 3rd Round game. Tickets, ranging from $18-$60, are available through all ticketmaster outlets or by calling the FC Dallas front office at 888.FCD.GOAL (888.323.4625).
The winner of the FC Dallas versus Miami game will advance to the Quarterfinal to face the winner of the 3rd Round match between the Charleston Battery (USL 1) and Houston Dynamo (MLS), which will be played on July 1 at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina. Should FC Dallas advance, it will host either Charleston or Houston at Pizza Hut Park on Tuesday, July 8 (7:30 p.m. CT).
FC Dallas has advanced to the U.S. Open Cup Finals on three occasions, claiming the 1997 title and losing to Los Angeles in 2005 and New England in 2007. In its third season, this is the furthest Miami has ever advanced in the tournament.
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation's National Championship which dates back to 1914, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. It is the oldest annual team tournament in U.S. sports history and among the oldest soccer tournaments of its type in the world. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor long-time soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.
For more information on the U.S. Open Cup, visit www.ussoccer.com.
Composition of participating teams:
8 Major League Soccer
8 United Soccer Leagues First Division
8 United Soccer Leagues Second Division
16 Amateur (8 USL Premier Development League, 8 USASA regional qualifiers)
Total Number of Teams: 40
Total Number of Games: 39
2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
June 10: First Round - 32 lower division teams enter tournament
June 24: Second Round - 16 Round 1 winners face off
July 1: Third Round - Round 2 winners face eight MLS teams
July 8: Quarterfinals - Round 3 winners
Aug. 12: Semifinals - Quarterfinal winners
Aug. 26: Final - Semifinal winners
