Philly Leader

Philadelphia Union, in collaboration with Major League Soccer (MLS), has confirmed its participation in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Union has previously reached the finals of this tournament in 2014, 2015, and 2018.

MLS also outlined the qualification criteria for North American cup competitions for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. These include the Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and Canadian Championship. These tournaments offer clubs opportunities to compete outside MLS play.

The framework for MLS club participation is designed to reward performance while managing player workload. It ensures that each MLS club can participate in at least one but no more than two concurrent North American competitions during the MLS season.

This structure will be applicable for both the 2025 and 2026 seasons as major events like FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and FIFA World Cup 2026 take place in North America. A re-evaluation of this process is planned for 2027 as competition landscapes evolve.

For the Concacaf Champions Cup, criteria are set by Concacaf itself. In the Leagues Cup, a total of eighteen MLS clubs will qualify to match eighteen LIGA MX clubs' participation. This includes the top nine teams from each MLS Conference based on prior season standings.

An adjustment has been made for Leagues Cup 2025 due to Vancouver Whitecaps FC's involvement in both Concacaf Champions Cup and their defense of the Canadian Championship title. Consequently, San Diego FC will replace Vancouver in Leagues Cup 2025 to ensure all thirty MLS teams participate in at least one or two North American cup competitions.

In line with the format changes for Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 2025, sixteen MLS first teams will now participate instead of eight. Additionally, ten MLS NEXT Pro teams will join them. Participation is limited to U.S.-based clubs only; those not competing in either Leagues or Concacaf Champions Cups automatically qualify for this tournament alongside others determined by Supporters’ Shield standings.

The Canadian Championship sees all three Canadian-based MLS clubs—Toronto FC, CF Montréal, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC—competing from April through October.

Highlights include ten MLS clubs competing in Concacaf Champions Cup starting February until June; eighteen facing off against Liga MX teams during July-August's Leagues Cups; sixteen entering Round of Thirty-Two within Lamar Hunt U.S., with ten pro-teams beginning First Round matches; finally culminating with Canada’s championship spanning several months between spring-fall periods annually across national boundaries throughout respective regions accordingly under respective formats involved therein per each specific event contextually speaking overall collectively thereby inclusively considered holistically regarded institutionally administered appropriately managed consistently executed efficiently implemented effectively realized satisfactorily achieved successfully accomplished ultimately fulfilled conclusively finalized completely done so forth onwards forward moving ahead continuously progressing steadily advancing perpetually evolving dynamically changing constantly 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