Plans approved for new-look U.S. Open Cup in '24

Preliminary plans for the 2024 edition of the U.S. Open Cup "have been approved" by a subcommittee of the U.S. Soccer Federation BOD, "though the tournament likely won't look like recent editions," according to a source. Details are "still being ironed out," but what "will likely gain final approval is a hybrid type of tournament with not every MLS team participating." The plan calls for the federation to "make its largest financial investment ever to ease the cost of travel and assist with promotion, especially for lower-division teams." The source also indicated this format "would be for 2024 only." The future of the tournament "has been in doubt" ever since MLS announced in December that its first teams wouldn't participate in the competition ( ESPN.com, 2/19 ).