USSF’s Decision To Exclude NASL Teams From U.S. Open Cup Sends Mixed Message

Today should have been a good day for the NASL. U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati was appearing with NASL CEO Aaron Davidson on a conference call announcing the league’s provisional sanctioning as a Division 2 league, theoretically spreading positive news. Unfortunately, a dark cloud was cast over the event when Gulati dropped a bit of a bombshell: NASL teams would not be allowed to compete in this year’s U.S. Open Cup.

Gulati made it sound like a procedural issue, that the timing of the NASL’s sanctioning made including them in the tournament impossible. That might be a plausible reason if the tournament’s start was imminent. The reality, though, is that the tournament’s format isn’t usually announced until late April or early May and the first round of the tournament doesn’t usually start until June. Even if the structure is being altered, the only way this makes any sense is if USSF is trying to take punitive action against the NASL, while keeping the federation’s hierarchy intact.

At the very least, this sends a mixed message. On one hand, USSF is fine with NASL being the country’s second division. On the other, they are sending a message that NASL is less legitimate than amateur sides. This can’t possibly be an effective way to ensure the health of the pyramid.

The standard for several years has been all fully professional teams were automatically qualified. Last year, all nine U.S.-based USSF Division 2 teams, as well as all six U.S.-based USL-2 teams (third division) were given automatic berths in the first round of the tournament. This year, all 11 U.S.-based USL-Pro teams will be playing in the tournament, presumably with automatic entry into the first round. Even if the five NASL teams had been admitted, the combined total of 16 Division 2 and 3 teams would be one fewer than last year and two fewer than 2009. Even if the rumors are true that all 16 U.S.-based MLS teams will be granted entry into the tournament (as opposed to eight entering in the third round), it’s inevitable that amateur teams will be given spots that could have otherwise gone to the NASL.

If USSF is serious about strengthening the pyramid, having D2 in the Open Cup is a no-brainer. This clunky compromise, only seems to be satisfying those who already disregard the tournament’s value. If anything, this further diminishes a tournament just as it seemed to be taking its rightful place in U.S. soccer fans’ collective consciousness. Whether or not the tournament’s structure has really been set, it doesn’t seem to be asking too much for USSF to have been prepared with alternative plans if NASL was sanctioned. Hopefully USSF will reconsider this approach and find a suitable alternative.