<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> 2018 U.S. Open Cup </Td> </Tr> <P> The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, commonly known as the U.S. Open Cup (USOC), is a knock - out cup competition in American soccer . It is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. The 105th edition, held in 2018, was contested by 97 clubs from the two professional leagues sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation: Major League Soccer (MLS), and the United Soccer League (USL), and also amateur clubs in the earlier rounds of the tournament after qualifying through their leagues . The overall champion earns a total of $300,000 in prize money, while the runner - up receives $100,000, and the furthest - advancing team from each lower division league receives $25,000 . In addition, the tournament winner qualifies for the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League . </P> <P> The competition was first held during the 1913--14 season as the National Challenge Cup, with Brooklyn Field Club winning a trophy donated by Thomas Dewar for the promotion of American soccer . It was renamed and then dedicated to MLS owner Lamar Hunt by the United States Soccer Federation in 1999 . </P> <P> Major League Soccer teams have dominated the competition since MLS began play in 1996 . No lower division team has won the U.S. Open Cup since the Rochester Rhinos in 1999 or reached the U.S. Open Cup final since the Charleston Battery in 2008 . The most recent champions of the competition, Sporting Kansas City, won their fourth title after defeating the New York Red Bulls 2--1 in the 2017 final . </P>

Difference between us open cup and mls cup