Sporting KC to Compete in the 2026 US Open Cup

After sitting out the 2025 US Open Cup, despite finishing as runner up in 2024, Sporting Kansas City are back in the competition!

The news came from the team on Wednesday, snuck into a press release about Thursday’s press conference with David Lee and Kerry Zavagnin. That presser could be about roster moves, though Sporting KC have until November 26th to make those decisions. The KC Soccer Journal will have more on that press conference soon.

The return to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup comes after a one-year absence for the first team. Due to qualifying for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup, Sporting KC didn’t participate in either the US Open Cup or Leagues Cup in 2025.

In their place was their second team, SKC II, who thoroughly dominated but somehow lost to the Des Moines Menace, who were co-captained by their former coach, Benny Feilhaber. The Menace went out the following round to Union Omaha.

The full participant list from Major League Soccer in the US Open Cup is not yet known. In 2025, LAFC were the defending champions and didn’t participate. It’s unknown if Nashville SC will get to defend their crown.

SKC’s History of Success

While the US Open Cup trophy isn’t held in as high of prestige as the Supporters’ Shield or MLS Cup, it’s one Sporting KC always fought tooth and nail for. SKC have an MLS best four US Open Cup titles (2004, 2012, 2015 and 2017). The 2017 win over the New York Red Bulls is the last trophy the team lifted.

They made the final in 2024 but came up short. They also went out in the semi-final in 2022 before falling to the Sacramento Republic.

The US Open Cup is the longest running competition in North American soccer. Will the 111th edition of the tournament be their next chance to shine? The team is likely to look very different next year and will be under a new regime for the first time in nearly 20 years.

The KCSJ will bring you more on the US Open Cup in the future.