<p>Major League Soccer has officially announced that their first teams will not participate in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/us-open-cup-tv-schedule/">2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup</a>. </p>



<p>In a press release sent out on Friday, the league stated that the decision came down to a vote by the team owners. As a result, teams will instead send their division-three MLS NEXT Pro sides to participate in the competition.</p>



<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">MLS</a> execs claimed that the choice was made to give younger players an opportunity in the competition and help ease scheduling.</p>



<p>“This decision will provide emerging professional players with additional opportunities for meaningful competition. The move also benefits the MLS regular season by reducing schedule congestion, freeing up to six-midweek match dates,” the league wrote in the <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-plans-to-be-represented-by-mls-next-pro-clubs-in-2024-lamar-hunt-u-s-open-cu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">statement</a>.</p>



<p>Despite pulling out of the U.S. Open Cup, MLS’s statement also bizarrely included that they are “committed to working with U.S. Soccer to evolve and elevate the Open Cup for everyone involved in the years ahead.”</p>



<h2>US Open Cup has given smaller clubs rare opportunities in the past</h2>



<p>The move has essentially sent shockwaves through the American soccer community. After all, the U.S. Open Cup is the country’s oldest ongoing national soccer competition. In fact, the tournament was introduced way back in 1914 as the National Challenge Cup. The competition predates MLS by over 80 years.</p>



<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/us-soccer-medias-reaction-to-mls-abandoning-us-open-cup-20231219-WST-478278.html">Reaction to the move has been overwhelmingly negative</a>, from media members, fans, and just about everyone associated with the game in the US.</p>



<p>The U.S. Open Cup regularly features around 100 teams each season. All professional soccer teams compete in the tournament, as well as some qualifying amateur clubs as well.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="800" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231216_WST_477772_imago1034877270h-1200x800_6830decb.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=800" alt="" class="wp-image-477788" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/imago1034877270h-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/imago1034877270h-300x200.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/imago1034877270h-768x512.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/imago1034877270h-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/12/imago1034877270h-2048x1365.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>Many soccer fans Stateside love the competition, as it gives smaller clubs a rare opportunity to play the big boys. MLS does not have promotion and relegation in place. Instead, the top flight consists of the same teams year in and year out. This made MLS clubs playing in the U.S. Open Cup a little more exciting and unique for the fans. Smaller teams also cherished facing top international stars such as Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="MLS&apos; plan to rule all of US pro soccer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OE2T5_q3fJU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<h2>MLS may have violated official US Soccer rules</h2>



<p>The decision to back out of the competition may also violate USSF’s own <a href="https://www.ussoccer.com/organization-members-directory/pro-league-standards" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pro League Standards</a>. The laws, which were updated in March of this year, state that Division 1 (MLS) teams essentially have to participate in the U.S. Open Cup.</p>



<p>Page nine of the lengthy general requirements of American soccer clubs clearly states that: “U.S.-based teams must participate in all representative U.S. Soccer and CONCACAF competitions for which they are eligible.”</p>



<p>It remains to be seen if the USSF will stick to their guns regarding the official rule book. Nevertheless, the governing body of soccer in the United States revealed that they were not informed of the decision until the vote passed on Friday evening.</p>



<p>“Major League Soccer notified U.S. Soccer today of their vote regarding the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup,” <a href="https://twitter.com/BonaguraESPN/status/1735803726160634367" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">read</a> a statement from USSF. “Our staff is currently reviewing. U.S. Soccer and our members remain committed to the success of the historic U.S. Open Cup and look forward to engaging with all our stakeholders on the future of the tournament.”</p>



<p>There were, however, recent signs that MLS teams were not exactly thrilled about playing in the U.S. Open Cup. Commissioner Don Garber <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mls-don-garber-criticizes-quality-level-of-us-open-cup-20230505-WST-431854.html">previously criticized</a> the quality of play in the competition in May. </p>



<p>A month later, Major League Soccer Players Association executive director Bob Foose <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mls-players-dont-look-forward-to-us-open-cup-says-mlspa-20230620-WST-438635.html">claimed</a> that top-flight players don’t look forward to playing U.S. Open Cup matches.</p>



<p><em>Photo credits: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire</em></p>

MLS quits US Open Cup, risks losing D1 sanctioning

The MLS decision to not send their first teams to the 2024 US Open Cup competition could violate official USSF laws

MLS quits US Open Cup, risks losing D1 sanctioning - World Soccer Talk

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<p>Playmaker Capital’s Futbol Sites brand has become the Argentine Football Association’s official digital agency and commercial partner in North America. </p>



<p>In its role, Futbol Sites will oversee the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/argentina-national-team-tv-schedule/">Argentina</a> national team presence in North America by boosting the national team’s social media presence in English-language. </p>



<p>The centerpiece of that is the launch of new social media accounts on Instagram, TikTok, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AFASeleccionEN" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>, YouTube and <a href="https://twitter.com/AFASeleccionEN" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>. Each is under the name @AFASeleccionEN. These new accounts distribute customized content for an English-language audience in collaboration with the network of Futbol Sites digital presence in North America. </p>



<p>Already one of the most popular soccer nations in the world, Argentina’s popularity spiked during the 2022 World Cup. While winning the tournament, Argentina’s following soared. However, the previous social media channels only catered to the <a href="https://twitter.com/Argentina" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spanish-language audience</a>. The deal with Playmaker can help the Argentina national team reach new audiences.</p>



<p>Playmaker’s Futbol Sites is the leading digital sports media group throughout Latin America and with the US Hispanic population. As part of the partnership deal, Futbol Sites will create authentic digital content – including social media creative and video. It will focus on fan experiences, highlights, celebrations, watch parties and more.</p>



<h2>Playmaker has outlets to help Argentina national team</h2>



<p>Playmaker is one of the fastest growing media brands in the Americas, and that extends to the United States. Its brands include popular site Bolavip and us here at World Soccer Talk.</p>



<p>Additionally, as a strategic business and sponsorship partner, Futbol Sites’ dedicated cross-border partnerships team will place new North American sponsors against AFA’s name and likeness. Per the agreement, Futbol Sites will be granted the right to connect iconic North American brands to AFA and its top players, including Lionel Messi, Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez, Angel Di María, Julian Álvarez and Enzo Fernández, among others.</p>



<p>Playmaker, the digital sports media company specializing in the North, Central and South America, is one of the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/playmaker-among-top-sports-media-groups-across-americas-20230302-WST-421871.html">most visited groups of sites in the Americas</a>. Recent data released by Comscore places Playmaker at seventh in the top sports media companies in the Americas based on multi-platform total visits in December 2022.</p>



<p>With Playmaker’s and Futbol Sites’ help, dedicated cross-border partnerships team will place new North American sponsors against AFA’s name and likeness.</p>



<p>If there was ever a time to follow the Argentina soccer landscape, it is now. The national side is defending its World Cup title. Also, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/fanatiz-to-broadcast-first-argentina-friendlies-since-world-cup-20230320-WST-423825.html">Fanatiz signed an exclusive deal to broadcast Argentina</a> friendlies in the United States.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="ArgentinaPPV Fanatiz eng 1" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RUJts_XT8Mk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



<p>Those games start with a pair of friendlies against Panama and Curacao to celebrate the World Cup.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Sportimage</em></p>


Playmaker and the Argentina national team came to an agreement that should help the national side grow its English-language brand.

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MLS quits US Open Cup, risks losing D1 sanctioning

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Playmaker to represent Argentina national team in North America