And scene.

The first round of the 2024 Open Cup is now done and the opening delivered so much for fans of the Cup and soccer in general. From surprising heroes to unpredictable finishes, there was something for everyone this year. And the addition of the amateur vs professional rule in the opening round really paid off, with 7 amateur sides knocking off professional clubs. In fact, every night brought at least one cupset and no one but a professional would complain about that!

While some of the feeds were less than desirable (we’re looking at you, LA Force), every match was available to view online and the broadcasts overall were very good. Given the challenges going into the tournament - the battles between MLS and the Fed - the first round went through without any obvious blemishes. It was a win-win for all involved.

Of the pros, USL League One shined the brightest of the bunch, with NISA following (who would have thunk it!), and MLS Next Pro with the most stumbles. For the amateur sides, the NPSL, USL League Two, and UPSL all got 2 wins from their various entrants, with the smaller leagues only getting a single winner (Miami United). But maybe the best part of the matchups is that there were so few blowouts. The matches were close, fun, and featured all sorts of heroics that people love the Cup for.

Round one went about as good anyone could have hoped and was a great testament to what the Cup can be. It feels like there’s every reason to be excited about round two now!

- Dan Vaughn