St. Louis City SC Wins 2026 US Open Cup

St. Louis City SC has won the 2026 U.S. Open Cup, defeating the Columbus Crew on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the final match. The match was played on October 21, 2026, at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio.

The win is a significant one for the city of St. Louis, as St. Louis City SC became the eighth club from the city to win the U.S. Open Cup. This victory comes after a period of decline for the Open Cup, with Major League Soccer (MLS) attempting to reduce its participation in the tournament in late 2023.

However, MLS has announced that it will return to full participation in the 2027 U.S. Open Cup, which may help to revitalize the tournament. The U.S. Open Cup has a rich history, and this win is an important part of that history.

## Why it matters The U.S. Open Cup is the nation's oldest continuously contested soccer competition, and it remains a tremendously important honor for any club to win. Despite the challenges the tournament has faced in recent years, including the creation of the more commercially lucrative Leagues Cup, the Open Cup still matters profoundly to the nation's soccer history and to the city of St. Louis.

The win is also a testament to the resilience of the tournament, which has weathered some rough recent years. The fact that St. Louis City SC was able to win the tournament despite the challenges it faced is a significant achievement, and it highlights the importance of the Open Cup to the city and to the sport as a whole.

## What happens next With MLS returning to full participation in the 2027 U.S. Open Cup, the tournament is likely to regain some of its former prestige. The win by St. Louis City SC will likely help to generate interest in the tournament, and it may help to attract new fans to the sport. As the tournament continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how it adapts to the changing landscape of American soccer.