Philadelphia Union to begin U.S. Open Cup campaign May 19 or 20

Mark your calendar for May 19 or 20. That’s the date the Philadelphia Union will open their 2020 U.S. Open Cup campaign.

The Union will be entering into the Round of 32. Eleven MLS teams will be entering a round earlier with the third round April 21-23.

Vereinigung Erzgebirge will open their campaign in the first round on March 24-25 along with NPSL and USL League Two teams. The local team, which qualified with a win over West Chester United last month, will find out their first round opponent on January 22.

As national runner ups Reading United is sure to qualify for the competition but the official entries from the two amateur leagues won’t be announced until after the December 31 professional division confirmation deadline. West Chester United FC and Atlantic City FC (No. 17 and No. 18 in the league power rankings from the regular season in 2019) are potential qualifiers from the NPSL.

The competition starting earlier will be a hardship for teams like Reading United that rely heavily on college talent. College players aren’t permitted to participate in outside competition until May 1 unless their college is on a scheduled break.