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Red Bulls II Enter US Open Cup for First Time Since 2015

by Anthony J. Merced

New York Red Bulls have announced that their MLS Next Pro affiliate team will take their place in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the 2024 campaign. This announcement comes after negotiations between Major League Soccer and the US Soccer Federation on the format and how first division teams will compete in the tournament.

The overall negotiations will see eight MLS clubs in the country's oldest soccer competition. From there 11 Next Pro affiliate clubs, including the New York Red Bulls II, will enter the competition as well. The inclusion of these clubs was based on the 2023 MLS Next Pro standings which saw the Red Bulls II finish in fourth place in their Group. The team eventually was eliminated in the playoffs.

This is a drastic change from what has been done in the past. MLS clubs participated in the later rounds of the tournament with affiliate clubs being barred from the competition dating back to 2016. The last time they did compete, the team was eliminated in the second round by PDL side Jersey Express in 2015. 

The change in format will open up New York Red Bulls to focus on other competitions such as the Leagues Cup over the summer. Several of their players will also be stepping away to compete in the Olympics, Copa America or European Championship during the same time.

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