CHICAGO – Six teams across the Northeast, Colorado and Texas have punched their tickets over the weekend of Nov. 20-21 to the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Ten others will have the chance to do the same Dec. 18-19 when Open Division Local Qualifying wraps up in the Southeast and West regions.

Among the six teams who have qualified, Brockton FC United (Mass.), Oyster Bay United FC (N.Y.), Lynchburg FC (Va.) and D’Feeters Kicks Soccer Club (Texas) will see first round action for the first time in their history. Azteca FC (Colo.) has previously reached the tournament proper, having done so in 2017 and 2018, while Nova FC (Va.) reached the Open Cup in 1999 and 2000 under the name Northern Virginia Royals while a member of the USL D-3 Pro League.

The pairings and home teams for the remaining matchups in this year’s Open Division Local Qualifying rounds have been determined, with exact dates, times and venues in some cases to be announced in the coming days. Two games in the Southeast Region and three in the West over the weekend before Christmas will determine the remaining clubs of the 11 advancing from local qualifying to the 2022 Open Cup, set to open March 22-23. The history-filled annual tournament, holding its 107th edition, is the only high-profile event in American team sports that grants amateur sides the opportunity, should they advance far enough, to face professionals in meaningful competition.

Open Division Local Qualifying is conducted on a single-game, knockout basis. Matchups are determined geographically to minimize travel time and expense, with random selection used when practicable to determine opponent pairings. Home teams are determined via random selection.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.