Opening round begins June 5 and runs through June 20 The 1999 U.S. Open Cup kicks off June 5 when USASA qualifier Los Lobos of Tulsa, Okla. (Region III) travels to Wilmington to battle the D3 Pro League’s Wilmington Hammerheads. The final 32-team U.S. Open Cup field is comprised of eight teams each from Major League Soccer, the A-League and the D3 Pro League, as well as four teams each from the Premier Development League and the U.S. Amateur Soccer Association. After opening qualifying play back in March with 146 teams across the United States, the final Open Cup berth was decided June 4 when the Milwaukee Rampage lost 4-2 at the New Orleans Storm, giving the Orange County Zodiac the eighth and final A-League position in the 1999 tournament. The 1999 U.S. Open Cup first round is scheduled through June 20 and will match-up eight qualifiers from the D3 Pro League against four PDL and four USASA qualifiers. The first round winners will then be drawn against eight A-League qualifiers, who join the U.S. Open Cup in the second round. The eight MLS competitors will enter the tournament in the third round. The brackets for the first three rounds of the tournament will be solidified next week, helping each team chart their course into the quarterfinals, at which time a draw will be conducted to determine the pairings among the Open Cup’s final eight competitors. Played under FIFA rules, each Open Cup match will finish with a winner, with tie games going into 30 minutes of sudden death overtime, and then to penalty kicks, if needed. The 1999 U.S. Open Cup final is scheduled for the newly-constructed Columbus Crew Stadium on September 14 and will be televised live at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN for the first time in the annual tournament’s history. Here’s a look at the first-round schedule: FIRST ROUND
| Date | Matchup | Kickoff |
| June 5 | Los Lobos (USASA) at Wilmington Hammerheads (D3) | 7:30 p.m. (ET) |
| June 8 | Austin Lone Stars (D3) at Mid Michigan Bucks (PDL) | 6:30 p.m. (CT) |
| June 9 | New York Freedom (PDL) at Cape Cod Crusaders (D3) | 7:30 p.m. (ET) |
| June 9 | German-Hungarians (USASA) at New Jersey Stallions (D3) | 7:30 p.m. (ET) |
| June 11 | Fresno Mexico SC (USASA) at Arizona Sahuaros (D3) | TBD |
| June 16 | Spokane Shadow (PDL) at Chico Rooks (D3) | 8:00 p.m. (PT) |
| June 20 | Bavarian Leinenkugel (USASA) at Carolina Dynamo (D3) | TBD |
| TBD | Cocoa Expos (PDL) at No. VIrginia Royals (D3) | TBD |
1999 U.S. Open Cup Field
For the first time in the tournament’s 86-year history, qualified teams for the 1999 U.S. Open Cup have been ranked from 1 to 32 to assist fans and media in gauging a team’s success. The rankings are based on each team’s regular season standing at the conclusion of their respective leagues qualifying play (approximately June 1, 1999). Each team is also ranked according to the league in which they play, meaning Major League Soccer teams are ranked from 1 to 8 as the top division in the competition. The Division II A-League’s clubs are ranked 9 to 16, with the D3 Pro League teams following them from 17 to 24. The amateur teams in the competition round out the rankings from 25 to 32. Team rankings do not affect team pairings or home field advantage, they are only meant to serve the media and fans in comparing team strengths. Here is a look at the seedings:| 1. Colorado Rapids (MLS) |
| 2. Chicago Fire (MLS) |
| 3. D.C. United (MLS) |
| 4. Columbus Crew (MLS) |
| 5. Dallas Burn (MLS) |
| 6. Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS) |
| 7. Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) |
| 8. MetroStars (MLS) |
| 9. Rochester Rhinos (A-League) |
| 10. San Diego Flash (A-League) |
| 11. Staten Island Vipers (A-League) |
| 12. Minnesota Thunder (A-League) |
| 13. Charleston Battery (A-League) |
| 14. Seattle Sounders (A-League) |
| 15. Jacksonville Cyclones (A-League) |
| 16. Orange County Zodiac (A-League) |
| 17. Wilmington Hammerheads (D3 Pro) |
| 18. Northern Virginia Royals (D3 Pro) |
| 19. Arizona Sahuaros (D3 Pro) |
| 20. Chico Rooks (D3 Pro) |
| 21. Cape Cod Crusaders (D3 Pro) |
| 22. Austin Lone Stars (D3 Pro) |
| 23. New Jersey Stallions (D3 Pro) |
| 24. Carolina Dynamo (D3 Pro) |
| 25. Mid Michigan Bucks (PDL) |
| 26. Spokane Shadow (PDL) |
| 27. Cocoa Expos (PDL) |
| 28. New York Freedom (PDL) |
| 29. United German-Hungarians (USASA, Reg. I) |
| 30. Los Lobos (USASA, Reg. III) |
| 31. Fresno Mexico SC (USASA, Reg. IV) |
| 32. Bavarian Leinenkugel (USASA, Reg. II) |