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1998 MLS Open Cup Draw
Similar to the real-life US Open Cup or the English FA Cup tournaments, the MLS Open Cup is an "open to all" single-elimination tournament. Each year, every available team to that date (including any who have been permanently relegated out of the All-Time MLS in prior years) will be drawn into this tournament.
For 1998, this means a 20-team tournament. The tournament will last five rounds. 1996 DC United (MLS Cup winners), 1997 DC United (MLS Cup winners), 1996 Tampa Bay (Supporter's Shield winners), and 1997 Kansas City (1997 #2 team) have all been given double-byes and will enter at the third round, the tournament quarterfinals. The remaining 16 teams have been randomly drawn against one another to play in the first round. The only restriction is that teams from the same franchise history may not play one another unless it is unavoidable.
All first round winners will play each other in the second round.
Any matches ending in ties will be replayed on the 27th at the visiting team's home field. A tie in the replay match goes to OT and then PKs to determine the winner.
The first round will be played May 20, 1998. The matchups drawn are (home team first):
1996 Dallas vs 1997 Columbus
1996 NY/NJ vs 1996 LA Galaxy
1996 Kansas City vs 1997 Dallas
1997 New England vs 1997 San Jose
1996 Columbus vs 1997 LA Galaxy
1997 Tampa Bay vs 1996 Colorado
1997 NY/NJ vs 1996 San Jose
1996 New England vs 1997 Colorado
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