San Jose Earthquakes win bid to host potential US Open Cup semifinal at Buck Shaw Stadium

With the quarterfinal matches still to be played next Tuesday, U.S. Soccer today announced the potential semifinal pairings for the 99^th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament. If the San Jose Earthquakes are able to beat the visiting Seattle Sounders on Tuesday, June 26, at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco, the team will host a semifinal round match on Tuesday, July 10, at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara.

The process to host Open Cup games through the quarterfinal round of the tournament was determined by a random draw by officials at U.S. Soccer; however, in the semifinals and final round, the home team is determined by a system of blind bids. Given that the Earthquakes were awarded a potential semifinal match, the team’s bid must have been more lucrative than either of their possible opponents, the Charlotte Eagles of USL PRO or Chivas USA of MLS.

The road to the semifinals will not be easy to travel, as the Earthquakes will need to find a way past the three-time defending Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders. The Sounders, like the Earthquakes, will have short turnaround for the Tuesday match following a league match over the weekend, but all indications are that neither side will take the quarterfinal match-up lightly.

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule
POTENTIAL SEMIFINAL — Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO)/Chivas USA (MLS) Winner at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS): Buck Shaw Stadium; Santa Clara, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT, July 10