Catching Up: MLS Teams to Join Open Cup During Copa America Break

Time for some housekeeping.

It came out late last week that teams from Major League Soccer will be entering into the 2016 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup during competition's fourth round on Wednesday, June 15th.

With a number of players sure to be gone for the Copa America Centenario from June 3rd to 26th, the first round of MLS matches will certainly be missing some first team players. However, thanks to MLS's scheduled two-week break for the Copa America, the increased fixture congestion from the start of the Open Cup should be minimal.

The Portland Timbers most recently played match before the Open Cup kicks off will be their home tie against the San Jose Earthquakes on June 1st, and their next match afterward will be an away game against Real Salt Lake on June 18th. While the match against RSL will necessitate a quick turnaround, the Timbers will still only be playing four matches in the month, rounding out June with a home match against the Houston Dynamo on the 26th.

With six teams from CONCACAF and ten from CONMEBOL participating the the tournament, MLS as a whole will be missing a significant number of players, and the Timbers are not exempt from that. With Jamaica and the United States both taking part, the Timbers look likely to lose Darlington Nagbe, Alvas Powell, and Jermaine Taylor for the duration.

The fourth round of the Open Cup will see Division I -- MLS -- teams pitted against the lower division teams that have advanced out of the previous rounds. Division II -- NASL -- teams will be added in the third round, while Division III -- USL -- teams will be added in the second.

MLS owned USL teams will not be allowed to participate in the Open Cup, meaning that T2 will not take part.