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u.s. open cupU.S.OPEN CUPThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the oldest cupcompetition in America, has existed for over 80 years, andincorporates soccer clubs of every level, ranging fromMajor League Soccer pro teams to the amateur leagues.The annual event, which began in 1914, ranks among theoldest cup competitions in the world. The single eliminationtournament was born as the National Challenge Cup,and was modeled after England's Football Association Cupformat.The New England Revolution won its first-ever clubcup championship in 2007 when the team defeated FCDallas for the U.S. Open Cup championship. The Revs haveparticipated in the Open Cup tournament nine times sincethe team's inception in 1996, earning an 11-7-2 overallrecord in the annual tournament.The U.S. Open Cup, which is open to all soccerteams in the country that qualify, showcases an unusualmix of local amateur teams and the leading pro teams.The unpredictable nature of the tournament was exhibitedin 2006 by the Cinderella run of Roma FC, an amateurteam from Dallas that defeated two pro clubs - USLDivision 1 team Miami FC and MLS side Chivas USA - beforefalling to defending champs the LA Galaxy.To compete, a team must qualify in one of four categories:Division I (Major League Soccer), Division II (USLFirst Division), Division III (USL Second Division) or AmateurDivision (USL Premier Developmental League and U.S.Adult Soccer Association). Forty-two teams - 26 professionaland 16 amateur squads - make up the annual bracketafter qualifying for the tournament.The tournament is single-elimination and wasrenamed the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 1999 to honorthe long-time soccer supporter and pioneer. Hunt, theowner of the Columbus Crew and Kansas City Wizards ofMLS and the Dallas Tornados of the old NASL, was one ofthe sports first major ownership figures and is a memberof the National Soccer Hall of Fame. The winner of theU.S. Open Cup, in addition to receiving a $100,000 cashprize, has its name engraved on the Dewar Cup, the oldesttrophy in American team sports.The winner of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is engraved on theDewar Cup, which is housed at the National Soccer Hall of Fame.The Revolution won its first-ever cup championship in 2007, defeating FC Dallas, 3-2, on October 3 in Frisco, Texas, to win the 2007 LamarHunt U.S. Open Cup184