NASHVILLE, TN - Nashville SC will compete in the US Open Cup again in 2025, the club and Major League Soccer confirmed on Tuesday.
For the first time in 2025, Leagues Cup will switch to a new format, one that does not include all 30 MLS clubs. The top nine teams in each MLS conference from 2024 will compete in this year's edition of the tournament. Nashville, who finished in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, will not participate.
Only eight MLS clubs participated in the US Open Cup last season. That number will increase to 16 in 2025, with 10 MLS NEXT Pro clubs also competing.
The 10 MLS clubs who are not participating in either Leagues Cup or Concacaf Champions Cup are automatically selected for US Open Cup. The remaining six participants are selected for US Open Cup are determined by their 2024 Supporters' Shield standings.
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
2025 will be Nashville's fifth season competing in US Open Cup, with the Covid 19 pandemic putting the tournament on pause in 2020 and 2021, and Nashville's participation in both Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024 meaning they didn't participate.
Nashville's best finish in the US Open Cup came in 2022, falling to Orlando City in penalty kicks in the Quarterfinals. Prior years saw them exit the tournament in the Round of 16 (2023 and 2018) and Third Round (2019).
