10/16/2021 1:17 PM Article By: Mathias Medel
After Chula Vista FC qualified but did not play the cancelled 2020 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the veteran team looks to punch their ticket in for the tournament in 2022 as their first qualifying game is set for Oct. 17 against White Tigers FC.
For next year's 107th edition of the Open Cup, 11 total slots will be available to local amateur squads left standing after the four qualifying rounds according to a press release by U.S. Soccer. For Chula Vista, this poses the opportunity to compete against professional teams in the country, and further establish their club name in Southern California.
Regardless of the challenge, CVFC has shown their resilience through several editions of the tournament. In 2015, they shocked the U.S. Open Cup fans as they advanced through the first two rounds of the tournament, where they defeated FC Tucson 2-1, and startled professional team Arizona United SC 3-0 before falling to Sacramento Republic FC in the third round.
Two years ago in 2019, Chula Vista made history yet again in the qualifying rounds, becoming the first team since the current Open Division Local qualifying tournament was launched in 2015 to qualify for the US Open Cup with three consecutive penalty kick shootout wins.
Now, with Sunday’s match in mind, a mixture of Chula Vista FC’s veteran players and upcoming talent look to make history yet again, as the road to the 2021 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup kicks off at 3:30pm at Terra Nova Park.
