Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar grew up in Germany watching the plaudits of some of his home country's greatest modern-day players in the DFB-Pokal.
The German Football Association's premier domestic cup competition has a storied history dating back over nine decades, producing legendary upsets as lower division sides face off against German giants like Bayern Munich.
Needless to say, Mukhtar is excited for his own return to domestic cup competition next year.
On Sept. 2, MLS announced all 27 of its U.S.-based clubs will compete in the 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
"Being from Germany, the DFB-Pokal is very, very meaningful and I think a cup is a very unique set up, because it's win or go home." Mukhtar told reporters on Sept. 3. "I like that mentality.
I think American fans love it, the playoff style, and I'm looking forward to being part of it next year."
The U.S. Open Cup is the longest running soccer competition in the country, having crowned a winner annually since 1914 (excluding the 2020 and 2021 editions, which were canceled due to COVID-19). The Open Cup will feature a 96-team field in 2027, with any U.S.-based club, professional or amateur, eligible to enter.
Nashville SC won the 2025 U.S. Open Cup, becoming Tennessee's first professional sporting team to win a major title.
"For us players (it's) amazing, because we can win one more trophy ..." Mukhtar said. "That is my mentality. A trophy is a trophy, doesn't matter which trophy."
NSC was unable to defend its Open Cup title with a shift to Leagues Cup competition this season. As MLS expanded its footprint in the Leagues Cup, which is run by MLS and Mexico's Liga MX rather than the U.S. Soccer Federation, it reduced the number of teams which it sent into Open Cup competition.
MLS allowed eight teams to compete in 2024 and 16 teams in each of the past two tournaments.
MLS teams will enter in the Round of 64, beginning in July, with matchups selected based on geographical location, meaning Nashville SC will likely face a lower division side from the South. In 2025, NSC started its Open Cup campaign with a match against USL League One's Chattanooga Red Wolves.
The return to Open Cup competition will align with MLS's transition to a summer through spring schedule ahead of the 2027-28 season. The 112th tournament will allow for a 20-man gameday roster, in which teams are eligible to select first-team, MLS Next Pro and academy players.
"The Open Cup is the most historic trophy in this country and I think it's great that every single team that plays professional soccer, amateur soccer can enter and compete," Nashville SC coach B.J. Callaghan said. "So I'm really happy that all clubs will be entering it.
"It's something that we valued a ton last year and were fortunate enough to win. It's something that we're very proud of and we look forward when the time comes being able to compete again.
Harrison Campbell can be reached at hcampbell@usatodayco.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @hccamp.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Hany Mukhtar is excited for Nashville SC's return to US Open Cup
