by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Aug 29, 2017

What's driving growth:

Where's it's not happening:

A record-high 108 amateur teams have entered local qualifying for the 2018 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, up from the record of 64 set last year. Play begins the weekend of Sept. 23-24 with the first qualifying round.--generated lots of coverage. It made the fourth round; GPS Omens and L.A. Wolves FC ('s team) made the third round. All three teams are entered for 2018 qualifying.--has teams in seven states entered in 2018 qualifying: 20 in California alone. The UPSL also has teams entered in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Massachusetts and Nevada.--in U.S. Adult, U.S. Club and USSSA are also entered. California has teams entered from five leagues; Florida and Massachusetts from four each.-- This growth contrasts with. New York's Cosmopolitan League has just two entrants. Former U.S. Amateur Cup champion El Farolito is the lone signup from San Francisco Bay Area. And there's none from St. Louis, home of seven former champions: Ben Millers, Scullin Steel, Stix, Baer and Fuller, Central Breweries, Simpkins-Ford, Kutis and Busch.





Arizona (6 teams)

Arizona Champions League

ALLSTARS SC; Phoenix, Ariz.

Chiapas FC; Phoenix, Ariz.

Galati FC; Phoenix, Ariz.

Ojuelos Jalisco; Phoenix, Ariz.



United Premier Soccer League

Inter EmpireWorks FC; Scottsdale, Ariz.

Sporting AZ FC; Scottsdale, Ariz.



California (30)

LIGA NorCal

Academica Soccer Club; Turlock, Calif.

Davis Legacy; Davis, Calif.



Los Angeles Municipal League

Los Angeles SC; Agoura Hills, Calif.



San Francisco Soccer Football League

El Farolito*; San Francisco, Calif.



SoCal Premier League

AC Brea Steaua United; Brea, Calif.

Buena Park FC; La Palma, Calif.

Chula Vista FC*; Chula Vista, Calif.

Outbreak FC*; Long Beach, Calif.

Real Sociedad Royals; Bellflower, Calif.

San Pedro Monsters FC; Wilmington, Calif.



United Premier Soccer League

Bell Gardens FC; Bell Gardens, Calif.

C.F. Cachorros USA; Santa Ana, Calif.

Cal Victory FC; Petaluma, Calif.

Del Rey City SC; Culver City, Calif.

Dynamos FC; San Ramon, Calif.

Fontana International Soccer Club; Fontana, Calif.

L.A. Wolves FC*; Bell Gardens, Calif.

La Máquina*; Santa Ana, Calif.

Newcastle United FC; Norco, Calif.

Newport FC; Newport Beach, Calif.

Oakland Pamperos; Oakland, Calif.

Pacific Side FC; Bakersfield, Calif.

Real San Jose; San Jose, Calif.

Santa Ana Winds FC; Lake Forest, Calif.

Santa Clarita Storm; Santa Clarita, Calif.

SFV Scorpions; Mission Hills, Calif.

Strikers FC South Coast; Lake Forest, Calif.

UFA Hawks L.A.; Los Angeles, Calif.

Valley United SC; North Hills, Calif.

Vanquish FC; Irvine, Calif.



Colorado (14)

Colorado Premier League

Azteca FC*; Aurora, Colo.

Colorado Rovers; Broomfield, Colo.

FC Denver; Aurora, Colo.

FC Union Jerez; Broomfield, Colo.

Harpo's FC; Commerce City, Colo.



United Premier Soccer League

Club El Azul; Westminster, Colo.

Colorado Rush*; Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Colorado Springs FC; Colorado Springs, Colo.

Denver Metro FC; Englewood, Colo.

FC Boulder; Boulder, Colo.

FC Greeley; Greeley, Colo.

Fort Collins United; Loveland, Colo.

Gam United FC; Aurora, Colo.

Indios Denver FC; Englewood, Colo.



Connecticut (1)

Connecticut Soccer League

Newtown Pride FC; Newtown, Conn.



Florida (12)

American Premier Soccer League

Boca Raton Football Club*; Pembroke Pines, Fla.

FC Kendall; Miami, Fla.

Hurricane FC; Delray Beach, Fla.

InterUnited AC; Davenport, Fla.

Miami United FC U23; Miami, Fla.

Red Force FC*; Miami, Fla.

South Florida FC; Cooper City, Fla.



Central Florida Soccer League

Orlando Storm; Orlando, Fla.



National Soccer League

Miami Nacional SC; Miami Gardens, Fla.



United Premier Soccer League

FC Ginga; Miami Shores, Fla.

Leu Blacks FC; Miami, Fla.

Miami Wolves FC; Miami Beach, Fla.



Georgia (1)

Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League

Majestic Soccer Club; Atlanta, Ga.



Idaho (1)

United Premier Soccer League

Boise FC Cutthroats; Boise, Idaho



Illinois (1)

Premier League of America

Aurora Borealis Soccer Club; Mooseheart, Ill.



Kansas (1)

Kansas City Kansas Soccer League

Santa Fe Wanderers KC; Olathe, Kan.



Louisiana (2)

Gulf Coast Premier League

Cajun Soccer Club; Lafayette, La.

Motagua New Orleans; New Orleans, La.



Maryland (4)

Maryland Major Soccer League

Christos FC*; Elkridge, Md.

Izee Auto FC; Baltimore, Md.

NLS Graduates; Baltimore, Md.



Washington Premier League

Aegean Hawks FC; Boyds, Md.



Massachusetts (8)

American Soccer League

Mass United FC; Sommerville, Mass.



Bay State Soccer League

Global Premier Soccer (GPS) Omens*; Boston, Mass.

Kendall Wanderers; Cambridge, Mass.

Southie FC; Medford, Mass.

Unations FC; Worcester, Mass.



New England Over-The-Hill Soccer League

Safira FC; Sommerville, Mass.



United Premier Soccer League

Boston Siege FC; Boston, Mass.

Lynn United; Lynn, Mass.



Michigan (2)

Ann Arbor Premier Development League

Ann Arbor FC; Ann Arbor, Mich.



Premier League of America

Carpathia FC; Auburn Hills, Mich.



Minnesota (1)

Minnesota Amateur Soccer League

Stegman's Soccer Club; Minneapolis, Minn.



Mississippi (1)

Gulf Coast Premier League

Gaffa FC; Ridgeland, Miss.



Nevada (2)

United Premier Soccer League

Las Vegas Mobsters FC; Las Vegas, Nev.

Western Nevada Futbol Club; Sparks, Nev.



New Jersey (1)

Garden State Soccer League

Jackson Lions FC; Jackson, N.J.



New York (3)

Cosmopolitan Soccer League

Lansdowne Bhoys FC; Yonkers, N.Y.

New York Pancyprian Freedoms^; Jamaica, N.Y.



Rochester District Soccer League

Rochester River Dogz; Spencerport, N.Y.



Oregon (1)

Oregon Premier Soccer League

International Portland Select (IPS)/Marathon Taverna; Portland, Ore.



Pennsylvania (9)

Greater Pittsburgh Soccer League

Tartan Devils Oak Avalon*; Pittsburgh, Pa.



Philadelphia Premier Soccer League

Junior Lone Star FC*; Drexel Hill, Pa.

Junior Lone Star U23s; Drexel Hill, Pa.

Salone FC; Drexel Hill, Pa.

Upper Darby FC; Drexel Hill, Pa.



United Soccer League of Pennsylvania

Phoenix Soccer Club; Trevose, Pa.

United German Hungarians; Oakford, Pa.

Vereinigung Erzgebirge; Warminster, Pa.

West Chester United; West Chester, Pa.



South Carolina (1)

Charleston Soccer League

Lowcountry United; Charleston, S.C.



Tennessee (1)

Middle Tennessee Soccer Alliance

Nashville United; Nashville, Tenn.



Texas (4)

Austin Men's Soccer Association

Celtic Cowboys Premier; Austin, Texas

Central Texas Lobos; Kyle, Texas



North Texas Premier Soccer Association

NTX Rayados*; Balch Springs, Texas



Texas Premier League

Austin Real Cuauhtemoc; Georgetown, Texas



Wisconsin (1)

Wisconsin Soccer League

United Serbian Soccer Club; Milwaukee, Wis.

*Advanced to 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup