Sounders FC will try to win second U.S. Open Cup

TUKWILA — History is dripping from the U.S. Open Cup.

The American knockout-style soccer tournament dates to 1914, spanning the lives of countless teams and leagues amid the sport's up and down standing in this country. When the 97th rendition of the cup final is played at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Qwest Field — with Sounders FC trying to defend its title at home against the Columbus Crew — records will be broken and other benchmarks will be up for grabs.

But one question looms over the building excitement: Why isn't this tournament a bigger deal?

"You have to create the history again and the interest in it because it has kind of waned in the last few years," coach Sigi Schmid said. "I think U.S. Soccer, along with MLS, are probably the two organizations that need to get that done. ... I think there's enough history there."

And there's history to be had.

Seattle has the chance to become the first repeat Open Cup champion in the MLS era dating to 1996 and the first back-to-back winner since the New York Pancyprian Freedoms won in 1982-83.

Tuesday's attendance, expected to be more than 30,000, will smash the record of 21,583 in the 1929 title game between New York Hakoah and the Madison Kennel Club of St. Louis.

Such interest is uncommon, however, in the Open Cup. And soccer historian Roger Allaway, who authored "The Encyclopedia of American Soccer History," said he isn't sure it's growing either.

"The Sounders making a big deal of it certainly helps," Allaway said, "because, to me, the Open Cup is the main remaining link to the earlier decades of soccer history."

Various leagues throughout that history haven't helped much. North American Soccer League clubs never participated in the Open Cup and MLS teams have generally viewed it as secondary.

The current disinterest is surprising to Sounders players, including midfielder Steve Zakuani, who grew up watching the FA Cup in England that dates to 1871-72.

Added Kasey Keller: "It disappoints me a little bit that some of the MLS teams don't take it as seriously as they should, in my opinion. I think that needs to change. U.S. Soccer ... needs to make a better effort because I think the competition has huge potential for growth."

Another soccer historian, Colin Jose, also said U.S. Soccer is missing out.

"They need to play up the history because that is so important in all sports," said Jose, who wrote the "North American Soccer League Encyclopedia."

"If you have a history — such as the Red Sox and Yankees in baseball — it creates interest," Jose said. "History can do that."

Notes

• By winning the Open Cup last year, Seattle earned its berth to the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League. No such reward has been announced yet, but Schmid said maintaining that guaranteed qualification to the CCL would "add some prestige to the (Open Cup) tournament."

• Kickoff was originally scheduled for 8 p.m., but has been moved up an hour. More than 28,800 tickets have been sold.

• Backup goalkeeper Terry Boss was expected to play an international match for Puerto Rico on Monday night and arrive in Seattle on Tuesday, available to play in the final.

• Sounders FC embarrassed Columbus 4-0 at home on Sept. 18 and as an extra insult will wear "electricity" yellow, forcing the Crew to wear its secondary all-black uniforms.

• The Seattle-based Mitre Eagles advanced to the Open Cup final in 1987 but lost to Club España from Washington, D.C., in a shootout after a scoreless draw.

Joshua Mayers: 206-464-3184 or jmayers@seattletimes.com