CHICAGO -- Lower-division farm teams will not be able to play in this year's U.S. Open Cup.
The U.S. Soccer Federation said Thursday any outdoor professional team that is majority-owned by a higher-level outdoor professional team is ineligible for the tournament.
Following the change, eight teams from the third-division United Soccer League were barred from this year's competition: Bethlehem Steel (Philadelphia Union), LA Galaxy II, New York Red Bulls II, Orlando City B, Portland Timbers 2, Real Monarchs SLC (Real Salt Lake), Seattle Sounders 2 and Swope Park Rangers KC (Kansas City).