Two Red Bulls teams scheduled for Open Cup

Statistically the Red Bulls organization has one of the best chances to win the 2016 U.S. Open Cup.

U.S. Soccer confirmed on Feb. 5 that the Red Bulls' U23 team will be a participant in the 2016 edition of the cup. Last November we learned that NYRB II would be prohibited from participating, but thankfully the rule that barred them did not apply to the U23s.

The U23 team was excluded (writers note: wrongly) from the 2015 edition of the Cup after winning the 2014 National Premier Soccer League. The team moved to the Premier Development League for the 2015 season, a move which vacated their sport in the 2015 tournament. As the top American club in the 2015 PDL (the team finished runner up to a club from Canada) the U23 team earned a spot in the 2016 edition.

The Red Bulls senior team will enter the competition in the fourth round, while the Red Bulls U23 will enter in the first round. With 92 clubs participating the Red Bulls organization will have a 2.17% chance of winning the Open Cup.

In 2015 NYRB II fell in the second round of the open cup to the Jersey Express, while the Red Bulls lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Philadelphia Union in the quarterfinals.