Ten teams will gather at Temecula, California this weekend to determine the two clubs that will represent the USASA’s Region IV in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The teams are divided into two groups of three (A & B), and a third group of four teams (C). Beginning on Thursday, May 17, groups A & B will play matches against each other, while Group C teams will play an inter-group schedule. The three group winners, plus the best second place team will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, May 19. A draw will be held to determine which group winner will play the non group winner in the semifinals.

USASA Region IV U.S. Open Cup Finals May 17-20 Temecula, California Group A Indios USA (NPSL) San Diego Pumitas (NPSL) SudaCA FC (Cal South) Group B Albuqeurque Asylum (NPSL) Banat Arsenal (Arizona) Sonoma County Sol (NPSL) Group C Arizona Sahuaros (Arizona) Hollywood United (Cal South) Salinas Valley Samba (NPSL) Southern California Fusion (NPSL)

In some respects, the Region IV tournament is doing well just to kick off on time. A combination of drought and overused city fields forced Region IV Cup Commissioner Mike Maloney to find a new location other than San Diego, the original site for the Region IV National Cups tournaments. After being turned down by numerous sites, Maloney finally found a site in Temecula, California, about midway between Los Angeles and San Diego. According to Maloney, the fields are more private, and will be good condition for play.

Since the inception of the NPSL in 2003, teams from the league have dominated the Region IV Open Cup tournament, claiming six of the eight cup spots. That trend had a good possibility to continue, as six of the ten teams are from the NPSL West. Of the ten teams, three have previously qualified for the U.S. Open Cup.

The Salinas Valley Samba made the Cup in 2005, reaching the second round before falling 3-1 to the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division. Salinas Valley struggled last year in the NPSL, finishing with a 4-13-3 record. The Sonoma County Sol are aiming to qualify for the third year in a row. Last year, they reached the second round before falling to the USL First Dvision’s Charleston Battery in a close 1-0 game. The Arizona Sahuaros, a former NPSL club who has qualified three times in their franchise history, also qualified last year. The Sahuaros also reached the second round, narrowly losing to the First Division’s Virginia Beach Mariners 1-0.

Arizona club Banat Arsenal, a member of the NPSL last season (now in the Football Arizona league), last attempted to qualify for the Open Cup in 2004. Finishing 2-0-1 in group play, Banat’s only loss was to group winners Chico Rooks, 1-0. SudaCA FC, from the San Diego County Soccer League, entered qualifying last year, only to be outscored 13-0 in their two group matches. The four other NPSL clubs Albuquerque Asylum, San Diego Pumitas, Southern California Fusion, and Indios USA, will make their first-ever attempt at qualifying for the U.S. Open Cup. 

Rounding out the field may be one of the more unique teams to enter in quite a while, Hollywood United from the Olympic Soccer League. Hollywood United is made up of celebrities and former professional players. Making appearances on the HUFC roster have been Anthony LaPaglia from "Without a Trace", Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols, as well as former professional players Alexi Lalas, Frank Lebouf, Vinnie Jones, David Vauderuil, and John Harkes.