"A trophy is a trophy, doesn't matter which trophy." That's Hany Mukhtar's philosophy, and with MLS confirming all 27 U.S.-based clubs will enter the 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Nashville SC's star midfielder has one more piece of silverware in his sights.
The announcement came on September 2nd, and Mukhtar didn't hide his enthusiasm. Growing up in Germany, he watched the DFB-Pokal produce chaos year after year — lower division sides knocking off Bayern Munich, single-elimination drama that no league match can replicate. He's importing that appreciation to MLS.
"Being from Germany, the DFB-Pokal is very, very meaningful," Mukhtar said. "I like that mentality. I think American fans love it, the playoff style, and I'm looking forward to being part of it next year."
Defending champions who couldn't defend
Nashville SC won the 2025 Open Cup — Tennessee's first professional sporting team to claim a major title — but were denied a shot at back-to-back glory. MLS's expanding Leagues Cup commitments squeezed the number of MLS sides in the Open Cup down to just 16 teams per tournament in recent years. NSC simply weren't in the field.
That changes in 2027. All 27 MLS clubs will enter at the Round of 64 in July, with draws based on geography. For Nashville, that almost certainly means another South region opponent — likely from USL or below, similar to their 2025 opener against Chattanooga Red Wolves. Don't let that fool you into thinking the path is easy. Cup football has a way of humbling favorites.
The 2027 edition will also allow 20-man gameday rosters pulling from first-team, MLS Next Pro, and academy players — which gives coaches like B.J. Callaghan real flexibility to rotate without weakening the squad.
Why this matters for Nashville's 2027 picture
The Open Cup return aligns with MLS's broader calendar shift to a summer-through-spring schedule starting in 2027-28. Nashville, already proven winners in this competition, enter as one of the more credible threats to go deep — and the Open Cup's winner-takes-all format is exactly the kind of pressure Mukhtar thrives under.
For a club that built genuine identity around winning Tennessee's first major professional trophy, re-entering as champions with something to prove is a better story than simply defending. The cup runs 112 editions deep. Nashville's name is already on it once.
"The Open Cup is the most historic trophy in this country," Callaghan said. "It's something that we valued a ton last year and were fortunate enough to win. It's something that we're very proud of."
The 96-team field is open to any U.S.-based club, professional or amateur — the same democratic chaos that's made this competition run since 1914. Nashville will be in it. Mukhtar wants another one.
