Pat Onstad’s smile was fleeting, yet revealing, as he explained the backstory on the deal Houston Dynamo FC reached with the Philadelphia Union to acquire Jack McGlynn over the weekend.

The Open Cup is undergoing changes for 2025 and 2026 but the long-term future of the tournament remains unclear.

The league was publicly critical of the competition in 2023, leading to controversy last year. Things are better now, and ...