FC Cincy a world champion? It could happen

Add another game to FC Cincinnati's 2016 schedule, although this most recent addition carries added significance.

Cincinnati will join the field of the oldest club soccer competition in America when it begins its 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign May 18. The team's opponent is yet to be determined.

The single-elimination tournament is in its 103rd year, and lasts through the Sept. 21 finale.

FC Cincinnati will enter play in the competition's second round along with 17 other United Soccer League teams.

There, Cincinnati and its USL counterparts will be met by winners of the first-round games played May 11. First-round matches are contested by 48 "open division" teams.

FC Cincy, Louisville City to compete for 'River Cities Cup'

The open division is comprised of local tournament qualifiers, National Premier Soccer League teams (the Dayton Dynamo are an NPSL team), and Premier Developmental League teams.

Major League Soccer teams enter the competition in the fourth round.

Why does the tournament matter? 

FC Cincinnati is probably a long shot to win more than a couple games, let alone contest for the tournament title. But, in theory, it could happen – that, many will tell you, is the beauty of open-cup competition, both in America and abroad.

Games against Major League Soccer opponents would also make for memorable occasions and a chance for the Queen City to claim bragging rights over another "major league" city.

The most realistic aim for FC Cincinnati in the competition? Advance further than any other USL team – that would result in a $15,000 cash prize. The team to advance furthest from each lower division is awarded $15,000.

For fun, let's just say FC Cincinnati goes on a run in the tournament. Things could get interesting:

In addition to a cash prize of $250,000 for the U.S. Open Cup champion (and a $60,000 cash prize for the runner-up), the winning team will be automatically drawn into the 2017-18 CONCACAF Champions’ League – the confederation tournament of North and Central America, and the Caribbean.

The CONCACAF champion then advances to the FIFA Club World Cup, which is contested by each of FIFA's six confederation champions.

And the current Club World Cup title holder is none other than famed Spanish team, FC Barcelona.

So, is Cincinnati an imminent threat to clash with heavyweight European clubs for the Club World Cup? Or even a threat to take down a Major League Soccer team in an early-round match?

Probably not, but come May 18, there's everything to play for - literally.