With win vs. Union, Fire would host U.S. Open Cup final

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A blind draw conducted by U.S. Soccer to determine hosting priority for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final awarded the Fire with a chance to host this year's Open Cup final, pending next week's result against the Philadelphia Union.

Wednesday's proceedings at Soccer House in Chicago were emceed by U.S. men's national team Press Officer Michael Kammarman, along with U.S. Open Cup Commissioner Paul Marstaller and U.S. Soccer Development Academy Director Jared Micklos, who pulled the names of all four semifinalists from envelopes at random.

Should the Fire beat the Union at PPL Park next Wednesday, the four-time champions would host the winner of the second semifinal between Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City on Sept. 30 at Toyota Park. The kickoff time for the final will be determined once the semifinals play out.

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Advancing to the final would give head coach Frank Yallop and the Men in Red a sought-after trophy to play for and ample time to home in on climbing up the Eastern Conference table. The Fire rose to ninth place with Sunday's impressive performance against FC Dallas, earning a clean sheet on their way to a 2-0 victory over the then-Western Conference leader.

In the event that the Fire prevail over the Union, the final would cap another stretch of closely scheduled matches. The Men in Red welcome Orlando City SC to Toyota Park on Sept. 19 before traveling north of the border to face the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC on Sept. 23 and Sept. 26, respectively.

Check out the Open Cup semifinal schedule, scenarios for the final based on Wednesday's draw and video of the draw below.

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Semifinals

Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire - Aug. 12, 6:30 p.m. CT at PPL Park; Chester, Pa. (via live webstream at Chicago-Fire.com)

Sporting Kansas City vs. Real Salt LakeAug. 12, 7:30 p.m. CT at Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.

Final

Chicago Fire vs. Sporting Kansas City/Real Salt Lake winner - Sept. 30, Time TBD at Toyota Park; Bridgeview, Ill.

OR

Real Salt Lake vs. Philadelphia Union - Sept. 30, Time TBD at Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah

OR

Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City - Sept. 30, Time TBD at PPL Park

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