UPDATES:
* The Atlanta Silverbacks/Seattle Sounders match, originally scheduled for Atlanta on May 30, has been moved to Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. (also on May 30).
*The potential Wilmington Hammerheads/Portland Timbers match has been moved from Wilmington to Portland and the date has changed to May 30, meaning the Timbers are guaranteed a home game in Round 3.
*The potential match between the New England Revolution and the Harrisburg City Islanders has been moved from Hersheypark Stadium to Skyline Soccer Complex in Harrsiburg.
*The Second Round match between the Ventura County Fusion and the Los Angeles Blues has been moved to Fullerton College.
* The Minnesota Stars’ home game against Real Salt Lake will now be hosted by RSL due to an arrangement made between the two teams.
The United States Soccer Federation announced the pairings and host scenarios Wednesday afternoon for the Third Round of the US Open Cup, featuring the entrance of the Major League Soccer clubs into the event. A dozen lower division clubs will have the opportunity to host an MLS club with a victory in the Second Round May 22, including the amateur USL Premier Development League sides Laredo Heat and Michigan Bucks.
Only five MLS participants are guaranteed a home fixture for the Third Round with Sporting Kansas City, Columbus Crew, FC Dallas, San Jose Earthquakes and Philadelphia Union welcoming Second Round winners.
The Houston Dynamo, who just opened the brand new BBVA Compass Stadium are the only club that will have to travel, though the trip will stay within Texas as they were paired with the Heat and expansion North American Soccer League San Antonio Scorpions.
Five NASL clubs and five members of USL Pro will have an opportunity to host an MLS team if they prevail.
Travel-wise, there are several pairings that could see extensive miles logged. Among them are Orlando City to Kansas City; Charlotte to Dallas; Fort Lauderdale to San Jose; Los Angeles Galaxy to Carolina; Colorado to Tampa Bay; and Seattle to Atlanta.
TheCup.us US Open Cup Bracket | Details on Hosting Selection Process
LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP SECOND ROUND – Tuesday, May 22
Michigan Bucks (PDL) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO)
Chartiers Valley Stadium; Bridgeville, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET
Long Island Rough Riders (PDL) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO)
Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET
Cal FC (USASA) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO)
Legion Sports Park; Wilmington, N.C.; 7 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Jacksonville United (NPSL)
Patton Park; Jacksonville, Fla.; 7 p.m. ET
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Chicago Fire PDL (PDL)
Toyota Park Practice Field; Bridgeview, Ill.; 7 p.m. ET
PSA Elite (USASA) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET
Fresno Fuego (PDL) at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL)
Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET
KC Athletics (USASA) at Orlando City SC (USL PRO)
Seminole Soccer Complex; Sanford, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Reading United AC (PDL) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Richmond Kickers (USL PRO) at Dulles Sportsplex Aegean Hawks FC (USASA)
Maryland SoccerPlex Stadium; Boyds, Md.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Georgia Revolution (NPSL)
RYSA Soccerplex; Conyers, Ga.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO)
Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.; 7:35 p.m. ET
Ventura County Fusion (PDL) at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO)
Hal Shurbeck Field, Fullerton College; Fullerton, Calif.; 8 p.m. ET
Laredo Heat (PDL) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
Blossom Athletic Center; San Antonio, Texas; 8:30 p.m. ET
Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) at Des Moines Menace (PDL)
Valley Stadium; Des Moines, Iowa; 8:30 p.m. ET
Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at El Paso Patriots (PDL)
Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas; 10 p.m. ET
LAMAR HUNT US OPEN CUP THIRD ROUND – May 29 (except where noted)
Houston Dynamo (MLS) at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL): Heroes Stadium; San Antonio, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
Chicago Fire (MLS) at Michigan Bucks (PDL): Ultimate Soccer; Pontiac, Mich.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Orlando City (USL PRO) at Sporting Kansas City (MLS): LIVESTRONG Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kan.; 7:30 p.m. CT
D.C. United (MLS) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO): Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; 7 p.m. ET
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Columbus Crew (MLS): Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio; 7:30 p.m. ET
Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at FC Dallas (MLS): FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS): Cagan Stadium, Stanford University; Stanford, Calif.; 7:30 p.m. PT
Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) at Philadelphia Union (MLS): PPL Park; Chester, Pa.; 7:30 p.m. ET
New England Revolution (MLS) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO): Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.; 7 p.m. ET
New York Red Bulls (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO): Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Chivas USA (MLS) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL); TBD; Time TBD
Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) at Carolina RailHawks (NASL): WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C.; 7:07 p.m. ET
Colorado Rapids (MLS) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL): Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Fla.; 7:30 p.m. ET
Cal FC (USASA) at Portland Timbers (MLS): JELD-WEN Field; Portland, Ore.; 7:30 p.m. PT – May 30
Seattle Sounders (MLS) at Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL): Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.; 7 p.m. PT – May 30
Real Salt Lake (MLS) at Minnesota Stars FC (NASL): National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn.; 7:30 p.m. CT
For all the talk of geographic pairings, Sounders got screwed. I talked with other ECS about travelling for this match if we were drawn away, but didn’t dream of being drawn all the way to Georgia. That talk of travelling has now ended.
The 99th cup is set up exactly how it should have been for a while. Now with the 100th for next year the biggest thing that needs to be done is to get a big sponsor and pump up the $$ for wining the cup. Also make sure the Cup winner keeps going to the CCL. Your website is great also !
@Jon – Sounders front office took care of that by flashing $$$$$$$ at Atlanta – Sounders will host next Wednesday. MLS teams are big boys. They travel anywhere – Sounders traveled to Mexico for a preseaon scrimmage/tuneup February.
It is sad to see that teams are able to “buy” home games. I don’t know what is worse, the fact that one team can buy a home game or the the Atlanta front office can’t see past the initial $$ to see the long term gain.