The final weekend of Open Division Local qualifying tournament for the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is upon us. 14 clubs were scheduled to face off on Saturday and Sunday to determine the final seven qualifiers to join the seven teams who secured their Open Cup spots on Nov. 16 and 17 as well as UPSL Spring Champions Soda City FC and 2024 National Amateur Cup winners New York Pancyprian Freedoms.
Unfortunately, one of this weekend’s games was called off when the Las Vegas Legends FC did not have enough players to field a team and informed Washington Athletic Club that they would forfeit Saturday’s “Win & You’re In” game in Seattle. As a result, Washington AC clinches a spot in the US Open Cup for the first time in club history and becomes the first Open Division Local club from Washington state to qualify in the Modern Era (1995-present).
Five of the remaining 12 clubs this weekend have never qualified for the Open Cup before, and one game, Laguna United FC vs. San Diego Internacional, is guaranteed to produce a team making its debut in the competition. The other four games feature at least one team who has previously qualified, with two of those contests featuring two teams who have previous Open Cup history.
The teams who have made the cut so far in the Open Division include:
CD Faialense (BSSL/USASA)
Harpos FC (CPL/USSSA)
New Jersey Alliance FC (UPSL)
New York Renegades FC (UPSL)
Southern Indiana FC (UPSL)
Virginia Dream FC (VSSL/USASA)
West Chester United SC (USLPA/USASA)
Soda City FC (2024 UPSL Spring Champions).
NY Pancyprian Freedoms (2024 National Amateur Cup Champions)
Follow TheCup.us on X (Twitter) @USOpenCup throughout the weekend for live updates from each game and links to live video streams (which will also be linked below).
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Below you will find a brief preview of all six games:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
ROUND 4 (“WIN & YOU’RE IN”)
Harbor City FC (UPSL)
vs.
FC America CFL Spurs (USSL/USSSA)
Melbourne High School; Melbourne, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YOUTUBE
Harbor City FC’s second attempt at Open Cup qualifying has them one win away from earning their first-ever berth in the tournament proper. Harbor City’s initial qualifying attempt last year was halted by the Spurs in the Third Round 1-0 on a Melvrik Fernandes goal in the 76th minute.
While FC America CFL Spurs are officially qualifying out of the United States Soccer League, their entry in the UPSL play in the Florida Central division along with Harbor City. The clubs last faced each other in September, resulting in a 0-0 draw. Prior to that, FC America upended Harbor City 3-1 in the UPSL Florida Central playoffs for the Spring season, Sebastian Alvarez, Pedro Paulo Vieira, and Angel Moulton scored for the victors.
UPSL PLAYOFFS | FC AMERICA SPURS VS HARBOR CITY FC | 2024 Spring Season
Harbor City FC vs. FC America CFL Spurs | U.S. Open Cup | 3rd Round Qualifiers (2024)
Harbor City finished 4-1-3 in the UPSL Fall season. Derek Notardonato leads the team in the Fall season with four goals, followed by Mario Licor and Perrie Nascimeno with three apiece.
After a first-round bye, Harbor City blanked UPSL Florida Central rivals Deportivo Lake Mary FC 4-0. Derek Notardonato scored twice, with Perrie Nascimento and Gabe Shelton adding one each. In the Third Round, Harbor City cruised by another UPSL rival, Palm Beach Flames, 5-1. Notardonato and Nascimento led the way once again with three goals between them.
FC America CFL Spurs are one step away from repeating their successful qualifying effort in 2024. FC America allowed just one goal in its five qualifying games the past two years, with wins over Deportivo Lake Mary (8-0), Harbor City FC (1-0) and Leg-AZ World FC (4-1) in 2024 qualifying. FC America then gave USL League One side South Georgia Tormenta FC a tough time in the First Round, losing 1-0.
After a First Round bye, FC America CFL Spurs cruised by Kissimmee Soccer Club (UPSL) 6-0 in the second round. Angel Moulton and Micheil Russell Smith provided a pair of goals each, and Shandel Senior and Kwesi Caesar rounded out the scoring. Moulton, Senior and Caesar all played in FC America’s Open Cup debut last March. Spurs followed that win with a 2-0 triumph in the Third Round over USSL rivals Inter Nona Soccer Club.
FC America CFL Spurs are currently 5-0-1 in the USSL Elite Central Florida 2024 Fall season, and 8-0-2 in the UPSL Florida Central Fall season.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
ROUND 4 (“WIN & YOU’RE IN”)
FORO SC (UPSL)
vs.
Houston Regals SCA (USSL)
Prince of Peace; Carrollton, TX
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YOUTUBE
The Houston Regals SCA make the short trip north to Carrollton, Texas in search of their first ever berth in the Open Cup. In their way is FORO SC, one win away from their second straight trip to the Open Cup, where they became one of the upset darlings of the 2024 tournament.
FORO punched their 2024 Open Cup ticket with a 4-0 win over Alamo City SC (UPSL). In the Open Cup, FORO pulled off a memorable upset of Austin FC II of MLS NEXT Pro, scoring the tying goal in extra time stoppage time, then winning the penalty tiebreaker. FORO’s Kyle Bennett earned TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for his performance in the match.
FORO finished 6-2-2 in the 2024 UPSL Texas North spring season and reached the UPSL 2023 fall season final four. They finished 8-2-0 in the 2024 fall season, with Kyle Bennett leading the team in scoring with 10 goals.
FORO reached this point with a pair of 4-1 wins over clubs from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. 2024 Open Cup hero Kyle Bennett once again came to the rescue in FORO’s 4-1 extra time win over D’Feeters Kicks SC (Dallas Soccer Association). With the game going into extra time at 1-1, Bennett caught fire, scoring three times in the extra session to advance FORO into the Third Round.
In the Third Round, FORO’s goal scoring was more spread out, as Manuel Lopez, Antonio Perez, Eric Gomez Silva and Hector Romero all contributed markers in the 4-1 win over StrikerZ DFW Soccer Club (Dallas Soccer Association)
Founded in 2009, the Houston Regals are attempting to run the Texas gauntlet in their Open Cup qualifying debut. In the Second Round, Houston needed extra time to knock off fellow Houstonians ASC New Stars 3-2. Yusuf Jabril and Victor Soria scored first half goals, and Samuel Cordero came through with what proved to be the winner eight minutes into extra time.
For their Third Round game, Houston traveled to San Antonio to face the UPSL’s 210 FC, and needed extra time once again in their 3-2 victory. Herbert Robinson, Victor Soria and Kevyn Montono all scored for Regals in a game that saw 210 FC force extra time with a 90th minute equalizer.
Regals played several years in the NPSL before moving to the United States Soccer League in 2021. Regals won the USSL National Championship in 2022, and more recently captured the 2024 Spring USSL Texas championship.
Washington AC (SRATS)
vs.
Las Vegas Legends FC (NISAN)
Nathan Hale High School; Seattle, WA
Washington AC qualifies for the 2025 US Open Cup via forfeit
Washington AC earned a spot in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time in club history after the Las Vegas Legends informed them that they were forfeiting Saturday’s “Win & You’re In” match in Seattle.
“On our last weekend of the season during NISA Nation championships semi final and Finals we faced disciplinary issues with multiple players. Unfortunately that led us to not have enough players to field a team for the December 7th game,” said Las Vegas Legends owner and founder Meir Cohen. “This is very disappointing to some players and to the club as we were looking forward to make a run at the Open Cup as we did in 2022.”
“The Las Vegas Legends wishes WAC all the best in the First Round in March,” he added.
“It’s obviously not the way we wanted to qualify with our last game but there’s not much we can do about it,” said Washington AC head coach Mark Conrad. “We are excited to be in the tournament proper regardless.”
Washington AC comes from the Seattle Recreational Adult Team Soccer, the same league as 2024’s viral sensation Sharktopus FC. The teams have taken turns atop the SRATS, Washington AC winning the Winter and spring regular season and Sharktopus taking the summer section.
Washington AC opened 2025 qualifying with a 4-3 win over Bellevue Athletic FC (UPSL) with Christian Soto scoring twice. In the Second Round, WAC defeated Holac FC (UPSL) 2-1, with Eric Lagos scoring twice to erase a 1-0 deficit. Finally, Washington returned home to blank the UPSL’s Deportivo Rose City 3-0 with Lagos once again scoring twice and joined on the scoresheet by Christian Soto.
Washington Athletic Club entered the competition with some rich history as they were founded in 1930. With the forfeit win, WAC becomes the first Washington-based club to qualify for the Open Cup in the Modern Era through Open Division Local qualifying. The only amateur clubs to ever qualify for the tournament from Washington were from USL League Two and the NPSL.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
ROUND 4 (“WIN & YOU’RE IN”)
Chicago House AC (MWPL)
vs.
Tulsa Athletic (UPSL)
Langhorst Field; Elmhurst, IL
Kickoff: 2 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YOUTUBE
One Open Cup qualifying streak will come to an end as Tulsa Athletic makes the nine and a half hour trip to the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst, Ill. to face Chicago House AC for a spot in the 2025 US Open Cup. House have qualified for the last two tournaments, while Tulsa have played in the last three, and would have made the cut in the COVID-cancelled editions in 2020 and 2021. Tulsa’s game with Chicago will be their second in two days, the day before they have a home game against the Arkansas Wolves in the UPSL Fall season playoffs.
In a unique twist to decide who would host, club owners Sonny Dalesandro (Tulsa) and Peter Wilt (Chicago) met halfway between the two cities in Union, Missouri to conduct a coin flip. Union City Administrator Jonathan Zimmermann flipped the coin and Chicago House AC came out winners.
While Tulsa Athletic made their Open Division qualifying debut this year, they are no strangers to the Open Cup. Tulsa has qualified for the Open Cup via the NPSL six times (2014, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024). 2023 was their biggest year in the tournament, upsetting FC Tulsa in the Second Round to set up a Third Round date with Sporting Kansas City of MLS. Tulsa finished tied with Chicago House for the Open Division prize money as a result. Tulsa won the 2023 NPSL championship but left the league in the spring of 2024 due to differences with the league. Tulsa are debuting in the 2024 UPSL fall season and are off to a 8-1-0 start. Tulsa Athletic are also one of the founding teams in The League for Clubs, a USASA affiliated amateur league set to kick off in 2025.
After receiving a bye in Round 1 of qualifying. Tulsa have steamrolled their way to this weekend’s game. In the Second Round Tulsa blanked the UPSL’s FC Bartlesville Buffaloes 4-0. Mitchell Cashion scored twice, with the other goals coming from Jonathan Harris and a Bartlesville own goal. In the Third Round qualifying rookies Woodland Football Club were no match for the Open Cup veterans, as Tulsa dominated in an 8-0 win, Jacob Zamaron leading the way with a hat-trick.
House on the other hand have played three close games on their path to Sunday’s game. House opened their qualifying run on Oct. 5 with a 3-2 win over MWPL league-mates Edgewater Castle FC, Alejandro Mentasi scoring twice. Two early first half goals from Pau Mateo Chacon and Alejandro Mentasti held up for House in their 2-0 win over Chicago Strikers (UPSL) in the Second Round. The Third Round brought another close game for Chicago, a 2-1 victory over the UPSL’s Wisloka Chicago. Ricardo Avalos netted the game-winning goal in second half stoppage time. 2023 TheCup.us Player of the Round winner AR Smith Jr. scored House’s opening goal.
Along with Inter San Francisco, House are one of two teams to play four qualifying games in this year’s qualifying tournament. Chicago House AC are the fourth team Peter Wilt has been associated with to play in the US Open Cup, the others being the Chicago Fire (founding president and general manager) Indy Eleven (team President) and Forward Madison (assisted in founding)
House are 2-0 in “Win & You’re In” games, having advanced to the tournament proper in 2023 and 2024.
In the 2023 US Open Cup, House upset USL League One’s Forward Madison 3-2 after extra time, also earning AR Smith Jr. TheCup.us Player of the Round honors. The win set up a Third Round match with Wilt’s former club, the Chicago Fire, who were victorious, 3-0. Last year, they were one-and-done after falling 3-0 at home against MNUFC2 (MLS NEXT Pro).
Chicago House finished with a 6-3-1 record in the 2024 MWPL Heartland Division 1 season.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
ROUND 4 (“WIN & YOU’RE IN”)
Miami United FC (UPSL)
vs.
Red Force FC (PFL)
Ted Hendricks Stadium; Hialeah, FL
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YOUTUBE
Red Force FC, four-time Open Cup qualifiers, will travel 45 minutes across Miami to Ted Hendricks Stadium in Hialeah to face five-time Open Cup qualifiers Miami United FC to determine who continues their Cup legacy next Spring, and who will have to wait another year to try again.
This is Miami United’s fifth time in qualifying through this version of the Open Division Local qualifying tournament, and they’ve been successful in their last three attempts (2020, 2023 and 2024). Prior to that, they qualified for the Open Cup three other times (2015, 2017, 2018) through the NPSL. Miami United’s 13 previous Open Division qualifying games have all been against opposition from Florida, they are currently on a 12-game qualifying winning streak with their only loss coming in their debut attempt in 2018. It is the longest streak since the tournament’s current format began in 2016.
After receiving a bye in the First Round, Miami United cruised past River Miami FC, powered by a hat-trick from Robertino Insua, and two additional goals from Alessandro Mazzetta. In the Third Round, the USSL’s O’Shea’s FC held Miami United to a 0-0 draw for 75 minutes, but Alejo Fernandez broke the deadlock and Robertino Insua scored twice in the final four minutes to keep Miami on track for the 2025 Open Cup.
In the 2024 Open Cup, Miami United knocked off pro clubs Chattanooga FC (1-0) and Club de Lyon (2-0), before falling to Memphis 901 FC (USL Championship) 2-0. Jhon Pajoy scored the very first goal of the 2024 U.S. Open Cup, and while no award was given for best goal of the tournament, his rocket free kick would have easily been a contender.
Miami United finished the UPSL Fall season with a near perfect 12-0-1 record. Alessandro Mazzetta (11) and Robertino Insua (6) led the team in scoring
After a two-year absence, Red Force returned to Open Cup qualifying looking to repeat their past success. They’ve qualified four times (2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018) with the final two times coming under the current Open Division qualifying format. They have been eliminated three times by Florida Soccer Soldiers (2019, 2020 & 2022) Red Force finished 7-1-1 in the 2024 Premier Futbol League Premier Spring season.
After a First Round bye, Red Force defeated Naples United U-23s (SCSL) 3-2, getting goals from John Diaz, Santiago Fejardo and David Holguin. Red Force then booked their spot in the Fourth Round with a 4-0 win over the UPSL’s Pinecrest Premier FC. Former Forward Madison midfielder Danny Tenorio scored twice, and Steven Saballos and Santiago Fajardo added the other goals.
2017 Meet the Underdogs: Red Force FC
2018 Meet the Underdogs: Red Force FC
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
ROUND 4 (“WIN & YOU’RE IN”)
San Diego Internacional (UPSL)
vs.
Laguna United FC (UPSL)
Mission Bay High School; San Diego, CA
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YOUTUBE
About a 75-minute drive down Interstate 5 separates Laguna United FC and San Diego Internacional, and one team will leave San Diego’s Mission Bay High School with their first ever US Open Cup berth.
Laguna United are on the verge of doing better than their first two qualifying attempts the past two years. Both years Laguna was eliminated by Capistrano FC, each time by 4-1 scores. The good news is Capistrano FC is now a professional club with NISA and they don’t have to worry about them. Laguna United finished 7-3-1 in the 2024 UPSL SoCal North spring season, and finished 7-2-1 in the Fall season, but lost 5-0 to Coachella Football Club in the SoCal North Conference playoff final. Michael Barraza led the team in the Fall season with 11 goals.
After receiving a First Round bye, Laguna mauled the shorthanded Trojans FC (UPSL) 14-0. Jacob Garcia, Andrew Bowles and Michael Barraza each had hat-tricks in the rout. Laguna’s Third Round game was much closer, with Sungho Yun and Uriel Morales scoring late in the second half to break a 1-1 tie created with Ryan Hubbard’s first half goal and securing a 3-1 win over Irvine FC of the UPSL.
San Diego Internacional are made their Open Cup qualifying debut this year. SDI finished 6-4-1 in the 2024 UPSL SoCal South Spring season and finished at 7-3-0 in the Fall season. Spencer Hoyle led the team in scoring for the fall season with eleven goals, followed by Luke Raley with eight.
After a bye in Round 1 of qualifying, SDI defeated UPSL rivals City SC San Diego 2-1 in the Second Round. Luke Riley and Garrett Heine scored in the first half, and SDI held off a comeback from City in the second half. In the Third Round, SDI survived a back-and-forth affair with Chula Vista FC of the Southwest Premier League for a 3-2 win. Marck Cruz Benito and Garrett Heine scored first half goals, and Cruz Benito assisted on Luke Raley’s 90th minute winner.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
ROUND 4 (“WIN & YOU’RE IN”)
International San Francisco (SFSFL/USASA)
vs.
Valley 559 FC (UPSL)
James P. Lang Field; San Francisco, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YOUTUBE
Inter are making their fourth qualifying attempt, having entered every year since 2022. Inter qualified in 2023 with a 5-1 win over BattleBorn FC, but failed to repeat that success last year, losing 4-2 to FC Folsom in the final round. Inter started in the SFSFL 3rd tier in 2021, winning promotion two seasons in a row to reach the Premier Division.
Inter got off to a winning start in their opening game, defeating SFSFL rivals SF Vikings SC 4-1 on Oct. 6. Former MLS & USL veteran Matt Fondy led the way with two goals. In the Second Round, Inter prevailed in a wild 5-3 extra time affair with JASA RWC (UPSL). Fondy once again led Inter with a hat-trick, and Sergio Laguna Jacob Castro also scored in extra time, where both teams scored three goals in the final two minutes of the extra session.
In their Third Round affair, Inter had an easier time with Real Galt FC (UPSL), coming away with a 4-1 win Javier Rivera Hernandez, Dylan Autran, Jack Callan and Adrien Argast. Inter are one of two teams to play four games in this year’s qualifying tournament, along with Chicago House AC.
Valley 559 FC had an easier time in their Second Round contest, rolling over Modesto City FC (NISA Nation) 7-0. Aaron and Andrew Huerta accounted for three and two goals respectively. 559 FC’s Third Round match was much tighter, Bay Valley Suns Sports Club (UPSL) played Valley to a 0-0 draw, with Mason Gonzales scoring in extra time to give Valley the win.
559 is the area code for Fresno, Calif. Valley 559 FC returned for their second attempt at Open Cup qualifying looking to finish what they failed to accomplish last year. In their debut last year,
Valley defeated Real San Jose 2-1 (USSSA/NSL) 2-1 and Bay Area United FC (NISA Nation) 4-1 before falling to FC Folsom (UPSL) 5-3. Valley 559 finished 9-1-0 in the 2024 UPSL Nor Cal South Spring season and reached the Final 8 of the UPSL Spring National playoffs. In the fall season they are 6-3-1.
Valley originally set to have back to back games this weekend, their game with Inter being preceded the day before with a UPSL Fall season playoff game versus Project 51O, the development team of Oakland Roots of the USL Championship. Valley 559 decided to forfeit the playoff game to focus their attention on the Open Cup qualifier.