Last we left you in December 2024, Open Division qualifying was wrapping up, determining the last of the six Open Division (amateur) clubs to gain a spot in the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Fast forward three months and Christmas Day for Open Cup enthusiasts (some may say Open Cup Sickos) has arrived, three days of wall-to-wall Open Cup action to kick off the 2025 tournament.
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A few things have changed compared to last year, More MLS teams are in the mix (16, up from last year’s 8). Eight teams from the USL Championship will start in Round 1, a change from last year when all 24 clubs for the USL’s top pro league entered in Round 3. This means the opening round will feature pro vs. amateur clubs in each matchup, with the survivors battling it out in the Second Round (April 1-2), and the Second Round winners facing the remaining 16 USL Championship clubs in the Third Round the week of April 15-16. All 16 MLS teams await the Third Round winners the week of May 6-7 in the Fourth Round.
A total of 25 teams are making their Open Cup debuts, all entering in the First Round. Three of those opening round games pit debuting clubs against one another. Nine former champions are in this year’s field: Chicago Fire FC, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution, Orlando City, Richmond Kickers, New York Pancyprian Freedoms and El Farolito (then known as CD Mexico), with the Chicago Fire seeking their record-tying fifth Open Cup title. For the first time in the Modern Era, the defending Open Cup winners will NOT defend its championship, as Los Angeles FC will be represented by its MLS NEXT Pro team LAFC II, due to Los Angeles FC’s participation in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Tuesday’s slate features eleven matches to open the tournament, with nine teams making their debut (4 pro and 5 amateur). There are 13 more games on Wednesday and then the round will conclude on Thursday with eight matches.
Follow TheCup.us on X (Twitter) @USOpenCup throughout the weekend for live updates from our reporters who will be at every stadium and with every First Round game being streamed online via YouTube, you can find links to those below.
Like millions of other users, we are transitioning over to BlueSky and we will have updates there as well.
Below you will find a preview of the 11 games kicking off on Tuesday:
TUESDAY, MARCH 18
New York Shockers (NPSL) at Hartford Athletic (USL-C)
Trinity Health Stadium – Hartford, CT
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
New York Shockers
National Premier Soccer League | Albany, NY
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: 2024 NPSL East Region Finalist
Founded: 2021
Manager: John Adeseko
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
In their four seasons in the NPSL, the New York Shockers have reached the playoffs each time. However, reaching the NPSL Eastern Regional Final last year allowed them to punch their ticket to the US Open Cup for the first time. The Shockers eliminated another Hartford club in the 2024 NPSL playoffs, besting Hartford City FC on penalties after a 1-1 extra time draw.
The Shockers are the first club from Albany to appear in the Open Cup in the Modern Era. However, Albany has had a taste of Open Cup action in the past. Albany Sport Club first represented New York’s capital in qualifying for the 1949 Open Cup and would be joined in 1950 by Albany AC. Sport Club would compete in the qualifying rounds throughout the 1950s, only gaining a few wins and never making a deep run.
Hartford Athletic
Hartford, CT | USL Championship
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Brendan Burke
Overall: 3-4-0
Home: 3-2-0
vs. Amateurs: 3-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2019, 2022, 2023)
While most clubs would view a 12-14-8 season as a disappointment, for Hartford it was a vast improvement over 2023. Finishing 4-24-6 and in last place in the Eastern Conference in 2023, Hartford ended 2024 just four points out of a playoff spot. Their 2024 Open Cup run did not go as well, lasting just one game with a 3-2 extra time loss to MLS NEXT Pro’s New York City FC II.
One major addition to Hartford’s roster is Jonathan Jimenez Vargas, formerly with New York City FC II and a major contributor to NYCFC II’s run to the final 16 in last year’s Open Cup. Vargas accounted for 23 goals and 11 assists over 71 appearances for NYCFC II, and finished in a three-way tie for the Open Cup goal scoring lead with 4.
Hartford has just seven Open Cup games under it’s belt, and have yet to advance to a third game. Their three wins have not only all been at home but have also all been earned against amateur opposition.
Participation in the Open Cup by teams from Hartford began in 1920, when the S.K.F. Club were eliminated in the opening round by New Haven FC. Hartford would remain quiet up until the Italian American Stars rose to prominence in the late 1950s and early 1960s, reaching the Eastern Quarterfinals in 1959, 1960 and 1961, as well as well as reaching the 1961 National Amateur Cup Final. Hartford’s Trinity Health Stadium (previously known as Dillon Stadium) has hosted Open Cup matches since Nov. 16, 1958, when the I-A Stars defeated Hartford’s KS Ogniwo 2-0 in the opening round of qualifying for the 1959 Open Cup.
FC Naples (USL-1) at Sarasota Paradise (USL-2)
Premier Sports Campus – Lakewood Ranch, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
FC Naples
USL League One | Naples, FL
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2024
Manager: Matt Poland
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
This is the first of three opening round games this year between debuting clubs, and FC Naples is one of five new clubs from USL League One. FC Naples, along with Naples United are the first clubs representing Naples, Fla. in the Open Cup since the PDL’s Southwest Florida Adrenaline in 2015. The club also shares their stadium, Paradise Coast Sports Complex Stadium, with Naples United.
MORE: THE ‘GAFA’: Why FC Naples chose Matt Poland to be their first-ever head coach
Sarasota Paradise
USL League Two | Sarasota, FL
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Finished 1st in USL-2 South Florida Division
Founded: 2022
Manager: Mirko Dakovic
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3 : 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Just two seasons old, Sarasota earned a spot in this year’s Open Cup with an 8-1-3 record in the 2024 USL League Two season. They were defeated in the opening round of the playoffs by frequent Open Cup participants Brave SC (formerly The Villages SC). Near the end of the club’s first season in 2023, owner Marcus Walfridson announced he had hopes of turning the team pro and moving them to USL League One in 2025 or 2026, and in fact that move was announced in late February 2025, to take effect for the 2026 season.
Naples United FC (NPSL) at Miami FC (USL-C)
FIU Soccer Stadium – Miami, FL
7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Naples United FC
National Premier Soccer League | Naples, FL
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Finished 7-2-1 in NPSL Gulf Coast Sunshine Conference
Founded: 2017
Manager: (Waiting for confirmation)
Overall: 0-0-0
Away:0-0-0
vs. Div. 2:
Best finish: N/A
Five years after initially qualifying, Naples United FC finally get their chance at the Open Cup, Earning a spot in the 2020 tournament after a successful 2019 NPSL season. Then the COVID-19 pandemic dropped the hammer on the 2020 tournament just before Naples United was to play their first cup game. Naples United earned their Open Cup spot not only with a 7-2-1 record during the 2024 NPSL season, but they also benefited from several clubs ahead of them declining their Open Cup spot. Naples United have reached the NPSL playoffs each of the last four seasons.
Miami FC
USL Championship | Miami, FL
7th US Open Cup appearance (2016-2019, 2022-2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2015
Manager: Gaston Maddoni
Overall: 8-6-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 6-6-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Amateurs: 5-2-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2017)
2024 was a year to forget for Miami FC, finishing in last place with a 3-29-2 record, 31 points behind 11th place Loudon United. To try and turn their fortunes around Miami signed Argentine veteran midfielder Sebastián Blanco, who made 176 appearances for the Portland Timbers between 2017 and 2023, scoring 41 goals. Also joining the club is former D.C United & USMNT goalkeeper Bill Hamid. Hamid already has had a taste of the 2025 US Open Cup, playing for Open Division qualifiers Virginia Dream last fall. However, due to a new rule from US Soccer, players who appear in Open Division qualifying are no longer cup-tied to the team they played for and are free to play for another team in the Open Cup proper.
Last year’s Open Cup stint didn’t go well with, ending after one game with a 4-2 loss to South Georgia Tormenta of USL League One.
Miami FC have competed in four different leagues since its start in 2016. After two seasons in the NASL, the club moved to the NPSL as Miami FC 2 for 2018 and 2019 while the NASL suspended operations. After winning the NPSL championship both seasons, Miami FC made the move to NISA and won the 2019 Fall Championship. Miami then settled in the USL Championship in 2020, and have struggled to find success, only reaching the playoffs in two of their four seasons there.
As a member of the NASL, Miami reached the Quarterfinals in 2017, knocking off Atlanta United 3-2 at home and Orlando City 3-1 away. The wins set up a Quarterfinal date with an even bigger Cinderella story, the red-hot FC Cincinnati of the USL. FC Cincinnati had knocked off two MLS clubs themselves (Columbus & Chicago), with the latter being nationally televised on ESPN in front of 33,287 fans in Cincinnati (it remains the fifth largest crowd to ever witness a US Open Cup match in tournament history). FC Cincinnati prevailed 1-0 over Miami, earning a spot in the Semifinals. Since their move to the USL, Open Cup success has eluded Miami, only winning two games out of five. Perhaps the highlight Miami’s recent Open Cup history was a 2-2 penalty kick loss to Inter Miami CF in front of 12,000 fans.
In its 15 Open Cup games played (home and away), Miami FC has yet to leave the state of Florida. In fact, every game but one has been played in the Miami metro area, (at Orlando City in 2017). Including this game with Naples United, Miami will have played 14 of its 16 total Open Cup games at home.
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL-1) at New Jersey Alliance (UPSL)
Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium – Newark, NJ
7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
USL League One | Chattanooga, TN
5th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Scott Mackenzie
Overall: 2-4-0
Away: 1-3-0
vs. Amateurs: 2-1-0
Best finish: Third Round (2024)
Since reaching the USL League One Final in 2022, Chattanooga has spent two seasons near the bottom of the league standings. An 8-17-7 10th place finish in 2023 was followed by a drop to 11th and a 5-14-3 mark.
The Red Wolves’ 2024 Open Cup run gave fans a small glimmer of enjoyment in a dismal season. For the first time in four appearances the club advanced past their opening game. In the First Round, Chattanooga held off an upset bid from amateurs Brockton FC United (UPSL) with a 4-2 extra time win. Next up was a 1-0 road win over another amateur club Apotheos FC (NPSL). The run ended in the Third Round against Birmingham Legion FC, but not without a fight. The Red Wolves took the USL Championship club to extra time before falling 4-2, with Birmingham’s Stefano Pinho accounting for all four of the winners’ goals.
MORE: Sean McDaniel Steps Down As GM And President Of Chattanooga Red Wolves
New Jersey Alliance
United Premier Soccer League | Clifton, NJ
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Drew 2-2 (aet) with Steel Pulse FC (MSSL) in Round 4 of Open Division Qualifying, qualified on penalties, 4-2
Founded: 2012
Manager: Robert Kruk
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
New Jersey Alliance got its start in 2012 in New Jersey’s Garden State Soccer League as Lyndhurst Alliance FC. The club fielded a team in the 2020 USPL Fall Season and the inaugural NISA Nation season in 2021. NJAFC finished the 2024 UPSL Northeast American South Fall season 6-2-2, Marlon Preciado led the team with seven goals.
New Jersey Alliance opened their 2025 qualifying campaign with a 2-0 Second Round win over SC Vistula Garfield (EPSL), Emiland Elezaj and Joshua Geller scoring in the second half. In the Third Round, the Alliance dominated Alloy Soccer Club (UPSL) 6-1 with Emiland Elezaj and Ramchwy St. Vil leading the way with a brace each. NJA clinched their Open Cup debut in dramatic fashion against Steel Pulse FC (MSSL). Stephen Jude scored for the Alliance in second half stoppage time to tie the game, then Dorgeles Coulibably evened the score at 2-2 in extra time stoppage time, NJA won the penalty shootout 4-2.
Westchester SC (USLL1) at FC Motown (NPSL)
MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field – Montclair, NJ
7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Westchester SC
USL League One | Mount Vernon, NY
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded:2024
Manager: Dave Carton
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Westchester is one of five new clubs in USL League One this season. U.S. Men’s National Team & AFC Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams joined the ownership group of the club in January 2025. Adams also owns USL League Two club Hudson Valley Hammers, who appeared in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup.
Two big signings for Westchester include Center back Andrew Jean-Baptiste, who had played the last three seasons with Canadian Premier League club Valour FC and has played for the Haitian National team 15 times. Also joining Westchester is Honduran forward Juan Carlos Obregón, who scored 15 goals while with the Charlotte Independence in 2024, ranking second in USL League One.
MORE: How Westchester SC is building a club that can last
FC Motown
National Premier Soccer League | Morristown, NJ
8th US Open Cup appearance (2016-2019, 2022-2025)
How they qualified: 2024 NPSL Championship runners-up
Founded: 2012
Manager: Toure Walker
Overall: 3-5-2 (0-2 PK)
Home: 3-3-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Third Round (2022)
FC Motown return for their eighth consecutive tournament, only interrupted by the two that were cancelled due to COVID-19. No team from the NPSL has had a longer qualifying streak and only two amateur teams in the Modern Era have longer streaks (Reading United AC 12, NTX Rayados 9). Their best performance in the Open Cup came in 2022. After defeating pro club AC Syracuse Pulse 1-0 after extra time, they reached the Third Round where they played Rochester New York FC of MLS NEXT Pro to a 2-2 draw only to lose in a penalty shootout.
Leading from the sidelines is MLS veteran Dilly Duka, who played a handful of games for Motown in 2018 after concluding his MLS career. Along with being an Open Cup regular, Motown is consistently one of the top clubs in the NPSL, winning the league championship in 2022, and reaching the Final in 2018 and 2024. Motown posted an 8-0-2 record during the 2024 NPSL season, reaching the NPSL National Final where they fell to El Farolito 2-1. On their path to Final, Motown knocked off fellow 2025 Open Cup qualifiers Virginia Dream FC (1-0) and the New York Shockers (5-0).
Motown got their start in 2012 as FC Morristown in New Jersey’s amateur Garden State Soccer League. Motown’s name comes from the nicknames of Morristown, NJ, “Mo Town”, “The Mo”, and “Mo City”. In late 2017 the Clarkstown SC Eagles announced they would officially rebrand as FC Motown for 2018.
MORE: Jersey Boy & FC Motown Legend Dilly Duka Goes Home Again…Again
Greenville Triumph SC (USLL1) at Asheville City SC (USLL2)
Greenwood Field – Asheville, NC
7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Greenville Triumph SC
USL League One | Greenville, NC
5th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded:2018
Manager: Rick Wright
Overall: 4-4-0
Away: 2-2-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2022, 2024)
In the 2024 US Open Cup, Greenville matched their deepest run by reaching the Third Round but also won two games in the same tournament for the first time. A 1-0 opening round win over South Carolina United FC (USL-2) was followed by a 3-2 extra time victory over USL League One rivals One Knoxville. The run ended with a 3-1 defeat to Louisville City of the USL Championship. Greenville has faced just one amateur opponent in its eight overall Open Cup games, the 2024 win over South Carolina United FC.
Greenville continued their run of successful USL League One seasons in 2024, finishing 11-4-7 and reaching the semifinals in the playoffs. Swiss forward Lyam MacKinnon lead USL League One with 16 goals, though he has moved on to Orange County SC of the USL Championship. Greenville has been one of the more successful clubs in USL League One since joining the league in 2019. In its five years in the league, Greenville have made the playoffs every year, finishing as championship runners-up in 2018 and 2021, and winning the title in 2020.
After four straight home games in its Open Cup history, Greenville’s trip to Asheville will mark their fifth consecutive road game in the tournament, dating back to a 2023 cross-country trip to face USL Championship club Phoenix Rising in the Second Round.
MORE: Rick Wright On Greenville’s New Season
Asheville City SC
USL League Two | Asheville, NC
2nd US Open Cup appearance (2024)
How they qualified: Finished 1st in USL L2 South Central Division
Founded: 2016
Manager: Scott Wells
Overall: 0-1-0
Home: 0-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-1-0
Best finish: First Round (2024)
Returning to the Open Cup after debuting in 2024, Asheville City SC hopes to improve on last year’s one-and-done performance, a 2-0 loss to One Knoxville of USL League One.
Asheville City SC got its start in 2016 as a member of the NPSL. After three seasons the team switched to USL League Two. Finishing second in the South Central division in 2022, Asheville City followed their 10-1-1 2023 season with a 10-0-2 mark in 2024 and a run to the USL-2 National Semifinals.
MORE: Asheville City SC: Half an Idea to Full-Fledged Family
Loudoun United FC (USL-C) at West Chester United SC (USASA / USLPA)
YSC Sports – Wayne, PA
7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Loudoun United FC
USL Championship | Leesburg, VA
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2023, 2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Ryan Martin
Overall: 3-2-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 1-1-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2023, 2024)
Loudoun United have played in the USL Championship since 2019, but only became eligible for the Open Cup last year once their status as D.C. United’s reserve club ended. Loudoun have lived at the bottom of the USL championship table each of their five seasons, only hitting double digits in wins once (11 in 2019). 2024 was no different for Loudoun, finishing 11-14-9, though they were just six points adrift of the final playoff spot.
Loudoun matched their furthest Open Cup run in 2024, advancing three games deep. Opening with a penalty kick win over the Richmond Kickers, Loudoun followed up with a long trip to the West Coast to beat league-mates Orange County SC 2-1. The run ended with a 3-0 loss to eventual Open Cup champions Los Angeles FC. West Chester United will be Loudoun United’s first amateur opponent in Open Cup play, with all six previous games coming against professional USL teams and MLS clubs.
MORE: Loudoun United FC prepares for 2025 season
West Chester United SC
United Soccer League of Pennsylvania/USASA | West Chester, PA
6th US Open Cup appearance (2016, 2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Defeated Vereinigung Erzgebirge 2-1 in Round 4 of Open Division Qualifying.
Founded: 1976
Manager: Blaise Santangelo
Overall: 0-5-2 (2-0 PK)
Away: 0-2-2 (2-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2 : 0-1-0
Best finish: Second Round (2016, 2019)
Mexican pro wrestling legend Mil Mascaras was known an “The Man of 1,000 Masks”, and West Chester United could be called “The Team of 1,000 Leagues”. WCU have qualified for the Open Cup five times in a row under three different league banners. It started in 2019 when WCU qualified through the Open Division from the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania. The NPSL team qualified for the 2020 tournament only to see it canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. WCU’s USL League Two team qualified in 2022 when the tournament resumed. In 2023 it was the USL of Pennsylvania team, and last year the NPSL team made the cut once again. For 2025, WCU returned to Open Division qualifying with their United Soccer League of Pennsylvania team.
West Chester’s path to the 2025 Open Cup took them past two rival USL of PA clubs rich in Open Cup history. They started with two-time Open Cup finalists (1977, 1994) United German Hungarians, whom West Chester rolled over 6-0. Josh Luchini scored four of the six goals. Next up was four-time Open Cup champions (1960, 1961, 1963 and 1966) Ukrainian Nationals, and West Chester United had no trouble winning, 6-1. Ridge Robinson tallied a hat-trick in the win. West Chester finished off their qualifying effort with another win over USL of PA rivals, this time a 2-1 victory over Vereinigung Erzgebirge.
West Chester does not have an outright win in their seven Open Cup games, although they have advanced twice via penalties. In 2016, WCU eliminated Fredericksburg FC on PKs after a 1-1 draw, and in 2019 got past the NPSL’s FC Baltimore Christos after another 1-1 draw.
West Chester finished atop the standings for the 2023/24 USL of Pennsylvania season at 12-1-0, and at the winter break of the 2024/25 season, West Chester are just 1-0-1, a combination of games postponed due to poor weather and WCU’s Open and Amateur qualifying games keeping them from playing more games.
MORE: ‘Legend’ Blaise Santangelo Fueling Dreams in West Chester
FORO SC (UPSL) at Texoma FC (USL-1)
Bearcat Stadium – Sherman, TX
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
FORO SC
United Premier Soccer League | Dallas, TX
2nd US Open Cup appearance (2024)
How they qualified: Defeated Houston Regals SCA (USSL/USSSA) 4-2 in Round 4 of Open Division Qualifying
Founded – 2017
Manager: Michel Garbini Pereira
Overall: 0-1-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 0-1-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Second Round (2024)
FORO was one of the highlights of the early rounds of the 2024 Open Cup, pulling off a memorable upset of Austin FC II of MLS NEXT Pro, scoring the tying goal in extra time stoppage time, all while down to 10 men, then winning the penalty kick tiebreaker. FORO’s Kyle Bennett earned TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for his performance in the match.
In FORO’s qualifying run, 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 that Third Round game, FORO dispatched another DSA squad, StrikerZ DFW Soccer Club, 4-0 to advance to the final round against the USSL’s Houston Regals SCA. After trading goals at 2-2, FORO scored twice midway through the second half to secure their return to the Open Cup.
FORO finished 6-2-2 in the 2024 UPSL Texas North spring season and reached UPSL 2023 fall season final four. They finished 8-2-0 in the 2024 fall season, with Kyle Bennett the leading scorer at 10 goals.
Texoma FC
USL League One | Sherman, TX
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2023
Manager: Adrian Forbes
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs : 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Texoma FC is one of five new teams in USL League One for 2025. The name Texoma combines the names of Texas and Oklahoma, since Sherman, Texas is not very far for the border with Oklahoma. Their crest features a Northern mockingbird and a Scissor-tailed flycatcher, which are the state birds of Texas and Oklahoma, respectively.
Head coach Adrian Forbes scored five goals for Luton Town FC in their run to the Fourth Round in the 2003-04 FA Cup, including a hat-trick in an opening round replay against Thurrock FC.
MORE: Texoma FC hires former Premiere League player Adrian Forbes as sporting director
FC Tulsa (USLC) at Tulsa Athletic (UPSL)
Athletic Community Stadium – Tulsa, OK
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Tulsa Athletic
United Premier Soccer League | Tulsa, OK
7th US Open Cup appearance (2014, 2015, 2017, 2022-24)
How they qualified: 0-0 draw vs. Chicago House AC (MWPL/USSSA) in Round 4 of Open Division Qualifying, qualified on penalties 5-4
Founded: 2013
Manager: Jason Rogers
Overall: 3-5-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 3-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 0-3-0
vs. Div. 2:
Best finish: Third Round (2023)
For the third time in four years the Tulsa Derby returns to the Open Cup. The UPSL’s Tulsa Athletic plays host to FC Tulsa of the USL Championship. The clubs first met in the 2022 Second Round, with FC Tulsa emerging 2-1 winners. Athletic got their revenge a year later with a 1-0 upset of FC Tulsa in the Second Round.
While Tulsa Athletic made their Open Division qualifying debut for the 2025 tournament, 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 debuted in the UPSL in 2024 fall season and finished 9-1-0, but were upset in the playoffs 2-1 by Arkansas Wolves FC. 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 FC 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.
Leading into the final round of qualifying, Tulsa took part in one of the more unique moments in the Modern Era of the Open Cup. To decide who would host the game in the final round of qualifying, 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. Tulsa ultimately came out on top, winning a penalty shootout 5-4 after a 0-0 extra time draw.
MORE: Tulsa Athletic & their Open Cup Field of Dreams
FC Tulsa
USL Championship | Tulsa, OK
9th US Open Cup appearance (2015-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded – 2013
Manager: Luke Spencer
Overall: 3-7-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 1-7-0
vs. Amateurs: 3-3-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2024)
FC Tulsa started out as the Tulsa Roughnecks in 2014, paying homage to the NASL team that played from 1978-1984. After the team changed ownership in late 2019, the team was re-named FC Tulsa for the 2020 season. Tulsa has struggled in the bottom half of the standings for its nine seasons, only reaching the playoffs three times.
Tulsa’s 2024 ended with them missing the playoffs by five points with a 9-14-11 record, their 33 goals scored one of the lowest totals in the league. In the Open Cup, Tulsa matched their 2017 effort of winning two games, wins over the Northern Colorado Hailstorm (USL-1, 2-1) and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-C, 1-0), led to a Fifth Round encounter with Sporting Kansas City, resulting in a 4-0 loss.
Open Cup success for FC Tulsa has been hard to come by. Three of their last five appearances have ended after one game, and Tulsa’s only road win out of eight games came last year against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
While the original NASL avoided the Open Cup during its existence, in 1983 the Tulsa Roughnecks showed interest in entering. While it was too late to join the 1983 tournament, plans were made for 1984. Unfortunately, the league folded before that could happen, and Tulsa’s Open Cup plans had to be scrapped.
MORE: Kicking it up: FC Tulsa poised for big 2025
Ventura County Fusion (USL-2) at AV ALTA FC (USL-1)
Lancaster Municipal Stadium – Lancaster, CA
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Ventura County Fusion
USL League Two | Ventura, CA
10th US Open Cup appearance (2010-2017, 2023)
How they qualified: Finished 1st in USL L2 Southwest Division
Founded: 2006
Manager: Keith Costigan
Overall: 6-8-2 (1-1 PK)
Away: 3-2-0
vs. Div. 3: 2-3-0
Best finish: Third Round (2012, 2015)
Ventura County have played all 17 seasons of their existence in USL League Two, winning the league championship in 2009 and 2022. They’ve also finished first or second in their division 11 times in 16 seasons. In February the club announced the hiring of MLS NEXT Academy Director and MLS Apple TV commentator Keith Costigan as their head coach.
The Fusion had a run of appearing in eight consecutive Open Cups from 2010 to 2017, then made a return in 2023 after missing three tournaments. Their best performance came in 2012 and 2015, reaching the Third Round each time. Extra time wins over the NPSL’s Fullerton Rangers (6-2) and USL Pro Los Angeles Blues (3-1) in 2012 led to a meeting the Chivas USA, ending in a narrow 1-0 loss.
Starting for Ventura County in all three Open Cup games in 2012 was future Sacramento Republic legend Rodrigo Lopez, who would go on to be named TheCup.us Player of the Tournament in 2022. Lopez would go on to face the Fusion in the 2013 Second Round with the Los Angeles Blues, and again in the 2014 Second Round with Sacramento.
Three years later another Third Round run began with a penalty kick elimination of 2021 Cinderella darlings Cal FC, followed by a 2-1 win over LA Galaxy 2. The Fusion were then victims of a bit of an upset themselves when they lost to PSA Elite.
AV ALTA FC
USL League One | Lancaster, CA
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2023
Manager: Brian Kleiban
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Located an hour and a half north of Los Angeles, AV ALTA FC is one of five new USL League One teams for 2025. Former U.S. international and Minnesota United midfielder Miguel Ibarra was the club’s first signing in December 2024. Ibarra is a native of Lancaster, Calif.
AV stands for Antelope Valley, the region AV Alta based in or alternately “Aerospace Valley” since the region is known for its work in the aerospace industry. Alta comes from the name given to the wider region in the early 1800s when Alta California (“Upper California”) was province of New Spain.
MORE: Showcasing a homegrown star will be part of AV Alta’s ambitious launch plans
Laguna United FC (UPSL) at Ventura County FC (MLS NEXT Pro)
Dignity Health Sports Park Track Stadium – Carson, CA
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Laguna United FC
United Premier Soccer League | Laguna Niguel, CA
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Defeated San Diego Internacional (UPSL) 6-2 in Round 4 of Open Division Qualifying
Founded: 2012
Manager: Sam Nicholson
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Starting as a youth soccer organization, Laguna United fielded their first UPSL team in the Spring 2021 season
In their third attempt at qualifying Laguna United pushed through to reach the US Open Cup for the first time. 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.
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 FC in the SoCal North Conference playoff final. Michael Barraza led the team in the Fall season with 11 goals.
Ventura County FC
MLS NEXT Pro | Thousand Oaks, CA
4th US Open Cup appearance (2014-15, 2024)
How they qualified: LA Galaxy entered in 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup
Founded: 2014
Manager: Matt Taylor
Overall: 2-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 2-2-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Amateurs: 2-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Third Round (2014)
Formerly known as LA Galaxy II (or “Los Dos”), Ventura County FC are one of the few MLS NEXT Pro teams with an Open Cup history, dating back in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, LAG II reached the Third Round, where they fell to amateur club PSA Elite on penalties. The following year, they lost their opening game to Ventura County Fusion 2-1. In its limited Open Cup history, VCFC have played all five of its previous Open Cup games at home, and all but one of those games against amateur opponents.
Last year Ventura County played two Open Cup games, both against Irvine Zeta FC, the reserve team and their pro parent club. VCFC dispatched Irvine Zeta FC II 2-1, then fell to Irvine Zeta FC 3-0.
The Galaxy II played in the USL Championship until 2023, when MLS NEXT Pro started. The team changed its name to Ventura County FC just before the start of the 2024 season.
Except for 2015 when they finished runners-up in the USL Championship game, Ventura County has primarily finished in the bottom half of the standings. 2024 saw VCFC rise to 6th place, earning a playoff berth for the first time in three seasons.
Ventura County FC gained their spot in the Open Cup when the LA Galaxy gained participation in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup as 2024 MLS Cup champions.