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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.
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.
After 24 games between Tuesday and Wednesday, the round wraps up with eight games on Thursday.
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 8 games kicking off on Thursday:
THURSDAY, MARCH 20
CD Faialense (USASA / BSSL) at Portland Hearts of Pine (USL-1)
Franklin Athletic Complex – Lewiston, ME
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
CD Faialense
Bay State Soccer League / USASA | Cambridge, MA
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Defeated FCY New York (UPSL) 3-1 in Round 4 of Open Division Qualifying
Founded: 1971
Manager: Paul Correia
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3:0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Founded in 1971, CD Faialense is the oldest club among the 16 Open Division qualifiers. Faialense finished atop the 2024 Bay State Soccer League Division 1 table with a 13-3-2 mark. They also won the BSSL title for the 2023 season.
In Open Division qualifying, after an opening round bye, Faialense had no trouble dispatching Boston Street FC (UPSL) 4-1. Former Harvard University standout Alessandro Arlotti led the way with a pair of goals. Faialense used the same scoreline to defeat Project Football (UPSL) in the Third Round, with goals coming from Garrett Leary, Gianluca Arlotti, Eoin Houlihan and Mirko Nufi. A hat-trick form Yanis Lakhlifi powered Faialense past Buffalo’s FCY New York 3-1 to book their spot in the 2025 US Open Cup.
Faialense is Portuguese meaning native or inhabitant of Faial, an island among the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. CD Faialense add to a long Open Cup history of Portuguese-rooted clubs from New England, from Emigrantes das Ilhas (2009, Brockton, Mass.) and Brockton FC Unted (2022 and 2024) to more legendary clubs like Ponta Delgada (1947 US Open Cup champions).
MORE: Clube Desportivo Faialense: Back to the Future in Cambridge, MA (US Soccer)
Portland Hearts of Pine
USL League One | Portland, ME
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2023
Manager: Bobby Murphy
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Hearts of Pine are the first club from Maine to play in the Open Cup since GPS Portland Phoenix of the PDL (USL League Two) in 2017 and are the first professional club from The Pine Tree State to make an Open Cup appearance. This will also be the first Open Cup game played in Maine since GPS Portland Phoenix lost to GPS Omens (USASA) 2-0 in Portland, Maine in the 2017 First Round.
The first player to sign with the club was Trinidadian midfielder Michel Poon-Angeron, who has made 17 appearances with the Trinidad and Tobago national team. Hearts of Pine are playing their Open Cup game in Lewiston, Maine because the multi-million dollar renovation of Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland will not be finished. Like former USL League One club Northern Colorado Hailstorm in 2023, the Open Cup will be the first ever game for Hearts of Pine.
MORE: Hearts of Pine Notebook: Preseason Success, Open Cup Tickets, and a Documentary
Charlotte Independence (USL-1) at Long Island Rough Riders (USL-2)
Mitchel Athletic Complex – Uniondale, NC
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Charlotte Independence
USL League One | Charlotte, NC
8th US Open Cup appearance (2015-19, 2022-23)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Mike Jefferies
Overall: 7-7-3 (2-1 PK)
Away: 5-5-0
vs. Amateurs: 5-2-2 (1-1 PK)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2015)
Charlotte has the second longest Open Cup history of all the USL League One teams with seven appearances. The club’s high point was a run to the Fifth Round (Round of 16) in 2015, when they upset the New England Revolution 1-0 in the Fourth Round. The Independence fell short of reaching the Quarterfinals, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Chicago Fire. Captain Jorge Herrera was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round for his performance against New England.
Charlotte finished the 2024 USL League One season in 6th place with a 9-6-7 record, exiting in the opening round of the playoffs. Leading goal scorer Juan Carlos Obregón (15 goals) left to sign with new USL-1 club Westchester FC.
Charlotte’s 2024 Open Cup run was a bit better than their USL-1 season. After opening with a 2-0 road win over amateur side Vereinigung Erzgebirge, Charlotte advanced twice via penalty shootouts over South Carolina Heat and Rhode Island FC at home. The Fourth Round saw them drop a 3-0 away decision to Atlanta United FC. Charlotte are 5-2-2 all-time against amateur clubs, and their last outright loss was in 2022 to North Carolina Fusion U-23s.
MORE: Charlotte Independence returns experienced core
Long Island Rough Riders
USL League Two | South Huntington, NY
10th US Open Cup appearance (1997, 2003-2006, 2010, 2012, 015, 2016, 2018)
How they qualified: Finished 1st in USL-2 Metropolitan Division
Founded: 1994
Manager: Tom Bowen
Overall: 6-9-0
Home: 4-3-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-3-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (1997, as pro team), Second Round (2010, 2011, 2015, 2017 as amateur team)
The Long Island Rough Riders are one of the longest tenured teams from the NPSL or USL in this year’s tournament, starting play in 1994 when the USL was known as the USISL. The Rough Riders spent the first 13 seasons as a professional club. Starting with the 2007 season, Long Island voluntarily moved down to the Premier Development League (now USL League Two). For most of their USL-2 tenure Long Island has struggled to find success although the last few seasons that has changed, with the Rough Riders finishing first in the Metropolitan Division three out of the last four years. The club has proposed building a stadium on the campus of Suffolk County Community College’s Grant Campus in Brentwood with the goal of the Rough Riders to move up to USL League One.
Of Long Island’s nine previous Open Cup appearances, only one came while they were a pro club (1997), pulling off a 4-3 sudden death extra time win over the New England Revolution, then taking the MetroStars (NY Red Buls) to extra time before losing 1-0. As an amateur club, the Rough Riders haven’t had much success in Open Cup play, only advancing past their opening game three times out of eight tries. Remarkably, through 15 Open Cup games Long Island have never had to participate in a penalty shootout.
Duluth FC (NPSL) at Forward Madison FC (USL-1)
Breese Stevens Field: Madison, WI
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Duluth FC
National Premier Soccer League | Duluth, MN
4th US Open Cup appearance (2018, 2019, 2024)
How they qualified: 2024 NPSL National Semifinals
Founded: 2016
Manager: Thomas Pazo
Overall: 0-2-2 (1-1 PK)
Away: 0-1-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 0-1-0
Best finish: Second round (2018)
Duluth FC make their return to the Open Cup after missing out on the last two tournaments. Duluth began in 2015 in the Duluth Amateur Soccer League, and by 2017 had joined the NPSL. Duluth posted a 7-1-4 record in NPSL play last season, and made their way to the NPSL National Semifinals where they fell to eventual champions El Farolito 3-0. Edouard Nys finished third in the NPSL in 2024 with 12 goals in 10 games.
Duluth FC is unique in the sense that it requires its players and supporters to follow certain rules when it comes to match day behavior, requesting that both avoid swearing and other forms of offensive language.
While Duluth has yet to win an Open Cup game in four attempts, they have advanced once via penalty tiebreaker, outshooting the Dakota Fusion after a 4-4 extra time goal fest in their Open Cup debut in 2018.
MORE: Duluth FC announces Thomás Pazo as new head coach
Forward Madison FC
USL League One | Madison, WI
5th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Matt Glaeser
Overall: 4-4-0
Home: 2-2-0
vs. Amateurs: 3-1-0
Best finish: Third Round (2019, 2022)
Forward Madison’s 2025 Open Cup end in a penalty shootout loss, they shouldn’t be surprised with the way their big games in 2024 ended. First off, the Flamingoes reached the final of the inaugural USL Jägermeister Cup, only to lose to the Northern Colorado Hailstorm on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Two months later, in the USL League One semifinals, Madison was eliminated by the Spokane Velocity on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Those two results spoiled what was the best season since their debut campaign in 2019, as Madison finished with a 10-3-9 record and a third-place finish in the league.
Their 2024 Open Cup run ended abruptly, after beating Duluth FC 2-0, Madison lost by the same score to Chicago Fire II of MLS NEXT Pro. Madison have yet to match their initial Open Cup outing in 2019 in which they beat 2018 National Amateur Cup champions Bavarian SC and upset USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive to reach the Third Round.
Breese Stevens Field has seen plenty of Open Cup action in the past, having been used as a home venue by the Madison 56ers during the 1980s and 1990s. Forward is the state motto of Wisconsin, and the flamingo in their logo represents the official bird of the city of Madison, a flamingo lawn ornament.
MORE: Forward Madison FC Partners with Amazonas FC
Harbor City FC (UPSL) at South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1)
Tormenta Stadium – Statesboro, GA
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Harbor City FC
United Premier Soccer League | Melbourne, FL
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Drew with FC America CFL Spurs (USSL/USSSA) 0-0 (aet) in Round 4 of Open Division Qualifying, qualified on penalties 5-4
Founded: 2022
Manager: Douglas Bonney
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
After a first-round bye in their qualifying run, 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. In the final round Harbor City faces 2024 qualifier FC America CFL Spurs, and after 120 minutes of scoreless play, Harbor City prevailed on penalty kicks 5-4 to move on to the Open Cup for the first time.
Harbor City finished 4-1-3 in the UPSL Fall season. Derek Notardonato led the team in the Fall season with four goals, followed by Mario Licor and Perrie Nascimeno with three apiece.
South Georgia Tormenta FC
USL League One | Statesboro, GA
5th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2015
Manager: Ian Cameron
Overall: 7-3-0
Home: 3-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2022)
South Georgia Tormenta FC (or just Tormenta FC) started as an amateur club in the PDL (USL League Two) in 2016. After three seasons they turned pro to join the newly created USL League One, although they still maintain a team in USL-2. After Tormenta won the 2022 League One championship, the club’s league fortunes have taken a downturn as they have missed the playoffs the last two seasons.
Tormenta have made four previous appearances in the Open Cup, prior to 2024 their best Cup run was in 2022 when they upset a pair of USL Championship teams (Charleston 1-0 and Birmingham 2-0) to reach the Third Round where they dropped a 3-1 decision to Inter Miami CF.
While 2024 saw them reach the Fourth Round again, they did so starting from the Opening Round, winning three games. First they got by amateurs FC America CFL Spurs 1-0, and followed with a resounding 4-0 win over the Savannah Clovers (NISA). In the Third Round, Tormenta upset USL Championship side FC Miami 4-2 with two goals in the final three minutes. The run came to an end with a 3-2 extra time loss to the Charleston Battery when the hosts scored the game winning goal in extra time stoppage time.
MORE: Interview with South Georgia Tormenta President Darin Van Tassell
Soda City FC (UPSL) at Carolina Core FC (MLS Next Pro)
Truist Point – High Point, NC
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Soda City FC
United Premier Soccer League | Columbia, SC
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: 2024 UPSL Spring Champions
Founded: 2018
Manager: George Trifos
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
The second Open Division club to gain entry to the 2025 US Open Cup, Soda City FC are also the second club to benefit from an automatic Open Cup berth as UPSL Spring Champions, following 2023 winners AS Frenzi. Soda City captured the UPSL Spring title with a 3-2 win over Inland Empire FC at the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ Highmark Stadium. Soda City doubled up on UPSL glory by winning the league’s Fall Championship with a 4-2 win over 2024 Open Cup qualifiers FC Folsom. Soda City posted a record of 21-1-3 in the Spring and Fall UPSL seasons
The name of the club comes from one of several nicknames for their home of Columbia, South Carolina. Columbia is often shortened to Cola, an abbreviation first created by the US Postal Service, thus the name Soda City.
MORE: ‘We are like a family’: Soda City FC wins back-to-back UPSL Championships
Carolina Core FC
MLS NEXT Pro | High Point, NC
2nd US Open Cup appearance (2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid as Independent MLS Next Pro club
Founded: 2022
Manager: Donovan Ricketts
Overall: 2-1-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 2-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2024)
As an independent MLS NEXT Pro club with no affiliation with an MLS team, Carolina, along with Chattanooga FC, are free to enter the Open Cup every year. Carolina finished just outside the playoffs in the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season, scoring just 39 goals, one of the lowest totals in the league.
Carolina’s 2024 Open Cup debut went well, as they were one of three MLS NEXT Pro clubs to reach the Third Round. In the First Round, Carolina came out on top 3-2 versus Northern Virginia FC in a back and forth game. Next, they ended the upset dreams of amateur side Vermont Green 2-1 with a pair of second half goals. The run came to an end in the Third Round with a 1-0 loss to North Carolina FC.
Replacing former US international Roy Lassiter as head coach is longtime goalkeeper for the Jamaican National Team, Donovan Ricketts. Ricketts, who made 100 appearances for Jamaica between the posts, served as Carolina’s goalkeeping coach last year.
MORE: Goal 13 Foundation partners with Carolina Core FC
NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA / EPSL) at FC Cincinnati 2 (MLS NEXT Pro)
NKU Soccer Stadium – Highland Heights, KY
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
NY Pancyprian Freedoms
Eastern Premier Soccer League | Queens, NY
7th US Open Cup appearance in Modern Era (1999, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2016)
How they qualified: 2024 National Amateur Cup Champions
Founded:1974
Manager:Andreas Chronis
Overall: 4-5-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 1-4-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Champions (1980, 1982 and 1983)
The New York Pancyprian Freedoms are easily the most decorated team amongst the 32 amateur clubs in this year’s tournament, having won the US Open Cup three times in 1980, 1982 and 1983, along with many more deep runs in the tournament. The Freedoms also made two appearances in the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup in 1983 and 1984, reaching the Semifinals in 1984.
Since 1995 the Freedoms’ Cup success has slowed down, qualifying twice in 1999 and 2002 as a professional club in the USL D-3 Pro League, and four times through the legendary Cosmopolitan Soccer League. They’ve reached the second round four times in the Modern Era (1995-present). The Freedoms gained a spot in the 2025 tournament by winning the 2024 National Amateur Cup with a commanding 6-0 victory over the Milwaukee Torrent of the NPSL. It was the club’s first-ever Amateur Cup title for the Freedoms.
The team was founded in 1974 to help draw attention to the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus, and many former members of the Greek and Cypriot national teams have taken the field for them.
MORE: The Very International, Very Local History of NY Pancyprian-Freedoms
FC Cincinnati 2
MLS NEXT Pro | Highland Heights, KY
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: FC Cincinnati entered in 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup
Founded: 2021
Manager:Tyrone Marshall
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
FC Cincinnati 2 will make their Open Cup debut due to FC Cincinnati participating in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup as one of the top finishers in the 2024 MLS Supporters’ Shield standings. FCC 2 finished the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season in first place in the Eastern Conference but were upset by #8 seed Crown Legacy FC 2-1 in the opening round of the playoffs.
Longtime Jamaica National Team defender and MLS veteran Tyrone Marshall leads the club from the sidelines, a position he has held since the team began in 2022.
Washington Athletic Club (USASA / SRATS) at Tacoma Defiance (MLS Next Pro)
Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, WA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
Washington Athletic Club
Seattle Recreational Adult Team Soccer | Seattle, WA
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Won via forfeit over Las Vegas Legends FC (NISA Nation) in Round 4 of Open Division Qualifying
Founded: 1930
Manager: Mark Conrad
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs:0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Washington AC comes from the Seattle Recreational Adult Team Soccer, the same league as 2024’s viral sensation Sharktopus FC. Washington Athletic Club entered the competition with some rich history as they were founded in 1930.
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. In the final round of qualifying, WAC received a “free pass” when opponents Las Vegas Legends were forced to forfeit due to a lack of players.
With the forfeit win, WAC became 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.
MORE; Washington Athletic Club makes U.S. Open Cup history
Tacoma Defiance
MLS NEXT Pro | Tacoma, WA
2nd US Open Cup appearance (2015)
How they qualified: Seattle Sounders entered in 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup
Founded: 2014
Manager: Hervé Diese
Overall: 2-1-0
Home: 2-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2015)
Tacoma Defiance make their Open Cup return due to Seattle Sounders participating in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup as one of the top finishers in the 2024 MLS Supporter Shield standings. Tacoma last participated in the Open Cup in 2015 Seattle Sounders 2, when the club played in the USL. They knocked off the Kitsap Pumas 14-2 and Portland Timbers 2-1, both in extra time.
In 2018 the club moved south to Tacoma and changed their name to Tacoma Defiance. The name references Point Defiance Park, a large public park in Tacoma. For the 2022 season Tacoma began playing in the newly created MLS NEXT Pro league. Tacoma finished 4th in the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference, scoring a league high 59 goals.
Starfire Sports Complex, Tacoma’s home stadium, will host its 29th Open Cup game in the Modern Era, making it the fourth most used venue for Open Cup games since 1995. Tacoma are one of three different youth/reserve teams to make appearances in the Open Cup under the Sounders banner, the others being Seattle Sounders Selects (2002, PDL) and Seattle Sounders U-23 (2013, 2016-17, PDL)
MORE: Tacoma Defiance add 3 more players, including a familiar face
FRIDAY, MARCH 21
Union Omaha (USL-1) at Flatirons FC (USL-2)
Stermole Soccer Stadium – Golden, CO
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: YouTube
The match was originally scheduled for Thursday, but it was moved to Friday after a blizzard in Omaha that caused some travel challenges for Union Omaha.
Flatirons FC
USL League Two | Arvada, CO
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Finished 1st in USL-2 Mountain Division
Founded: 2017
Manager: Oliver Twelvetrees
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
The debuting Flatirons FC started as the Colorado Rush in 2017 and is affiliated with the Rush Soccer youth soccer organization. Rush fielded three other teams in USL-2, Cedar Stars Rush, Daytona Rush SC, and Virginia Beach United. The team changed its name to Flatiron FC in 2022 to share branding with the affiliated youth academy the club started in Arvada, Colorado. Flatiron finished the 2024 USL-2 season atop the Mountain division at 8-1-3 but were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs.
Union Omaha
USL League One | Omaha, NE
4th US Open Cup appearance (2022-2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2019
Manager: Dominic Casciato
Overall: 6-3-2 (2-0 PK)
Away: 2-2-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Amateurs: 3-0-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2022)
Union Omaha nearly matched their best performance in the Open Cup in 2024. While they didn’t take down any MLS clubs this time, their list of opponents read as a who’s who of Modern Era Open Cup history. In the First Round, the Owls traveled to historic Lusitano Stadium to defeat Open Cup veterans Western Mass Pioneers 4-0. Next up was a 3-1 win over the Des Moines Menace, one of the more successful amateur clubs of the Modern Era. In the Third Round, Omaha used penalties to move past El Paso Locomotive after a 0-0 draw. Finally Omaha fell in the 120th minute to Sporting Kansas City 2-1 after extra time at home, in SKC’s bid to win the Open Cup for a record-tying fifth time.
In 2022, the Owls knocked off two MLS clubs (Chicago Fire and Minnesota United) to reach the Quarterfinals. The run ended with a 6-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City, but the scoreline did not diminish Omaha’s feat of becoming the first team from Nebraska to reach the Quarterfinals and the first third division team to do so since 2013.
Omaha were involved in more Open Cup headlines in 2023, with a 5-1 loss to St. Louis City in front of a Third Round-record 22,423 fans at St. Louis.
Adding to a big Open Cup run was a successful showing in the 2024 USL League One season. After winning the Supporters’ Shield with a 15-4-3 record, Omaha went on to win the League One playoffs with a resounding 3-0 win over upstarts Spokane Velocity. The club’s only “failure” was not winning the inaugural USL Jägermeister Cup, losing 2-0 in the semifinals to the departed Northern Colorado Hailstorm.