It seems like yesterday the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup kicked off. In a little more than a month, the Third Round kicks off with eight games on Tuesday, April 15 and eight more on Wednesday, April 16.
48 of the 96 clubs have been eliminated thus far, and the 16 survivors of the Second Round face off with the top 16 USL Championship clubs from the 2024 season.
Awaiting the winners in Round 4 are what every lower league team in the Open Cup looks forward to, a chance to play one of 16 Major League Soccer teams and a chance at a “cupset”.
El Farolito emerged from the Second Round as the lone survivor of the 32 Open Division teams, earning the amateur prize money for the second year in a row. This year, the prize money was boosted from $25,000 last year to $50,000 this year. Joining them are two MLS NEXT Pro clubs, nine USL League One teams, and four USL Championship squads.
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 Third Round game being broadcast live on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo, 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 and live video links of the 16 games kicking off on Tuesday and Wednesday:
TUESDAY, APRIL 15
Columbus Crew 2 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Lower.com Field – Columbus, OH
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
Entering the Third Round, the Columbus Crew 2 are looking to achieve something their parent MLS club has not done in the Open Cup since 2010: earn a third win in a single tournament. They’ll also try to avenge the 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds the Crew senior team suffered in their last Open Cup appearance in 2023.
Columbus Crew 2 opened their Open Cup history with a 4-1 win over the UPSL’s New York Renegades. The game was scoreless for almost all of the opening half, then Keesean Ferdinand and Brent Abu-Gyamfi scored in the final minute to put the Crew 2 up 2-0 at the half. Tristan Brown and Abu-Gyamfi made it 4-0 midway through the second half.
In the Second Round, Crew 2 defeated Lexington Sporting Club 3-0, despite being outshot 13-7 by the visitors. Owen Presthus and Cristian Ortiz gave Columbus a 2-0 advantage, and Brent Abu-Gyamfi, a product of the Crew Academy, scored his third goal of the tournament in second half stoppage time, leaving him tied among five other players atop the goalscoring leader board
After reaching the Quarterfinals in the 2023 Open Cup, 2024 saw the ‘Hounds fall back to Earth with a 1-0 home loss to FC Tulsa eliminating them after just one game.
The Riverhounds have one major historical hurdle to overcome, a dismal 4-13-2 record in Open Cup games on the road, with their last road win coming in 2023 with a 1-0 upset of the New England Revolution.
The junior Crew are struggling early the 2025 season, sitting near the bottom of the standings at 0-3-1, their lone point coming via a 1-1 home draw vs. Crown Legacy FC on April 6. The Riverhounds are 2-2-1 early in the USL Championship season, and are coming off a 2-1 loss to the Charleston Battery on April 12.
Columbus Crew 2
MLS NEXT Pro | Columbus, OH
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Columbus Crew entered 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup
Founded: 2021
Manager: Federico Higuaín
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Columbus Crew 2 earned their debut entry in the Open Cup when their parent club (Columbus Crew SC) gained entry into the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup as 2024 Leagues Cup champions. Crew 2 has been one of the better MLS NEXT Pro teams in its short life, winning the MLS NEXT Pro Championship in 2022 and finishing runners-up in 2023. 2024 was a bit of a step back, as they finished 7th in the Eastern Conference at 11-10-7, but still managed to reach the conference finals in the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
USL Championship | Pittsburgh, PA
21st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1998
Manager: Bob Lilley
Overall: 17-18-3 (1-2)
Away: 4-13-2 (0-2)
vs. Div. 3: 2-1-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (201, 2023)
Founded in 1998, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds are the second oldest club in the USL Championship, behind only the Charleston Battery (1993). Initial success eluded the Riverhounds, only occasionally reaching the playoffs. With the building of Highmark Stadium in 2013 the club’s fortunes have turned around, making the playoffs nine of the last 12 seasons, including the last seven. 2024 saw Pittsburgh finish seventh the USL Championship Eastern Conference, though their goal difference of +13 was the fourth best in the league thanks to a league low 28 goals allowed.
Pittsburgh’s Open Cup history has been short on success, having been knocked out of the tournament nine times in their opening game (most recently in 2024), and another five times after their second game. However, in 2023 the team matched their quarterfinal run of 2001, knocking off MLS clubs New England Revolution and Columbus Crew. The five-game run shattered the teams’ previous high of three games in 2001, 2008 and 2015, and took them to their second Quarterfinals appearance I team history, the other coming in 2001.
Portland Hearts of Pine vs. Rhode Island FC
Franklin Athletic Complex – Lewiston, ME
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
Playing their third Open Cup game in Lewiston, Maine while their home pitch at Fitzpatrick Stadium gets its finishing touches, Portland Hearts of Pine will try to keep Maine involved in the Open Cup while facing the daunting task of hoisting last year’s USL Championship runners-up, Rhode Island FC.
Portland Hearts of Pine, who will have as many Open Cup games played as league contests, got their Open Cup history started in fine fashion, cruising to a 4-0 win over CD Faialense (USASA). As the club had yet to start USL League One play, Walter Varela scored the team’s first ever goal in the 18th minute. Azaad Ladi added two more on either side of the half, and Nathan Messer, who scored an Open Cup goal for Rhode Island FC last year, added number four.
Their Second Round hurdle was a bit tougher to clear. Playing at home once again, Portland held Hartford Athletic to a scoreless draw for 107 minutes when the visitors finally broke through for a 1-0 lead. Hearts of Pine equalized with four minutes remaining on a goal from long-time USL League One forward Jake Keegan. Hearts goalkeeper Hunter Morse came up with a big save in the PK shootout to give them a 4-2 win and Morse’s heroics earned him TheCup.us Player of the Round honors.
Rhode Island’s performance in the 2024 USL Championship season more than made up for their disappointing Open Cup debut. RIFC’s first Open Cup appearance began and ended with a wild 4-4 draw with Charlotte Independence of USL League One, resulting in Rhode Island being eliminated via penalty shootout. The lead changed hands three different times, with RIFC’s Stephen Turnbull knotting the score at 4-4 with five minutes remaining in extra time. Hearts of Pine defender Nathan Messer scored the second goal for Rhode Island.
Finishing fifth in the USL Championship Eastern Conference, Rhode Island made a run all the way to the USL Championship Final where they fell to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks 3-0. Forward Noah Fusion led the league with 10 assists, with teammate JJ Williams not far behind with seven.
Rhode Island are currently 1-2-1 in the 2025 USL Championship season, having earned their first victory of the year on April 5 with a 3-0 win over Oakland Roots. RIFC will play their first game at Centreville Bank Stadium, their new 10,500 seat stadium on May 3 versus San Antonio FC
Portland’s USL League One season isn’t going as well as their Open Cup run. Sitting with a 0-1-2 record, having scored just one goal in those three games.
The clubs will meet later this season in the USL Jägermeister Cup, as the two teams play in Group 4. The Jägermeister Cup is a USL League cup created last season for USL League One teams and has been expanded to include USL Championship clubs.
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: 1-0-1 (1-0 PK)
Home: 1-0-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 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.
Hearts of Pine are playing their Open Cup games in Lewiston, Maine because the multi-million dollar renovation of Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland is still not finished. Like former USL League One club Northern Colorado Hailstorm in 2023, the First Round of the 2025 Open Cup was the first ever game for Hearts of Pine.
Rhode Island FC
USL Championship | Pawtucket, RI
2nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2024
Manager: Khano Smith
Overall: 0-0-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 0-0-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 1-0-0
Best finish; Third Round (2024)
Despite the lack of recent history of teams from the Ocean State in the USOC, the state still has a rich history in the tournament. By far the most successful club from Rhode Island is J & P Coats, who reached the Open Cup Semifinals in 1923, 1926 and 1928. After an ownership change the team was renamed the Pawtucket Rangers and reached the semifinals again in 1933, and made the Final in 1934 and 1935, losing both times to St. Louis powerhouse Stix, Baer & Fuller/Central Breweries. A new team, Pawtucket SC, found success in 1941, winning the Open Cup Final over Detroit’s Chrysler SC 6-5 over two games. Pawtucket reached the Final again the following year but lost to Gallatin (West Pa.) 6-3 over two games.
Charlotte Independence vs. North Carolina FC
Mecklenburg County Sportsplex – Matthews, NC
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
The battle for Tar Heel State supremacy resumes in the Open Cup after an eight year layoff when North Carolina FC visits the Charlotte Independence for the fourth Open cup meeting between the clubs.
NCFC holds a 2-1 advantage over its USL League One rivals in the Open Cup, having met each year between 2015-2017. In 2015, Charlotte’s debut season, the Independence pulled off the upset of the club known as the Carolina RailHawks, beating them 1-0 on Ryan Finley’s 81st minute goal. In 2016, Carolina got their revenge, ambushing Charlotte with five extra time goals for a 5-0 triumph. In 2017, Carolina changed its name to North Carolina FC, and the then-NASL club came away 4-1 winners.
Remarkably, North Carolina FC have played just seven of its 39 Open Cup matches on road, resulting in a 1-5-1 record. The lone win came was a 6-1 defeat of the PDL’s Carolina Dynamo (now Salem City FC of USL League Two). This will be the first time NCFC will travel to face a Div. 3 opponent in the Open Cup. NCFC are 7-1-0 all time against fellow clubs from the Tar Heel State, the only loss coming to Charlotte in 2015.
NCFC and the Independence meet later this season in the USL Jägermeister Cup, as the two clubs play in Group 5. The Jägermeister Cup is a USL League cup created last season for USL League One teams and has been expanded to include USL Championship clubs.
Independence is currently 1-1-2 in USL League One and are coming off a 1-1 draw with Forward Madison on April 11. NCFC sit at 2-2-2 in the early season, and return to Carolina from New Mexico after a 1-0 loss to United.
Charlotte Independence
USL League One | Charlotte, NC
8th US Open Cup appearance (2015-19, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Mike Jeffries
Overall: 9-7-3 (2-1 PK)
Home: 3-2-3 (2-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 1-3-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2015)
Charlotte has the second longest Open Cup history of all the USL League One teams with seven previous 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’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.
North Carolina FC
USL Championship | Cary, NC
16th US Open Cup appearance 2007-2010, 2012-2019, 2021-2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2006
Manager: John Bradford
Overall: 23-13-3 (1-2 PK)
Away: 1-5-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 8-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish; Semifinals (2007)
Known as the Carolina RailHawks until the 2017 season, NCFC return to the USL Championship after three seasons in USL League One, which they topped off by winning the league championship in 2023. After spending its first four years with the USL (2007-2010), the club left for the newly reformed NASL in 2011. NCFC returned to the USL in 2018.
The club’s greatest Open Cup success came in its rookie year in 2007, reaching the Semifinals, knocking off the Richmond Kickers and Chicago Fire before dropping a 2-1 extra time decision to eventual champs the New England Revolution. NCFC also reached the Quarterfinals in 2013 and 2014, eliminating Chivas USA (MLS) and the LA Galaxy each year.
Louisville City FC vs. Loudoun United FC
Lynn Family Stadium – Louisville, KY
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+ / CBS Sports Golazo
Loudoun United FC make a trip to the Derby City to face Louisville City FC for a rematch of their March 22 USL Championship encounter. In front of 9,673 at Lynn Family Stadium at Louisville City’s home opener, The Boys in Purple came away 2-0 victors on goals from Ray Serrano and Taylor Davila. A missed penalty late in the game by Phillip Goodrum kept the score from finishing 3-0.
Loudoun United had their hands full with one of the more seasoned amateur qualifiers, edging out West Chester United SC 3-2. The USL Championship side went down 1-0 after 18 minutes, but the first of Riley Bidois’s two goals tied the game before halftime. Soon after the break Loudoun took the lead on a Christian Sorto penalty kick and extended the advantage to 3-1 on Bidois’ second goal in the 61st minute. WCU made it 3-2 seven minutes later but could not get any closer.
In the Second Round, Loudoun were faced with another tough amateur opponent in the form of the Virginia Dream FC. Bidois, Ben Mines and Zach Ryan gave the pros a 3-1 second half lead, but a late Virginia dream goal kept the upset “Dream” alive. Ryan put an end to that in stoppage time with his second goal for a 4-2 win.
Loudoun will be Louisville’s first USL Championship opponent in the Open Cup since 2022, when they eliminated Detroit City FC on the road on penalties after a 1-1 draw. In contrast, Loudoun has faced just one fellow USL Championship club in its eight previous Open Cup matches, a 2-1 away win over Orange County SC in last year’s Fourth Round. Louisville’s last loss to a Division 2 opponent in the Open Cup was back in 2017 with a 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati.
2024 was the ultimate letdown for Louisville City. After finishing the season with a 24-6-4 record and winning the Players’ Shield by 12 points, it all came crashing down when newcomers Rhode Island FC shocked Lou City 3-0 at home in the playoffs.
Loudoun are riding high early in the USL Championship, sitting atop the Eastern Conference at 5-1-0 and riding a three-game win streak. In second place is Louisville City at 3-0-2, whose last game was a 1-1 draw at Sacramento on April 5. Amadou Dia scored in the eighth minute of second half stoppage time to steal the draw.
Louisville and Loudoun will meet later this season in the USL Jägermeister Cup, as the two clubs play in Group 5. The Jägermeister Cup is a USL League cup created last season for USL League One teams and has been expanded to include USL Championship clubs.
Louisville City FC
7th US Open Cup appearance (2015-19, 2022-23)
Founded: 2018
Manager: Ryan Martin
Overall: 11-7-3 (3-0 PK)
Home: 9-1-2 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 4-2-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2018)
Since Louisville City FC relocated from Orlando in 2014 they have been one of the most consistently successful clubs in the USL Championship. Lou City haven’t just made the playoffs every year, they’ve at least reached the semifinals each time (except 2024), winning the playoffs in 2017 and 2018, and reaching the Final in 2019 and 2022.
In the Open Cup, Louisville’s best showing was in 2018 when they reached the Quarterfinals, knocking off the New England Revolution along the way. Louisville have lost at home just once in the Open Cup in 11 games, a 2-1 loss to Nashville SC in the 2022 Fifth Round.
Loudoun United FC
USL Championship | Louisville, KY
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2023, 2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Danny Cruz
Overall: 5-2-1 (1-0 PK)
Home: 2-1-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 1-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2023, 2024)
Loudoun United have played in the USL Championship since 2019, but only became eligible for the Open Cup in 2023 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 digit 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 on the other side of the country to eventual Open Cup champions Los Angeles FC
Charleston Battery vs. South Georgia Tormenta
Ralph Lundy Field – Mt. Pleasant, SC
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+ / CBS Sports Network
In a rematch of their Fourth Round encounter in 2024, South Georgia Tormenta return to Mount Pleasant, S.C. for a Third Round showdown, and will try and avenge their 3-2 extra time loss to the Charleston Battery. The Tormenta will hope MD Myers doesn’t repeat his performance for last year’s game, in which he scored all three goals for Charleston, including in the game winner in extra time stoppage time.
This will be South Georgia’s third trip to Mount Pleasant, having initially gone there in 2022 where they upset the Battery 1-0 in the Second Round. The game was unusual in that severe weather caused the match to be delayed a day, forcing the teams to kickoff at 11am. Current Richmond Kickers forward Arthur Bosua scored the lone goal in the 61st minute.
South Georgia advanced to the Third Round with a pair of wins over UPSL opponents. Tormenta defeated Harbor City FC 3-0 in the Opening Round. Two goals from Niall Reid-Stephen and a third from Jonathan Nyandjo pushed Tormenta’s Open Cup home record to 4-0-0, which they extended to 5-0-0 with a dramatic 3-2 win over FORO SC. Tied 1-1 late in the game, Yaniv Bazini, a key player for Vermont Green in their 2024 Open Cup run, scored in the 85th minute. FORO tied the game on a Rayan Padilla penalty in stoppage time, but a couple minutes later Sebastian Vivas helped the pros avoid extra time with the game winning goal.
The Battery and Tormenta will meet later this season in the USL Jägermeister Cup, as the two clubs play in Group 6. The Jägermeister Cup is a USL League cup created last season for USL League One teams and has been expanded to include USL Championship clubs.
South Georgia have had an up and down start to the 2025 season, resulting in a 2-2-1 record. Tormenta earned their second win over Portland Hearts of Pine 2-1 last weekend on April 12. Charleston are 3-2-0 in USL Championship play, but are on a two game winning streak, with a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds their latest triumph on April 12.
Charleston Battery
USL Championship | Charleston, SC
24th US Open Cup appearance (1996-2002, 2004-2019, 2022, 2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1993
Manager: Ben Pirmann
Overall: 37-19-8 (4-4 PK)
Home: 29-7-6 (2-4 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 8-2-0
Best finish: Final (2008)
Charleston has the most experience in the Open Cup among USL Championship clubs, having been founded in 1993 and making 23 previous Open Cup appearances. The Battery’s former home of Blackbaud Stadium/MUSC Health Stadium still holds the Modern Era mark for most Open Cup games hosted with 36, although that mark is threatened by Richmond’s City Stadium (35), and Cary, NC’s WakeMed Soccer Park (34).
The early years are where Charleston had the most success in the Open Cup. Between 1999-2009 the Battery reached the Quarterfinals three times, the Semifinals twice, and the Final in 2008. Since 2011, after they dropped to Division 3 status, the Battery has never made it past their third game in any single tournament,
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: 9-3-0
Away: 3-4-0
vs. Div. 2: 5-0-0
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.
Union Omaha vs. San Antonio FC
Caniglia Field – Omaha, NE
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
After getting past the Des Menace and their many MLS recruits, Union Omaha play host to San Antonio FC, a club looking to rebound from an opening game exit from last year’s tournament.
Omaha saw their First Round game with USL-2 club Flatirons FC pushed back two days due to a snowstorm in Omaha preventing travel. Josué Gómez and Joe Gallardo Jr. (PK) scored on either side of the half for a routine 2-1 win.
In the Second Round Omaha visited the Des Moines Menace, who for the second year in a row recruited a slew of retired MLS stars to represent them in the Open Cup. For the second year in a row Union got past the Menace MLS squad, this time 2-1 on first half goals from Dion Acoff and Aaron Gomez.
San Antonio’s 2024 Open Cup lasted just one game, a 2-0 road defeat to eventual Semifinalist Indy Eleven. Their disappointing Open Cup run extended into the 2024 season, where San Antonio missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019. SAFC have played just one other game against Division 3 opposition, a 2-1 extra time win over NISA’s Club de Lyon in 2023.
Likewise, Union have played just two Open Cup games against USL Championship opposition, both against El Paso Locomotive. Union defeated El Paso 2-0 in 2023, then eliminated them in 2024 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
San Antonio are off to a 4-2-0 start in the USL Championship season, but are riding a two-game losing streak, including a 2-1 loss to FC Miami on April 12. Union Omaha have just three USL League One games played, leaving them at 1-2-0. Their last game was a 1-0 road loss to the Richmond Kickers.
Omaha and San Antonio meet later this season in the USL Jägermeister Cup, as the two clubs play in Group 2. The Jägermeister Cup is a USL League cup created last season for USL League One teams and has been expanded to include USL Championship clubs.
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.
San Antonio FC
USL Championship | Statesboro, GA
8th US Open Cup appearance (2016-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2016
Manager: Carlos Llamosa
Overall: 8-6-2 (1-1)
Away: 3-5-1 (0-1)
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2016, 2018, 2022)
San Antonio got their start in 2016 and is owned by Spurs Sports and Entertainment, which also owns the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. After a bumpy first four years San Antonio settled into being one of the better teams in the USL Championship winning the league title in 2022 after posting a franchise best 24-5-5 record. San Antonio followed the title win in 2023 by finishing fourth in the Western Conference and leading the league in goal scoring with 63.
San Antonio hasn’t had much success in Open Cup play in its history, only advancing three-games deep twice (2016 & 2022). Their high point was upsetting Austin FC 2-1 in extra time in 2022
AV ALTA FC vs. Orange County SC
Lancaster Municipal Stadium – Lancaster, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
AV ALTA had a successful Open Cup debut, defeating USL-2 club Ventura County Fusion 3-1. Jerry Desdunes scored twice and had a chance at a hat-trick but saw his second half penalty kick saved. With the game’s opening goal, Desdunes became the first ever goal scorer for two different clubs in the span of four seasons, as he scored the winning goal in extra time to propel the Northern Colorado Hailstorm to a 1-0 upset win over the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in 2022. Each game was the first ever competitive match for either club.
ALTA’s Second Round game came down to the last minute of extra time against LAFC 2 of MLS Next Pro. Emmanuel Alaribe scored in the 80th minute to tie the game at 1-1, and just as penalties seemed certain Jimmie Villalobos put in a rebound of a shot off the crossbar in the final minute. Unfortunately, Villalobos will miss the Third Round as he was given a second yellow after taking his jersey off in celebration of the goal. Joining Villalobos on the sidelines will be head coach Brian Kleiban, who was shown a red card in the 119th minute for arguing with the referee.
Orange County has played just one previous Open Cup game against a team for Division 3, a 1-0 win over LA Force from NISA in 2022. Their last road win in the Open Cup came in 2017 with a 1-0 win over Los Angeles Wolves (USASA). Orange County has never won a road Open Cup game against a professional opponent of any level. Orange County have been knocked out after one game six times in its 12 Cup appearances.
ALTA and Orange County will meet later this season in the USL Jägermeister Cup, as the two clubs play in Group 1. The Jägermeister Cup is a USL League cup created last season for USL League One teams and has been expanded to include USL Championship clubs.
AV ALTA FC
USL League One | Lancaster, CA
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2023
Manager: Brian Kleiban
Overall: 1-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 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 US 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 a province of New Spain.
Orange County SC
USL Championship | Statesboro, GA
12th US Open Cup appearance (2011-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2010
Manager: Danny Stone
Overall: 7-10-2 (0-2 PK)
Away: 3-6-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2017, 2024)
Orange County SC has been around since 2011 and is on their third name, having played as Los Angeles Blues (2011-2013) and Orange County Blues (2014-2016). OCSC’s Open Cup resume is pretty thin, having gone three games deep only twice in 11 attempts (2011 & 2017), both of which were ended by the LA Galaxy.
Orange County has had a fair amount of success in the USL Championship, winning the title in 2021 and finishing first in the Western Conference in 2015 and 2018. The 2024 season was a bit of a letdown after their second-place finish in 2023, finishing sixth with a 13-14-7 record.
Tacoma Defiance vs. Oakland Roots
Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, WA
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+ / CBS Sports Golazo
One of two MLS NEXT Pro teams to reach the Third Round, Tacoma Defiance welcome USL Championship side Oakland Roots, a team looking for an Open Cup win over anyone not named El Farolito.
Tacoma took down Seattle’s Washington AC (USASA) 3-1 on a pair of second half goals from Japanese forward Yu Tsukanome. Tsukanome previously played for the Dakota Fusion, winning the NPSL Golden Boot in 2023 with 16 goals in 10 games.
In the Second Round, Tacoma jumped in front of the Spokane Velocity very early on Kang Joon-Mo’s 3rd minute goal. Extra time was needed after Spokane’s Luis Gil tied the count in the 78th minute, Nine minutes into the extra session, Tacoma benefited from an own goal by Spokene’s Marcelo Lage. The only other time an own goal in extra time was the winning goal came in the 2022 Fourth Round when Edwin Cerrillo of FC Dallas put the ball in his own goal in the 94th minute, helping Sporting Kansas City win 4-2.
Oakland will look to earn a pair of firsts with their game against Tacoma. A win will not only be the Roots’ first Open Cup road win (0-3-0), but it will also be their first win against a Division 3 opponent (0-1-0). In its short Open Cup history, Oakland has just two Open Cup wins, both over El Farolito in 2023 & 2024.
With the Oakland A’s Major League Baseball team playing in Sacramento while their new stadium in Las Vegas is built, the Roots have taken up residence in the Oakland Coliseum. In the opening game in their new home, over 26,000 fans turned up to watch Oakland take on San Antonio FC on March 22.
Oakland are not off to a desirable start to the season with a 1-4-1 record, though the club earned their first win of the season on April 12, 2-1 over FC Tulsa. Tacoma are 2-2-0 in MLS NEXT Pro play, leading the league with 12 goals scored, but having allowed 10 goals against.
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: 4-1-0
Home: 4-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
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 as Seattle Sounders 2, when the club played in the USL. They knocked off the Kitsap Pumas 4-2 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.
Oakland Roots SC
USL Championship | Oakland, CA
4th US Open Cup appearance (2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Gavin Glinton
Overall: 2-3-0
Away: 0-3-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2024)
Oakland began in 2019 as a charter member of NISA before moving to the USL Championship in 2021. Roots have reached the Western Conference semifinals twice (2021, 2022).
As far as Oakland’s Open Cup history, there isn’t much of it. Their debut in 2022 ended with a 2-0 upset loss to the Greenville Triumph of USL-1 in their opening game. 2023 saw Oakland go one round better, after beating El Farolito 3-1 the Roots fell to USL-C rivals Sacramento Republic.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16
Detroit City FC vs. Westchester SC
Keyworth Stadium – Hamtramck, MI
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
First year USL League One side Westchester SC have the daunting task of visiting one of the more raucous stadiums in all of U.S. soccer when they make their way to Keyworth Stadium to face Detroit City FC in the Third Round
Westchester found their inaugural Open Cup game to be no walk in the park, edging out 2024 NPSL championship runners-up FC Motown 1-0. Juan Carlos Obregon Jr. converted a penalty with nine minutes remaining to finally give the pros the upper hand.
Westchester’s found themselves against three-time Open Cup Champions NY Pancyprian Freedoms in the Second Round. Westchester jumped out to a 3-0 lead behind first half goals from Juan Carlos Obergon, Daniel Bouman and a Freedoms own goal. The amateurs fought back, cutting the lead to one in second half stoppage time but could not get any closer. Thean 3-2.
DCFC have never lost to a Division 3 opponent since they moved to the USL Championship. The only time they have been eliminated by a team at that level came in 2016 by Louisville City on penalties when DCFC was in the NPSL and Louisville City was Div. 3.
DCFC and Westchester will also face off in the USL Jägermeister Cup in July, as the clubs are in Group 4. The Jägermeister Cup is a USL League cup created last season for USL League One teams and has been expanded to include USL Championship clubs.
Detroit City are currently 3-1-2 in the USL Championship, but it will be hard to top their performance on April 12 at Phoenix Rising. Down 2-0 in the 85th minute, Detroit scored three times to pull a victory out of the fire.
Westchester are 1-1-1 in USL League and have not played since a 2-0 league loss to AV ALTA on April 5.
Westchester SC
USL League One | Mount Vernon, NY
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2024
Manager: Dave Carton
Overall: 2-0-0
Away: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Westchester is one of five new clubs in USL League One this season. US Men’s National Team and 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 US Open Cup.
Detroit City FC
USL Championship | Detroit, MI
8th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2012
Manager: Danny Dichio
Overall: 4-4-6 (3-3 PK)
Home: 4-1-3 (1-2 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 3-0-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2024)
Detroit City started in 2012 as an NPSL side and quickly became known for its fervent fan base. In 2016 supporters volunteered to help refurbish Keyworth Stadium, where the club has called home since. Keyworth was built in 1936 and hosted its first Open Cup match on Jan. 8, 1939 when Detroit’s Chrysler SC fell to Manhattan Beer of Chicago 4-2. Detroit City turned professional and joined NISA for the 2020 season, where it won two championships. In 2022 the club left NISA to join the USL Championship.
FC Naples vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Paradise Coast Sports Complex – Naples, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
One of the four USL League One rookie clubs to still be alive in the Open Cup host the Tampa Bay Rowdies, a club looking to finally break a string of Open Cup disappointments over the years.
In the opening round, FC Naples also got a PK save from their goalkeeper Edward Delgado to keep Sarasota Paradise off the board in the 69th minute. Tied 0-0 late and looking at extra time, Karsen Henderlong and Kevin O’Connor scored in the 79th and 90th minutes to give the first year pro team their initial Open Cup win, 2-1.
The Second round proved a bit easier for Naples, defeating the Little Rock Rangers of USL League Two, 3-0. Goals from Jayden Onen, Brecc Evans and Andrés Ferrín kept Naples from being Little Rock’s second upset victim.
2024 marked the 9th straight tournament that the Rowdies failed to advance past their second game. Tampa did take part in one of the more remarkable games of the 2024 Cup. Up 4-0 over Birmingham Legion, Tampa saw their opponents score four times in the final ten minutes to force extra time. Manuel Arteaga scored twice in extra time to secure an unbelievable 6-4 win. It was just the 9th game in the Modern Era to produce 10 or more goals in a game.
Naples will be the Rowdies’ first Division 3 opponent since 2016, when Tampa defeated FC Cincinnati 1-0. Tampa Bay has a 3-9-0 record in road games, with their last win coming in 2013 with a 3-1 win over VSI Tampa Bay FC of USL Pro. The club has lost eight straight road games in the Cup since then.
Naples’ rookie campaign in USL League One is off to a terrific start, sitting in first place at 4-0-2. Karsen Henderlong is the early goal scoring leader with five.
The Rowdies are off to a much slower start in league play. With a 2-1 win over Miami FC sandwiched between a pair of losses on either side for a 1-4-0 record.
Naples and Tampa meet later this season in the USL Jägermeister Cup, as the two clubs play in Group 6. The Jägermeister Cup is a USL League cup created last season for USL League One teams and has been expanded to include USL Championship clubs.
FC Naples
USL League One | Naples, FL
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2024
Manager: Matt Poland
Overall: 2-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
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.
Tampa Bay Rowdies
USL Championship | Tampa, FL
13th US Open Cup appearance (2010, 2012-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2008
Manager: Robbie Neilson
Overall: 10-12-0
Away: 7-3-0
vs. Div. 3: 2-2-0
Best finish: Third Round (2011)
Tampa started in 2008 as FC Tampa Bay due to a legal dispute with sports apparel company Classic Ink over the merchandising rights to the Rowdies name. The club initially began play in the USL First Division in 2010, but decided to jump to the re-emerging NASL in 2011. The club gained the rights to the Rowdies name in 2012, then moved to the USL in 2017 when the NASL suspended operations.
Once back in the USL Tampa Bay became one of the better teams in the league, reaching the Final in 2020 and 2021, though the 2020 Final was cancelled due to a COVID-19 outbreak among the Rowdies players.
The Rowdies Open Cup history is the opposite of their league success, having only advanced past a second game once in 12 tournaments. Their lone bright spot is a 1-0 upset of the Seattle Sounders in 2013, ending Seattle’s chance of possibly becoming the first club to win four straight Open Cup titles and ending their all-time record 22-game unbeaten streak in the Open Cup.
Indy Eleven vs. Miami FC
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+ / CBS Sports Golazo
Indy Eleven’s bid to return to the Open Cup Semifinals starts by hosting Miami FC, a team coming off a season to forget in 2024.
Miami FC opened the 2025 tournament by defeating Naples United FC 4-1. Francisco Bonfiglio scored a pair of first half goal followed by Allen Gavilanes and Tobías Zárate in the second half. It was the largest margin of victory for Miami FC in an Open Cup game since their 3-0 defeat of Miami United in the 2022 Second Round and the most goals scored in a single game since they put four past Red Force FC in the 2018 First Round. After losing in Inter Miami CF in 2022 and 2023, Miami FC kind of gained revenge by beating MLS NEXT Pro’s Inter Miami CF II 1-0 on Francisco Bonfiglio’s 84th minute goal.
Incredibly, in its 17 Open Cup games played (home and away), this is the first time Miami FC must leave the state of Florida for an Open Cup game. In fact, every game but one had been played in the Miami metro area, (at Orlando City in 2017). Miami FC has only ever had two Division 2 opponents, both coming in 2017, 2-0 over the Tampa Bay Rowdies, and a 1-0 Quarterfinal loss to FC Cincinnati.
Indy Eleven will not soon forget their 2024 Open Cup run. Entering in the Third Round, Indy first dispatched MLS NEXT Pro side Chicago Fire II 1-0. Just before their Fourth Round game, news broke that the Mayor of Indianapolis had met with MLS Commissioner Don Garber about bringing an expansion team to the city, seemingly ignoring Indy Eleven.
Undaunted, Indy went on to shut out both San Antonio FC (2-0) and Detroit City FC (3-0) to earn a Quarterfinal date with Atlanta United . INd travelled to Georgia and game away 2-1 winners earning a spot in the Semifinals for an Indiana club for the first time since 1992. The dream run came to an end when Sporting KC prevailed 2-0. Indy also got hot in the 2024 USL Championship season, finishing in 4th place in the Eastern Conference.
Indy Eleven
USL Championship | Indianapolis, IN
10th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Sean McAuley
Overall: 8-8-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 6-2-0
vs. Div. 2: 2-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2014, 2016)
Indy Eleven got their start in 2014 in the NASL, with a 2016 championship appearance as their only success. When the NASL suspended operations after the 2017 season, Indy joined the USL where it has continued to struggle as a mid-table team, reaching the playoffs just three times in six seasons.
Open Cup success has been elusive for Indy Eleven, in eight previous appearances the club has lost in their opening game four times and was eliminated in their second game the other four times. Indy Eleven opened its 2024 tournament with a 1-0 win over Chicago Fire II of MLS NEXT Pro. Douglas Martinez scored the lone goal in the 6th minute, and goalkeeper Yannik Oettl (who was a finalist for TheCup.us Player of the Round) kept Chicago out of his goal with 11 saves from 22 shots faced.
Indianapolis first had a team in Open Cup play in the 1933 edition, when Indianapolis SC lost to the Cincinnati Kickers 3-2 in the Second Round of the Ohio qualifying tournament. Indianapolis SC tried again in the 1935 tournament, losing to the Kickers once again, 4-2.
Indianapolis has hosted four different Open Cup Finals as a neutral venue. First in 1990 when Chicago’s AAC Eagles defeated the Brooklyn Italians 2-1. In 1992 and 1993 Indy was the Finals host when the San Jose Oaks defeated Vasco da Gama (CT) 2-1 and CD Mexico (now El Farolito) bested United German Hungarians (Philadelphia area) 5-0. Finally in 1997 when the Dallas Burn (FC Dallas) won the cup over D.C. United on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
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: 10-6-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 3-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 1-1-0
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 FC 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.
FC Tulsa vs. Phoenix Rising FC
Hurricane Soccer and Track Stadium – Tulsa, OK
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+ / CBS Sports Network
A little over a month since they met in the USL Championship season opener, Phoenix make the trip East to face FC Tulsa in the Third Round.
Tulsa and Phoenix met in the season opener at Phoenix on March 8, with Alex Dalou’s 12th minute goal enough for Tulsa to take home a 1-0 win. Phoenix took the season series in 2024, earning a 3-3 draw early in the season at Tulsa, then winning 1-0 at home in September.
For the third time in four years, FC Tulsa met their amateur cross-town rival Tulsa Athletic. After splitting the first two games in 2022 and 2023, the pros once again came out on top, 1-0, on the strength of a Taylor Calheira penalty kick in the 84th minute. In the Second Round Tulsa built up a 3-0 lead before Forward Madison scored to make the final 3-1.
While the sample size is relatively small, Tulsa holds a pretty good record at home in the Open Cup at 4-1-1. Their lone loss was a 4-3 upset by the NPSL’s FC Wichita in 2018.
Phoenix skipper Pa-Modou Kah may have one of the more unusual background of all the coaches leading teams in the OPen Cup. Kah was born in The Gambia and his family emigrated to Norway in 1988, when he was eight years old. Kah would earn 10 caps for Norway, and would eventually come to MLS to play for Portland and Vancouver from 2013-1016
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: 7-8-1 (1-0 PK)
Home: 4-1-1 (1-0)
vs. Div. 2: 1-1-1 (1-0 PK)
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.
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.
Phoenix Rising FC
USL Championship | Phoenix, AZ
10th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Pa-Modou Kah
Overall: 8-7-2 (0-2 PK)
Away: 4-3-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 2-3-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2024)
Phoenix Rising began in 2014 as Arizona United, and in 2017 new ownership changed the club’s name to Phoenix Rising. In 2017, Côte d’Ivoire legend Didier Drogba signed on with Phoenix as a player-owner, holding a minority stake in the club. Despite its success in league play, Phoenix has largely struggled in the Open Cup. Only twice have they advanced to a third game, the last time coming in 2022.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks vs. One Knoxville SC
Wiedner Field – Colorado Springs, CO
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
Defending 2024 USL Championship champions Colorado Springs welcome One Knoxville of USL League One, with the winner setting a date to play an MLS club in the Fourth Round, something neither club has achieved since 2016.
On the road to Colorado Springs, Knoxville disposed of the NPSL’s Appalachian FC 3-1 in the Opening Round, Leo Santos, Babacar Diene and Scott McLeod providing the goals. Next up was a 3-1 win over USL League One rivals Greenville Triumph. Stavros Zarokostas and Mark Doyle gave Knoxville a 2-0 advantage in the opening half hour, and Babacar Diene made it 3-1 deep into second half stoppage time.
The Switchbacks will look to reverse their Open Cup fortunes this year, as they have been eliminated in their opening game each of the last three years. All three losses came against Division 3 opposition. In Knoxville’s short history, they are 3-0 in Open Cup road games, and have played Division 2 opposition just once, a 2-1 extra time loss to Memphis 901 FC in their very first Open Cup game in 2023.
Led by first year manager James Chambers, one of the youngest managers in the U.S. at 38 years old, Colorado Springs turned around years of mid-table finishes to win the USL Championship in 2024.
The Switchbacks defense of their 2024 USL Championship title is off to a slow start at 1-2-2. One Knoxville have played just three games in the USL League One season, but have two wins and a draw. Their last game was a 1-0 road win over Greenville Triumph on April 9, their second win over the Triumph in the span of a week after beating them in the Second Round of the Open Cup.
One Knoxville SC
USL League One | Knoxville, TN
3rd US Open Cup appearances (2023, 2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2021
Manager: Ian Fuller
Overall: 3-2-0
Away: 3-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-0
Best finish: Second Round (2023, 2024)
One Knoxville began as an amateur team in USL League Two with the intent to eventually move to League One. After registering a 11-1-2 record and reaching the League Two Quarterfinals in the 2022 season, One Knoxville made the move to League One for the 2023 campaign, missing the playoffs. 2024 saw an improvement to a 9-5-8 record and a playoff berth, allowing a league low 16 goals but also scoring a league low 23.
Taking over as head coach for 2025 is Ian Fuller, who played 11 seasons for clubs in MLS and the USL Championship from 2002-2013 and had served as an assistant coach for Minnesota United from 2016-2024. Fuller nearly made history in 2008 when he led the Charleston Battery (USL) to the US Open Cup Final. He scored an early equalizer against D.C. United in the Final, but the MLS side would eventually lift the trophy with a 2-1 win.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks
USL Championship | Colorado Springs, CO
9th US Open Cup appearance (2015-2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: James Chambers
Overall: 7-7-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 6-3-0
vs. Div. 3: 2-3-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2015, 2016)
Colorado Springs began play in 2014. The name Switchback refers to a type of path that follows a zig-zag pattern up a steep stretch of terrain such as a hill or mountainside. The club has generally been middle of the road as far as success in the USL Championship, having made the playoffs three straight seasons after four years of missing out.
In Open Cup play, Colorado Springs had decent showings their first two years, going three games deep each time before being stopped by the Colorado Rapids each year. Since then, they haven’t made it past a second game, and in 2022 & 2023 were ousted by the Northern Colorado Hailstorm in their opening game. The good news is they don’t have to worry about the Hailstorm this year. Colorado Springs has two wins over Division 3 opponents in the Open Cup, but they came when the Switchbacks were Division 3 themselves.
New Mexico United vs. El Paso Locomotive
UNM Track and Field and Soccer Stadium – Albuquerque, NM
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+ / CBS Sports Golazo
The Derby Del Camino Real gets its first taste of the Open Cup when El Paso Locomotive travels north on I-25 to face New Mexico United in the Third Round.
The rivals have already met in the early USL Championship season when New Mexico hosted Locomotive on March 22 and won 1-0 on an 83rd minute goal from Greg Hurst. NMU are set to go to El Paso on May 3 for another league match. New Mexico swept the season series in 2024, with a 3-2 win at home and a 2-1 victory in El Paso.
In the 2024 USL Championship season the clubs were literally at opposite ends of the spectrum. New Mexico finished atop to Western Conference at 18-11-5, while El Paso finished in last place with an 8-18-8 record. New Mexico’s season ended in disappointment when they were upset 1-0 by the Las Vegas Lights in the playoffs.
Interestingly, the Locomotive will not be the only team from El Paso visiting Albuquerque on April 16. The El Paso Chihuahuas will be in town to face the Albuquerque Isotopes in a AAA Pacific Coast League baseball game. It is the reason NMU are playing their Open Cup game at UNM Track and Field and Soccer Stadium instead of Isotopes Park, affectionately nicknamed “The Lab” as Albuquerque was the setting for the Breaking Bad TV series.
New Mexico have played just five Open Cup games at home in their history but have won all of them. Only three of those games have been at Isotopes Park, mainly due to schedule conflicts with the Albuquerque Isotopes baseball team.
New Mexico are near the top of the Western Conference with a 4-1-0 record and are riding a four game win streak. El Paso are off to a decent start, sitting at 2-2-2.
New Mexico United
USL Championship | Albuquerque, NM
6th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Dennis Sanchez
Overall: 8-4-2 (2-0)
Home: 5-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 2-1-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2019)
New Mexico’s best Open Cup performance came in their initial appearance in 2019, reaching the Quarterfinals by knocking off USL championship rivals Phoenix Rising and Colorado Springs Switchbacks, the upsetting the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas before falling to Minnesota United in the Quarterfinals. NMU have only played (and won) three of their previous 10 Open Cup games home, Two of those games were against the only amateur opposition they have played in the tournament, a 5-0 win over Las Vegas Legends (NPSL) in 2022, and a 6-0 triumph over UDA Soccer (UPSL) last year.
The state of New Mexico doesn’t have a deep Open Cup history, but the greatest success the state has seen came in 1991 when the New Mexico Chiles of the SISL (Southwest Independent Soccer League, now todays USL) reached the Semifinals where they fell to SISL league-mate Richardson Rockets 1-0.
El Paso Locomotive FC
USL Championship | El Paso, TX
5th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Wilmer Cabrera
Overall: 0-3-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Home: 0-1-0
vs. Amateur: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2019, 2022, 2023)
El Paso Locomotive began in 2019, filling the void left by the El Paso Patriots (1995 US Open Cup runners-up) when they ceased operations in 2013. Locomotive found success at first, reaching the Western Conference final two years in a row. El Paso gained one of the top two playoff seeds in 2021, only to be upset by the Oakland Roots in the First Round. In 2022, they missed the playoffs and just made the cut in 2023 with a 7th place Conference finish. 2024 was a season to forget for El Paso, finishing in last place with an 8-18-8 record, their 27 goals scored being second lowest in the league.
The El Paso Patriots are the highlight of the Sun City’s Open Cup history, reaching the 1995 Final where they fell to the Richmond Kickers on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The Patriots made 10 total appearances in the Open Cup from 1995-2012.
Sacramento Republic FC vs. El Farolito SC
Heart Health Park – Sacramento, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
The good news for El Farolito, they do not have the Oakland Roots as a Third Round opponent like in the past two Open Cups. Bad news is they must travel north to face the Sacramento Republic, one of the more successful USL Championship clubs in recent Open Cup history, and a team that has just three home losses in their 32 Open Cup games at home.
Sacramento have lost just one in Open Cup play to an amateur club, way back in the 2016 Third Round via a 3-1 loss to the PDL (USL-2) Kitsap Pumas. It also was the first of just three home losses in the Open Cup, the others coming to MLS clubs Colorado Rapids (4-2 in 2023, and the Seattle Sounders (2-1) last year.
Since the Open Cup resumed in 2022 after the COVID-19 pandemic, Sacramento’s game with El Farolito will be the 12th out of 14 Open Cup games the team has played in that span.
This is the fifth Open Cup game that El Farolito has faced USL Championship opposition, their win over Monterey Bay being their first ever win against Division 2 opposition. As the lone Open Division survivor, El Farolito takes home the amateur prize money for the tournament for the second year in a row. This year, the prize money was bumped up from $25,000 to $50,000.
El Farolito opened their 2025 NPSL season with two wins and a combined score of 7-0. El Farolito’s roster features many players who have experience playing in Colombia’s Primera A league.
After a 2-1 opening day win over New Mexico United, Sacramento has slipped to a 1-2-2 record., including two losses in their last three games.
Sacramento Republic FC
USL Championship | Sacramento, CA
8th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022-2024)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2012
Manager: Neill Collins
Overall: 22-8-2 (1-1)
Home: 20-3-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Amateurs: 9-1-0
Best finish: Final (2022)
Sacramento has been the most consistent USL Championship club in recent years, having advanced to a third game in all but one of their eight previous appearances. They are also the last non-MLS club to reach the Final, having done so in 2022. The 2022 Final run earned club legend Rodrigo Lopez TheCup.us Player of the Tournament award. Sacramento holds a remarkable 18-2-1 (1-1 PK) record in home Open Cup games, including a 14-game unbeaten streak stretching from 2017-2023.
Sacramento has also been very successful in the USL Championship, making the playoffs in all but one of their 10 seasons, and winning the title in 2014 (when it was USL Pro).
In 2024 Sacramento dropped to fifth place in the Western Conference, and were ousted from the playoffs in the opening round on penalties by the Las Vegas Lights.
El Farolito SC
National Premier Soccer League | San Francisco, CA
5th US Open Cup appearance (2017, 2019, 2023, 2024)
How they qualified: 2024 NPSL Champions
Founded: 1985
Manager: Santiago Lopez
Overall: 6-3-1 (0-1 PKs)
Away: 5-2-0
vs. Div. 2: -3-0
Best finish: 1993 US Open Cup champions (as CD Mexico)
El Farolito’s 2024 season will be a tough act to follow. For starters there was their run in the Open Cup, in which the “burrito joint team” knocked off two professional clubs, MLS NEXT Pro’s Timbers2 (2-1) and USL League One’s Central Valley Fuego (2-1). Then they took USL Championship’s Oakland Roots to extra time before falling 2-1. During all that, team star Dembor Benson was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Second Round, as well as TheCup.us’ Lower Division Player of the Tournament. The performance in the Open Cup earned Benson a professional contract with the Fuego. To put a cherry on top of it all, El Farolito defeated FC Motown 2-1 to win the NPSL championship.
El Farolito were one of three former Open Cup champions (Richmond Kickers 1995 and New York Pancyprian Freedoms in 1980, 1982, 1983) among the opening round entrants, having won the US Open Cup in 1993 under the name CD Mexico. The club also reached the Final of the 1991 National Amateur Cup.
El Farolito competed in the San Francisco Soccer Football League and California Premier Soccer Association for most of their existence before switching to the NPSL in 2018. In fact, El Farolito would have been making their fifth Open Cup appearance this year instead of their third but were disqualified in 2018 for switching leagues in the middle of the competition. (The club was the subject of TheCup.us’ “Meet the Underdogs” series)
Las Vegas Lights FC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Cashman Field – Las Vegas, NV
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
After surviving the first ever first ever Scenic City Derby in front of 12,000 fans, the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC are faced with making the cross-county trip to Sin City to battle the Las Vegas Lights in the Third Round.
To open the 2025 Open Cup, the Red Wolves avoided an upset by eliminating the UPSL’s New Jersey Alliance on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Matt Bentley scored both Red Wolves goals, the second coming with six minutes remaining. The Alliance would tie the game in second half stoppage time, and with no scoring in extra time the Red Wolves would convert all of their penalty kicks, while the amateurs missed two of theirs.
The Second Round saw the first ever match between the Red Wolves and Chattanooga FC of MLS NEXT Pro. Played in front of over 12,000 at Finley Stadium, the teams battled to a 1-1 draw, and the Red Wolves came out on to in the penalty shootout.
The Red Wolves have just one Open Cup road victory in their previous 8 matches, a 1-0 win over the NPSL’s Apotheos FC last year. The trip to Vegas marks the first time Chattanooga will travel past the Mississippi River for an Open Cup game.
Last season Vegas made the playoffs for the first time and made a run all the way to the Western Conference Finals, where they fell to the eventual champs Colorado Springs 1-0. Unfortunately, the Lights 2024 Open Cup didn’t match their league season. After a 2-1 extra time win over the Spokane Velocity, Vegas fell 3-1 at home to eventual Open Cup champions Los Angeles FC.
Las Vegas are 2-1-2 in USL Championship play, while Chattanooga are still looking for their first win at 0-1-3.
Las Vegas Lights FC
USL Championship | Statesboro, GA
6th US Open Cup appearance (2018, 2019, 2022-24)
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Antonio Nocerino
Overall: 4-5-0
Home: 4-3-0
vs. Div. 3: 2-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2024)
Las Vegas’ short Open Cup history isn’t much to write home about. They’ve never advanced to a third game in their five appearances, and are 2-3 against fellow professional teams, the lone wins being a 4-0 victory over NISA’s LA Force in 2023 and a 2-1 extra time win over Spokane Velocity of USL League One last year. The record for Las Vegas in USL Championship play is not much better. In its first six seasons the club failed to reach the playoffs, breaking that streak in 2024.
The club was sold before the 2024 season to an investor group led by former Major League Baseball star Jose Bautista.
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: 2-4-2 (2-1-0 PK)
Away: 1-3-2 (2-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 0-3-0
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.