The Fourth Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is here. Sixteen games on the schedule over two days (May 6-7) and every game features a lower division team trying to pull off a cupset against a team from Major League Soccer. The winners will advance to the Round of 16.
Twelve USL Championship (Div. 2) clubs remain, along with teams from Division 3 (1 from MLS NEXT Pro, 3 from USL League One).
Tuesday’s action features five games: A Coffee Pot Cup battle, teams from North Carolina and Tennessee squaring off for state supremacy, another chapter in the Portland Timbers / Seattle Sounders rivalry (sort of), and the New York Red Bulls taking a trip to the mountains to take on the defending champs from the USL Championship.
On Wednesday, there are 11 games on tap including another chapter of the Sacramento Republic / San Jose Earthquakes rivalry, last year’s surprise Semifinalist Indy Eleven welcomes the Philadelphia Union back to the competition, and the cities of Chicago and Detroit add US Open Cup soccer to their rivalry resume.
Follow TheCup.us on Blue Sky @thecup.us and X (Twitter) @USOpenCup for live updates from our reporters who will be at every stadium and with every Fourth Round game being broadcast live on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo, you can find links to those below.
D.C. United (MLS) vs. Charleston Battery (USL-C)
Audi Field – Washington, DC
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
For the first time since the 2008 U.S. Open Cup Final, the Coffee Pot Cup will be featured in an official competition. For younger fans who may not be familiar with the Coffee Pot Cup, here is a quick history. In the Third Round of the 1999 US Open Cup, D.C. United visited the Charleston Battery and the A-League (now USL Championship) side scored a late equalizer to force extra time and scored a golden goal for a 4-3 win. The defeat upset United’s players so much that they caused damage to the visitors’ dressing room, ripping off showerheads and smashing coffee pots. The supporter groups of both clubs decided to have fun with the incident and created the “Coffee Pot Cup”, to be contested any time the clubs played.
While 10 of the 12 previous meetings were primarily in Charleston’s preseason Carolina Challenge Cup. Their last meeting in an official competition came in the 2008 Open Cup Final. Charleston eliminated two MLS clubs to become the second non-MLS to reach the Final (joining the Rochester Rhinos in 1996 and 1999), D.C. United would prevail, 2-1 at RFK Stadium.
A Charleston win would tie them with the Seattle Sounders and Rochester Rhinos for 2nd in the Modern Era with 39 Open Cup victories. D.C United isn’t far behind with 35.
The Battery are 1-9-3 all time on the road or at neutral venues against MLS teams, their lone win being a 3-1 triumph over FC Dallas in the 2008 Quarterfinals.
Charleston had an easy time in the Third Round defeating South Georgia Tormenta FC of USL League One 4-0. MD Myers, who scored a hat-trick in Charleston’s 3-2 extra time win over the Tormenta last year, repeated the feat with goals in first half stoppage time, the 52nd and 70th minute before being subbed out in the 73rd minute.
Charleston is currently riding a four-game winning streak in the USL Championship, scoring 11 goals in those four games. Cal Jennings leads the team with six goals (good for second among the league leaders.), and Juan Torres has four assists, tied for best in the league.
D.C. United is stuck in the bottom half of the MLS Eastern Conference at 3-5-3, having allowed a league high 23 goals. Christian Benteke leads the team with six of United’s 13 league goals, and David Schengg is tops with three assists. United is led by former Charleston Battery player and South Carolina native Troy Lesesne.
D.C. United
Major League Soccer | Washington, D.C.
24th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Troy Lesesne
Overall: 35-16-7 (3-4 PK)
Home: 25-7-4 (1-3 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 11-2-3 (2-1 PK)
Best finish: Champion (1996, 2008, 2013)
With three Open Cup titles (1996, 2008, 2013), two additional Finals appearances (1997, 2009) and three Semifinal appearances (2001, 2003, 2006, 2010), D.C. United has one of the better Open Cup resumes. However, since the club’s 2013 US Open Cup title, success has been non-existent, as United have failed to advance past a second game in eight attempts. D.C’s MLS record is similar, after winning four MLS titles from 1996-2007 the well has run dry, including the current four-season drought of missing the playoffs.
Washington D.C.’s first known club to participate in the Open Cup was Heurich Brewers, who took part in the Maryland qualifying tournament for the 1937 Open Cup. It wouldn’t be until the late 1960s when teams from D.C. would become regulars in the tournament. Club Espana claimed the city’s lone pre-Modern Era title in 1987 via penalty kicks over Seattle’s Mitre Eagles, the first Open Cup title decided by penalties.
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, N.C.’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 (1999, 2004, 2007, 2008) the Semifinals twice (1999, 2008), and the Final in 2008. From 2010-2016, when they dropped to Division 3 status, they only advanced beyond a third game in the tournament once (2010). Since rejoining Division 2 (USL Championship), they have won their opening game six of the last seven years, and have advanced beyond the second game four times.
North Carolina FC (USL-C) vs. Charlotte FC (MLS)
First Horizon Stadium – Cary, NC
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
After knocking off the Charlotte Independence in the Third Round, North Carolina FC now has to conquer another club from the Queen City, Charlotte FC, to advance to the Fifth Round and claim themselves Kings of Carolina.
North Carolina FC opened their 2025 Open Cup with a 3-1 win over the Charlotte Independence of USL League One. NCFC struck for the goals in the span of six minutes in the second half to overcome a 1-0 deficit, Rodrigo Da Costa scoring the final two.
At home NCFC has a 22-8-2 (1-1 PK) record, and a 5-6 record against teams visiting Cary. The last win at home over an MLS team was in 2014, a 1-0 extra time win over the LA Galaxy. North Carolina are also 5-1 all-time against teams from Charlotte.
Charlotte FC is off to a good start in league play at 6-4-1, though they have lost their last two games. Pep Biel is tiede for the team lead with three goals, and also has six assists. Wifried Zaha and Liel Abada also have three goals scored.
NCFC is 3-3-2 in the USL Championship, and have lost two of their last three league games. Evan Conway tops the team with three goals scored and Michael Maldonado is among the league leaders with three assists.
Charlotte FC
Major League Soccer | Charlotte, NC
3rd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2022
Manager: Dean Smith
Overall: 4-2-0
Home: 2-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2022, 2023)
Charlotte FC has only played in two tournaments, but each time they won two games and lost on the road in the Fifth Round. In their last entry in 2023, they lost 1-0 to the Birmingham Legion FC (USL Championship). Last year, they didn’t enter the Open Cup.
Prior to the Modern Era, the city of Charlotte has had a limited Open Cup history. It’s limited to hosting the USASA Region III Finals in 1991. The Charlotte Eagles have had the best result in the Modern Era, reaching the Quarterfinals in 2012 as a member of USL Pro (Div. 3). The Charlotte Independence have had a couple of tournaments where they advanced three times in a single tournament (2015, 2024).
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.
Nashville SC (MLS) vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL-1)
GEODIS Park – Nashville, TN
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
One of five teams remaining who started in the First Round, the Chattanooga Red Wolves face their first-ever MLS opponent in the Open Cup when they travel to GOEDIS Park to face Nashville SC.
Similarly, the Red Wolves will be Nashville’s first Open Cup opponent from Division 3, as Nashville make their return to Open Cup play after missing last year’s tournament.
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 top in a penalty shootout.
The Third Round saw Chattanooga make a trip out to the desert, where they upset the Las Vegas Lights on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Zahir Vazquez gave the Red Wolves an early lead and Pedro Hernandez tied the game just after halftime with a penalty kick. Ricardo Jerez then saved the first and last Vegas penalty attempts to send Chattanooga onto the Fourth Round. It marked the first time in the tournament’s Modern Era that a team has not only played in three straight shootouts, but won all three.
Nashville are currently mid-table in MLS with a 5-4-2 record, and are 2-1-1 in their last four games. Sam Surridge leads the team with six goals and Hany Mukhtar is the top assist man with four.
The Red Wolves are off to a sluggish start in USL League One at 1-1-3. Matthew Bentley leads the offense with three goals.
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.
Nashville SC
Major League Soccer | Nashville, TN
5th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: B.J. Callaghan
Overall: 8-2-2 (0-2 PK) | 4-1-1 (0-1 PK) (MLS)
Home: 7-0-1 (0-1) | 3-0-0 (MLS)
vs. Div. 2: 1-1-0 | 1-0-0 (MLS)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2018, USL) | Quarterfinals (2022, MLS)
In their first year as a USL club in 2018, Nashville knocked off the Colorado Rapids on their way to the Fifth Round. Once joining MLS they reached the Quarterfinals in 2022 and made another three-game run in 2023 while starting a round earlier. Last year, Nashville SC did not enter the competition.
Last year, Nashville SC finished 9-16-9 and missed the MLS playoffs for the first time since joining the league in 2018.
The first notable club from the city of Nashville to participate in the Open Cup was the Nashville Blues in the late 1980s, though they didn’t have much success. In the Modern Era, the A-League’s Nashville Metros reached the Quarterfinals in 1997, upsetting the Kansas City Wizards (Sporting KC) 3-1 in the Third Round.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL-C) vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Weidner Field – Colorado Springs, CO
Kickoff: 9:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
The New York Red Bulls return to the Open Cup with a trip to the mountains to face the Colorado Springs Switchbacks of the USL Championship.
The Red Bulls have not lost to a Division 2 team in the Red Bull era, with the last loss coming to the Rochester Raging Rhinos in 2005. This game will also be the furthest the Red Bulls will have traveled for an Open Cup game, the previous longest trip was to Kansas City, Kansas for the 2017 Final. The Red Bulls are the first MLS team to visit Colorado Springs in Open Cup play.
The defending USL Championship champs Colorado Springs kicked off their 2025 Open Cup with a hard fought 3-2 extra time victory over One Knoxville of USL League One. After falling behind 1-0 after just two minutes, Steven Echevarria and Marco Micaletto gave the Switchbacks the lead in the second half. One Knoxville then tied the game a minute later. In the 104th minute Anthony Fontana, who assisted on Micalotto’s goal, put Colorado Springs on top for good.
The Red Bulls are currently playing .500 soccer in MLS with a 4-4-3 record. Eric Choupo-Moting leads the team with four goals, and Omar Valencia, who played in the 2024 Open Cup with NYRB II, has four assists.
The Switchbacks have just one win so far in the USL Championship, and are 1-3-4. Justin Dhillon ranks among the league goalscoring leaders with five.
New York Red Bulls
Major League Soccer | Harrison, NJ
24th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Sandro Schwarz
Overall: 27-21-4 (2-2)
Away: 13-14-1 (1-0)
vs. Div. 2: 8-5-0
Best finish: Final (2003, 2017)
As the MetroStars, the club reached the Semifinals three times (1997, 1998, 2000) and made one appearance in the Final (2003). After rebranding as the New York Red Bulls, another deep run did not come until a return to the Final in 2017. Then 2022 saw the club make another Semifinal run.
In MLS play, the Red Bulls have yet to win a championship, reaching the MLS Cup Final twice (2008, 2024) and winning the Supporters Shield three times (2013, 2015, 2018). The 1923 Final between Scullin Steel and Paterson FC was played at Harrison Field, where a parking garage now stands near Sports Illustrated Stadium.
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. Last year, they had their first breakthrough, finishing second in the Western Conference and winning the USL Championship title, beating Rhode Island FC 3-0 in the Final.
In Open Cup play, Colorado Springs had decent showings in 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.
Tacoma Defiance (MLSNP) vs. Portland Timbers (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, WA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
If you can’t fight the big brother, might as well pick on the younger sibling. With the Seattle Sounders on the Open Cup sidelines for 2025, the Timbers will have to settle for their bitter rivals’ MLS NEXT Pro team as they travel to Tukwila, Wash. to face the Tacoma Defiance. (NOTE: The Sounders and Timbers have played each other eight times in Open Cup play, the most common matchup of the Modern Era)
Tacoma are the last of the ten MLS NEXT Pro clubs remaining that entered this year’s Open Cup, and just one of four Division 3 teams remaining, along with AV ALTA FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC and Union Omaha of USL League One. Tacoma are looking to become the second MLS NEXT Pro club to reach the Round of 16 after New York City FC II accomplished the feat last year.
Dating back to their USL days, Portland hold a 3-4-1 record against the Sounders in Open Cup play, but have not faced their rivals in the tournament since 2019. Portland are just 1-3 all time in Open Cup games at Starfire, their only win being a 3-1 extra time victory over the Sounders in 2015.
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.
Tacoma toppled USL Championship’s Oakland Roots 2-1 in extra time in the Third Round. Peter Kingston gave Tacoma a 1-0 first half lead and Osaze De Rosario scored the eventual game winner in the 108th minute.
Portland are near the top of the MLS Western Conference at 5-3-3, and their 4-1 loss to San Jose on May 3 snapped a seven game unbeaten streak. Felipe Mora leads the attack with five goals, and Antony Alves Santos and Kevin Kelsey are right behind him with four each. Alves Santos also leads the team with six assists.
Tacoma are on top of the MLSNP Western Conference at 5-2-0, and lead the league in goals with 22, the only team above 20. Osaze De Rosario and Yu Tsukanome lead the potent attack with eight and seven goals respectively.
Portland Timbers
Major League Soccer | Portland, OR
18th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2001
Manager: Phil Neville
Overall: 20-16-1 (0-1) | 13-10-0
Away: 10-9-0 | 5-7-0
vs. Div. 3: 2-0-0 | 1-0-0
Best finish: Semifinals (2013, 2019)
The Portland Timbers have had a disappointing Open Cup history. In its 10 appearances as an MLS club, Portland have reached the Semifinals twice in 2013 and 2019 and the Quarterfinals in 2014 and 2018. On the down side, the Timbers have been eliminated after their first or second game six times, including their last two appearances in 2022 and 2023.
In MLS play, the Timbers have won one championship in 2015 and reached the MLS Cup Final in 2018 and 2021., though two of the last three seasons they’ve missed the playoffs.
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 made 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 Supporters 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 by the score of 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.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C) vs. New York City FC (MLS)
Highmark Stadium – Pittsburgh, PA
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will host New York City FC for the first time on Wednesday. The last time a NYC team visited Pittsburgh in the Open Cup was the 2016 Second Round when the Riverhounds lost to the Lansdowne Bhoys (USASA).
Outside of their 2023 upset of the Columbus Crew, the Hounds have had very few MLS teams visit Highmark Stadium in recent years. The last time an MLS team visited the Steel City was in 2015 when D.C. United won 3-1 in extra time. Pittsburgh will look to add to their MLS upset resume as they have won 3 of their 10 all-time meetings with America’s top division.
Pittsburgh opened their 2025 tournament with a 1-0 win over Columbus Crew 2 (MLSNP) in the Third Round. Daniel Griffin’s 28th minute goal being all the scoring Pittsburgh needed.
NYCFC are 5-4-2 in MLS, and have won three of their last four. Alonzo Martinez tops the team with six goals.
Pittsburgh are off to a 2-4-1 start in the USL Championship and are on a four game losing streak in the league. The Riverhounds have only managed six goals over nine games in all competitions.
New York City FC
Major League Soccer | Bronx, NY
8th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2015
Manager: Pascal Jansen
Overall: 4-5-2 (0-0 PK)
Away: 1-4-2 (0-2 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 1-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2019, 2022)
NYCFC’s short Open Cup history doesn’t contain much success, as they’ve only reached the Quarterfinals twice (2019, 2022), with the other five appearances ending after their opening game. Their last entry saw the club suffer a 1-0 road loss to FC Cincinnati (MLS) in the 2023 US Open Cup. Last year, they did not enter.
Clubs from New York City account for 25 Open Cup Titles, the most for any metropolitan area. Leading the way are Greek American AA (4), New York Pancyprian-Freedoms (3), Brooklyn Hispano (2), Brooklyn Italians (2), New York Americans (2). New York City hasn’t had an Open Cup winner since 1991 when the Brooklyn Italians won their second title.
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 (2001, 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 in 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 Quarterfinal appearance in team history, the other coming in 2001.
Teams from the Western Pennsylvania area have won four Open Cup titles, the last coming in 1956 with the Harmarville Hurricanes winning their second title. In the 1940s and 1950s teams from the area regularly found themselves reaching the Semifinals. From 1942-1956 Western Pennsylvania teams reached the Final eight times.
Rhode Island FC (USL-C) vs. New England Revolution (MLS)
Centrevlle Bank Stadium – Pawtucket, RI
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
Just eight miles from Rhode Island FC’s new Centerville Bank Stadium sits an empty lot where 110 years ago once stood Coats Field, home of J & P Coats of the American Soccer League and the site of the very first US Open Cup Final in 1914 between Brooklyn Celtic and Brooklyn Field Club (LINK!).
Coats Field would be the location of Open Cup Finals games again in 1916, 1917, 1934, 1935 and 1942.
Rhode Island opened their new stadium in front of 10,000 fans on May 3 to see them play San Antonio FC to a 0-0 draw.
New England are attempting to rebound from one of their more miserable seasons, finishing 9-21-4 in 2024, scoring the fewest goals in MLS (37), while allowing the second most (74).
Among MLS teams, New England ranks third with 8 losses to lower division opponents, behind only the Chicago Fire (9) and Colorado Rapids (11).
Rhode Island ended the hopes of one of the early darlings of the tournament, traveling to Maine to beat Portland Hearts of Pine 2-1. First half goals from Clay Holstad and Frank Nodarse held up against Portland’s attempt at a second half comeback.
Both clubs are having a slow start to their league seasons. Rhode Island are currently 1-3-2 and have been shutout four times in league play. New England is a bit better at 5-4-1, and while they’ve only allowed seven goals, they’ve scored just nine times.
New England Revolution
Major League Soccer | Foxborough, MA
22nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Caleb Porter
Overall: 22-17-5 (3-2)
Away: 6-11-2 (1-1)
vs. Div. 2: 7-3-2 (1-1)
Best finish: Champion (2007)
Outside of their lone Open Cup championship in 2007 and two other Finals appearances in 2000 and 2016, New England’s Open Cup history is lackluster. 13 of their 21 previous appearances in the Open Cup have ended after just two or fewer games.
The Revs league record isn’t much better, with just one Supporters Shield in 2021, and five appearances in the MLS Cup Final (2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014) with no championships.
Massachusetts has been home to five other Open Cup Champions, with eight titles among them. Leading the way are the Fall River Marksmen, winners of five Open Cup titles. The club had the unique situation of being based in Fall River, Mass., but playing their home games just across the border in Tiverton, R.I. This was done to circumvent Massachusetts Blue Laws that prohibited charging admission for games played on Sunday.
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.
Louisville City FC (USL-C) vs. Minnesota United FC (MLS)
Lynn Family Stadium – Louisville, KY
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
Louisville City will take on an MLS team for the sixth tournament in a row and will host Minnesota United FC in the first meeting between the two clubs. Louisville is winless in their last five meetings with MLS opposition with their last win coming in 2018 when they upset the New England Revolution 3-2 at Lynn Family Stadium.
Minnesota re-enters the tournament after not entering in 2024 and have reached the Fifth Round in each of the last four Open Cups.
Louisville City kicked off their 2025 Open Cup run by downing fellow USL Championship side Loudoun United 2-1 in the Third Round. Adrien Pérez and Sam Gleadle gave Louisvile a 2-0 lead until Loudoun scored in the final minute.
Louisville are fresh off a 2-0 win in the inaugural Commonwealth Cup on May 3 over in state rivals Lexington Sporting Club. The win leaves Lou City at 5-0-2, unbeaten in all competitions over nine games.
Minnesota are also off to a hot start at 5-2-4. Tani Oluwaseyi and Kevin Yeboah lead Minnesota’s attack with five and four goals, and goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair has six clean sheets over ten games.
Minnesota United FC
Major League Soccer | Saint Paul, MN
13th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2010
Manager: Eric Ramsay
Overall: 12-10-3 (2-1 PK) | 7-5-2 (2-0 PK) (MLS)
Away: 7-6-2 (1-1 PK) | 3-4-1 (1-0 PK) (MLS)
vs. Div. 2: 2-1-1 (1-0 PK) | 2-0-1 (1-0 PK) (MLS)
Best finish: Final (2019)
Since Minnesota joined MLS in 2017 they’ve had respectful results, reaching the Final in 2019 and going three games deep in 2022 and 2023. In MLS, the Loons have yet to win a championship, but have reached the playoffs five of the last six seasons.
The Twin Cities were represented by the MInnesota Thunder earlier in the Modern Era, reaching the Semifinals in 2005. Thunder legend Johnny Menyongar is tied for second with three other players with 13 Open Cup goals in the Modern Era.
The first known team from Minnesota to enter the Open Cup was the Minneapolis Tigers in 1958. Throughout the 1960s, teams like the St. Paul Blackhawks and Ukrainian SC would represent the region in Open Cup play but found little success.
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 (10-1-2, 2-0 PK) in the Open Cup in 13 games, a 2-1 loss to Nashville SC in the 2022 Fifth Round.
Philadelphia Union (MLS) vs. Indy Eleven (USL-C)
Subaru Park – Chester, PA
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
Wednesday’s match will be the first meeting between the two sides. The Philadelphia Union currently sit in second place in the Eastern Conference, extending their winning streak to three games, defeating CF Montreal, 2-1, on Saturday.
Fan favorite and passionate US Open Cup supporter JIm Curtin, who was fired after the 2024 MLS season, won’t be on the sideline for the Union’s Open Cup return. Bradley Carnell was announced in January as his replacement, the fourth head coach in Union history.
Philadelphia is riding an 11-game unbeaten streak in the Open Cup, with their last loss in regulation or extra time coming in the 2014 US Open Cup Final to the Seattle Sounders, 3-1 after extra time. The Union have played Division 2 clubs just three times in their 10 previous Open Cup appearances, the last one coming in the 2018 Fourth Round, where they defeated the Richmond Kickers 5-0.
Indy Eleven defeated Miami FC in the Third Round, 1-0 after extra time to kick off their 2025 Open Cup campaign as they attempt to follow up on the club’s deepest run last year, reaching the final four (losing on the road to Sporting KC, 2-0)
In USL Championship play, Indy is 1-2-3, sitting mid-table in the Eastern Conference after tying with Detroit City FC in its last match.
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.
2024 was by far Indys’ best US Open Cup run, reaching the Semifinals after starting out with three shutout wins over Chicago Fire II (MLSNP), San Antonio FC (USL-C) and Detroit City FC (USL-C). They followed that up with a 2-1 road win over Atlanta United FC (MLS) before falling on the road to Sporting KC, 2-0.
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 scoreless draw.
Philadelphia Union
Major League Soccer | Chester, PA
11th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2010
Manager: Bradley Carnell
Overall: 16-6-7 (3-4)
Home: 15-2-2 (1-1)
vs. Div. 2: 3-0-0
Best finish: Final (2014, 2015, 2018)
Philadelphia has one of the better Open Cup resumes without winning a title among MLS clubs, though recent tournaments have put a blemish on that. They’ve been to three Open Cup Finals (2014, 2015, 2018), but their last three appearances have been “one and done” appearances against D.C. United in 2019, Orlando City in 2022 and Minnesota United in 2023.
The Union are unbeaten in their last 11 home games (9-0-2, 1-1 PKs) in Open Cup play with their last loss coming in the 2014 Final against the Seattle Sounders.
Philadelphia are perfect against Division 2 teams with a 3-0-0 record.
Prior to the Modern Era, clubs from Philadelphia have made nine appearances in the Open Cup Final, winning the Open Cup five times. Leading the way are the Ukrainian Nationals, who won the tournament four times (1960, 1962, 1963 and 1966).
Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C) vs. Orlando City SC (MLS)
Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, FL
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
The Tampa Bay Rowdies will be seeking to avenge their 2022 Open Cup loss when they welcome Orlando City SC to Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, FL.
In the 2022 Third Round, the Rowdies travelled to Orlando and left suffering a 2-1 defeat to their MLS foes. The teams first met in Open Cup play in 2014 when the Rowdies were in the NASL and Orlando City was still a USL club. Orlando prevailed in that game 4-1.
This year, Tampa Bay narrowly avoided an upset in their opening game in Round 3, eliminating FC Naples of USL League One on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Pacifique Niyongabire’s 26th minute goal was nullified a minute later by FC Naples. The teams battled to a 10-round penalty kick tiebreakers, in which Tampa converted the final eight attempts to prevail 9-8.
In league play, Orlando are currently 4-2-5 and are on an eight game unbeaten streak. Marco Pašalić (5), Martinj Ojeda (4) and Luis Muriel (4) account for 13 of the club’s 19 goals so far.
Tampa Bay is having a rough start at 1-5-1, a 2-2 draw vs. Birmingham Legion on May 3 snapped a three game losing skid. Woobens Pacius leads an offense with three of the team’s seven league goals.
Orlando City SC
Major League Soccer | Orlando, FL
14th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2008
Manager: Oscar Pareja
Overall: 21-12-5 (5-0 PK) | 9-6-5 (5-0 PK) (MLS)
Away: 6-8-2 (2-0 PK) | 3-3-2 (2-0 PK) (MLS)
vs. Div. 2: 5-2-0 | 4-2-0 (MLS)
Best finish: Champion (2022)
Orlando City have tasted Open Cup success since their debut as a USL club in 2009, their best run coming in 2013 when they reached the Quarterfinals and upset the Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City along the way. Open Cup glory continued in their MLS years, reaching the Semifinals in 2019 then finally winning it all in 2022.
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.
Chicago Fire FC (MLS) vs. Detroit City FC (USL-C)
SeatGeek Stadium – Bridgeview, IL
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
After missing last year’s tournament, the Chicago Fire resume their quest to join the exclusive club of five-time Open Cup champions: Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC and the Fall River Marksmen.
Rivalries between the cities of Chicago and Detroit have been around as long as sports have existed in this country, but this is the first meeting between these two clubs.
This will be just the second time that the Fire will play a team from the Detroit area. The last time it happened, was the 2012 Third Round when the Michigan Bucks (now the Flint City Bucks) of the Premier Development League (now USL League Two) pulled off a stunning 3-2 extra time upset at their home indoor arena in Pontiac, MI.
In their opening Cup game this year, DCFC held off a pesky Westchester SC 3-1. Despite outshooting their opponents 23-5, the game was tied 1-1 up to the 85th minute when Jeciel Cedeno (PK) and Darren Smith finally put the upset hopes of the USL League One side to rest.
Chicago are 3-4-4 in MLS play, but is 0-3-3 in their last six games. Belgian forward Hugo Cuypers leads the team with seven goals, which ties him with three other players for the league lead.
Detroit are 4-1-3 in the USL Championship, and are on a six-game unbeaten run over all competitions. Darren Smith leads the way with seven of the thirteen goals DCFC have scored in league play.
Chicago Fire FC
Major League Soccer | Chicago, IL
25th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1998
Manager: Gregg Berhalter
Overall: 45-17-7 (4-3)
Home: 28-2-3 (1-2)
vs. Div. 2: 8-4-3 (2-1)
Best finish: Champions (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006)
When the Chicago Fire franchise launched in 1998, they were an instant success, especially in the US Open Cup. The Fire are perhaps the most successful MLS club in the Open Cup with four championship wins in six Final appearances, 13 Semifinal appearances (most in US Open Cup history), and 15 Quarterfinal appearances (2nd most in US Open Cup history).
In league play, they’ve been far less successful. After winning MLS Cup in their debut year of 1998, the only other accolade the Fire have earned was the Supporters’ Shield in 2003. The club is on a dreadful seven season run of missing the MLS Cup playoffs.
The Windy City is home to four other Open Cup champions besides the Fire. Teams such as Bricklayers FC, Sparta A & BA, Croatian SC and AAC Eagles among many others ensured a Chicago team was a contender for the crown.
Detroit City FC
USL Championship | Hamtramck, 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. 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.
Despite having no Open Cup winners, Detroit still has a rich history in the tournament. Two teams have reached the championship game: Holley Carburetor (1927) and Chrysler SC (1941).
St. Louis CITY SC (MLS) vs. Union Omaha (USL-1)
Energizer Park – St. Louis, MO
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
This rematch of the 2023 US Open Cup Third Round matchup features two teams who could be doing a lot better in their respective leagues, but also know that this tournament pays no mind to league form.
This will be the second time St Louis CITY has been in the Open Cup, having sat out 2024 due to the CONCACAF Champions Cup. In their Open Cup debut in 2023, they also opened with this same Open Cup-experienced Union Omaha club. They dismissed the USL League One side 5-1 that year before going on the road and suffering a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire in the Round 4.
Hosts St. Louis CITY are currently 12th in the MLS Western Conference, and will be looking to find some bright spots from their early season form. They are averaging just less than 1 point per match in league play and are eager to put that out of their mind ahead of welcoming the Owls back to Energizer Park. Another display like the 5-1 win they claimed last time these teams met might just help do that.
Union Omaha are not without their struggles this season as well. They also sit 12th in USL League One and are off to their worst start in team history with four points through as many games. And while there are only four players on this year’s team who took part in the 2023 defeat to St. Louis CITY, all four of them are veteran leaders with long memories–and Coach Dominic Casciato surely hasn’t forgotten, either.
Omaha already has three Open Cup wins under their belt in 2025. They saw their First Round game with USL-2 club Flatirons FC pushed back two days due to a snowstorm in Omaha preventing travel. Aarón 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 (USL-2), 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 the Union got past the Menace MLS squad, this time 2-1 on first half goals from Dion Acoff and Aarón Gomez.
In the Third Round, Omaha welcomed USL Championship side San Antonio FC to Caniglia Field in the first “home” match the Owls had played in all competitions this year. A feisty and physical battle saw the hosts hold on to a 1-0 victory after a first-half goal by Dion Acoff.
St. Louis CITY FC
Major League Soccer | St. Louis, MO
2nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2023
Manager: Olof Mellberg
Overall: 1-1-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 1-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2023)
While St. Louis CITY’s Open Cup history is limited by their two games in 2023, the city they represent is rich in Open Cup history. The Crescent City is home to ten different clubs that have won the US Open Cup, appearing in the Final 21 times. The last St. Louis club to reach the Final was Busch SC in 1988. St. Louis was first represented in the Cup in 1920, with Ben Miller SC defeating Fore River FC 2-1 for the city’s first championship. St. Louis clubs would reach the final from 1920-1924. Stix, Baer & Fuller (aka Central Breweries and Shamrocks SC) reached the Final six straight times from 1932-1937, a feat unmatched in Open Cup history.
In the Modern Era, St. Louis’ Open Cup record has been a bit more modest. The St. Louis Lions of the PDL (now USL League Two) appeared in 2008 and 2009, failing to win a game. AC St. Louis was the first pro team in the Modern Era, making just one run in 2010, reaching the Third Round. The most successful club was Saint Louis FC of the USL, making five appearances from 2015-2019, making a run to the Quarterfinals in 2019 where they upset both the Chicago Fire (2-1) and FC Cincinnati (1-0) before losing to eventual champion Atlanta United FC 2-0.
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. The lone goal for the Owls came from first-year midfielder Pedro Dolabella, and it served to launch him into becoming one of the stars of that team for the next two years. In this fixture, Omaha will be looking for the next young star to step up and help write another MLS name on their wall of cupsets.
FC Dallas (MLS) vs. AV ALTA FC (USL-1)
Toyota Stadium – Frisco, TX
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
AV ALTA FC are the last club standing from the five USL League One teams who are making their debut this year, as well as one of four Division 3 teams still alive.
FC Dallas holds a 23-7-3 home Open Cup record and has never lost to a Division 3 opponent at home. In fact, Dallas has faced Division 3 opposition just seven times, the last time coming in 2016 when they eliminated the Oklahoma City Energy on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
AV ALTA FC have had a successful Open Cup debut, starting out by 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 goalscorer 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.
AV 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.
AV ALTA continued to climb the ladder after beating Division 3 and 4 teams in the first two rounds, knocking off Division 2 Orange County SC via penalties after a 2-2 draw. Luca Mastrantonio and Emmanuel Alaribe gave ALTA a 2-1 lead in the second half, but OCSC tied the game with seven minutes left. ALTA converted all four of their penalty attempts to win the shootout 4-2.
ALTA are 2-3-0 in USL League One, with Jimmie Villalobos accounting for three of the team’s seven league goals.
FC Dallas are currently 4-4-3 and 1-2-2 in their last five games. Luciano Acosta and Petar Musa have scored three goals apiece, with Musa adding three assists.
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.
FC Dallas
Major League Soccer | Frisco, TX
26th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Eric Quill
Overall: 38-22-6 (5-1 PK)
Home: 23-7-3 (2-1 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 4-2-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Champions (1996, 2016)
FC Dallas are making their 26th Open Cup appearance, the most among MLS teams. During that time, FC Dallas ranks 4th among all clubs in the Modern Era with 38 wins and have advanced via penalty shootout an additional five times.
The club, formerly known as the Dallas Burn, has won the Open Cup twice in 1997 and 2016 as well as appearing in the Final in 2005 and 2007. Dallas has reached the Semifinals nine times, which is tied for the third most in the history of the tournament. FCD reached the Quarterfinals last year for the 17th time in club history, which moved them into a tie with Kutis SC (St. Louis) for the most in tournament history.
Austin FC (MLS) vs. El Paso Locomotive FC (USL-C)
Q2 Stadium – Austin, TX
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
For the first time in their short history, El Paso has advanced deep enough to face an MLS team. The Locomotive will travel to the state capital to face Austin FC in the Fourth Round.
For the first time in four tries, El Paso advanced past the opening game in the Open Cup with a 5-1 win over Colorado amateur power Harpos FC. Bryan Romero led the way with a pair of goals.
In the Second Round, goals from Daniel Carter, Tony Alfaro and Wilmer Cabrera Jr. powered El Paso past Ventura County FC of MLS NEXT Pro 3-0.
In the Third Round, the Locomotive eliminated their Derby Del Camino Real rivals, eliminating New Mexico United on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Wilmer Cabrera Jr. scored the game tying goal in the seventh minute of second half stoppage time, and El Paso converted on all four of their penalty attempts.
Austin are currently 5-5-1 in league play and have scored just seven goals, second lowest in MLS, and have lost three of their last four games.
El Paso, looking to improve on a dreadful 2024 where they finished 8-18-8, are currently 3-2-3 under head coach Wílmer Cabrera, who took over the job midway through last season. Cabrera is also the father of Wilmer Cabrera Jr., who leads the team with six goals.
Austin FC
Major League Soccer | Austin, TX
21st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2021
Manager: Nico Estévez
Overall: 1-2-0
Home: 1-1-0
vs. Div. 2: 1-1-0
Best finish: Fifth Round
Next to St. Louis CITY SC, Austin FC has the least experience in the Open Cup among MLS clubs, with just three games played.
The City of Austin also has a limited history in the Open Cup. The highest profile team in the pre-Modern Era is perhaps the Austin Soccadillos, who entered the 1991 tournament, winning their group in USISL qualifying only to fall 3-0 to the other group winner in the USISL qualifying final, the Richardson Rockets, who would go on to reach the 1991 Open Cup Final.
In the Modern Era, six other teams represented Austin in the Open Cup.
First up was the Austin Lone Stars of the USL D3 Pro League, appearing in three tournaments from 1997-1999, only posting a 2-3 record.
Amateur club Real Madrid won the USASA Region III qualifying tournament in 2002 but lost their lone Cup game.
In 2008, the Austin Aztex U-23s qualified through the PDL (now USL-2), being eliminated on penalty kicks by the Atlanta Silverbacks after a 2-2 draw. The Aztex U23 were the development team of the USL’s Austin Aztex, who would move in 2010 and become Orlando City SC.
The new Austin Aztex qualified as a PDL cub in 2013 and 2014 without much success, then again in 2015 when the club turned pro and moved up to the USL, reaching the Third Round where they lost 2-0 to the Houston Dynamo.
In 2019, the USL Championship’s Austin Bold matched the Aztex 2015 run, reaching the Third Round before also falling to the Houston Dynamo, this time 3-2.
Finally the only other team currently calling Austin its home is Austin FC II, who appeared in 2024 and were upset by FORO SC on penalties.
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.
Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C) vs. Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium – Phoenix, AZ
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
Houston Dynamo are riding a seven-game unbeaten streak (since 2023) in Open Cup play. The Dynamo are the only MLS team in this year’s field that took part in the 2024 tournament, giving them an 11-tournament participation streak, the highest among MLS clubs.
Juan Guerra became the youngest coach to win a USL championship with Phoenix in 2023, winning four road games on the way to the league title. Just a few months later, it was announced that Guerra would be leaving Phoenix for a spot as an assistant on Ben Olsen’s coaching staff with the Houston Dynamo. Since Guerra left Phoenix has had three different managers.
Phoenix survived their Third Round encounter with league rivals FC Tulsa, advancing via penalties after a 1-1 draw. Peter Rakovsky saved a Tulsa penalty in the 120th minute, then saved the opening penalty shootout attempt, earning him TheCup.us Player of the Round honors.
Houston are off to a rough start to the MLS season, sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference at 2-5-4, although they are 2-1-2 in their last five games.
Phoenix is also off to a bad start at 1-3-4.
Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
Major League Soccer | Houston, TX
17th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2006
Manager: Ben Olsen
Overall: 25-12-3 (1-2 PK)
Away: 6-7-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 8-2-2 (0-2 PK)
Best finish: (2018, 2023)
The Houston Dynamo are like the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. In 1996 the Ravens relocated to Baltimore from Cleveland and promptly won a Super Bowl. Houston left San Jose after the 2005 seasons, then won back-to-back MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007. The club has been looking for its third championship since then.
The Dynamo have had success in the Open Cup as well, winning championships in 2018 and 2023. Their 2024 title defense was stopped cold by Detroit City FC on penalties after a 3-3 draw. It was just the fourth time in the Modern Era that a defending champ was eliminated in their opening game the following tournament.
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. Phoenix won the USL Championship in 2023, finished runners-up in 2018 and won the Players’ Shield in 2019. Phoenix has missed the playoffs just once since 2016.
Despite its success in league play, Phoenix has largely struggled in the Open Cup. Only twice have they advanced to a third game (2014, 2022). Last year, they entered the competition in the Fourth Round and after a 2-1 extra time road win over North Carolina FC, they reached the Fifth Round for the first time before losing on the road against the Seattle Sounders FC.
San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) vs. Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
PayPal Park – San Jose, CA
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: PARAMOUNT+
The final game of the Fourth Round features two teams who are very familiar with each other in the US Open Cup. This year will be the sixth time Sacramento and San Jose meet in the NorCal Derby. The series is level at 2 wins, 2 losses and a draw. Of the six meetings, this will be the fourth hosted by San Jose.
All-Time Meetings
2024 Round 5 – SAC 4:3 (AET) SJE
2022 Round 5 – SAC 2:0 SJE
2019 Round 4 – SJE 4:3 SAC
2015 Round 4 – SJE 2:2 (6:5 PK) SAC
2014 Round 4 – SJE 2:1 SAC
Sacramento opened their 2025 US Open Cup run by advancing to the Fourth Round by ending the latest Cinderella run of underdog heroes El Farolito 1-0. Sebastián Herrera’s 29th-minute goal was just enough to eliminate the 1993 US Open Cup champs.
After a horrible 6-25-3 finish in 2024, Bruce Arena seems to have turned the club’s fortunes around a bit. The ‘Quakes are 4-6-1 and are the highest-scoring team in the league with 24 goals. Their 20 goals allowed are among the league’s worst, however. Cristian Arango sits atop MLS with 7 goals scored, and teammate Cristian Espinoza leads the league with 7 assists.
Sacramento is off to a slow start in league play at 2-2-3. Russell Cicerone leads the team with 3 goals and 2 assists.
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 and the Lower Division 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).
San Jose Earthquakes
Major League Soccer | San Jose, CA
20th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Bruce Arena
Overall: 17-15-8 (4-4)
Home: 10-5-2 (1-1)
vs. Div. 2: 10-4-2 (2-0)
Best finish: Semifinals (2004, 2017)
Outside of a 2017 Semifinal appearance, San Jose’s Open Cup record isn’t very impressive. 12 times they’ve been eliminated after just two games, and 4 of those were “one and done”. San Jose have the most Open Cup appearances of any MLS team (20) without making an appearance in the Final. San Jose was once a powerhouse in MLS, winning MLS Cup in 2001 and 2003 and the Supporters Shield in 2002.
That all changed after the 2005 season, when the club rebranded as the Houston Dynamo. MLS awarded San Jose a new franchise, retaining the records of the original Earthquakes. The only ray of light was winning the Supporters Shield in 2013. Since the team was reborn in 2007, the ‘Quakes have reached the MLS Cup playoffs just five times.