A record 155 teams from 29 states and the District of Columbia are taking part in the Open Division qualifying tournament to determine which 16 teams will join the 16 clubs who have already earned their spot in the 2027 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The 2027 field tops the 146 teams entered in 2026 qualifying, which was a record then as well.
A total of 54 teams will face off in the First Round, with 13 games on Saturday Sept. 12 and 14 on Sunday Sept. 13. The 127 winners from the First Round will join the 101 clubs that received a First Round bye in the Second Round on Oct. 3-4, 2026. The Third Round will take place on Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2026, and the 16 qualifiers will be determined on Nov. 21-22, 2026.
TheCup.us will have live updates, including video links where available from every game of the round on X (Twitter) and Blue Sky.
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Potros FC (UPSL)
vs.
Buckhead SC (APSL)
Agnes Scott College – Decatur, GA
Kickoff: 10 a.m. ET
NOTE: This game has been postponed due to the field at Agnes Scott College being flooded.
Potros FC (Powder Springs, GA)
Potros FC returns to qualifying after nearly making the cut in their debut last year, in which they lost to Kalonji Pro-Profile 1-0 in the Final Round. Potros finished 2-4-4 in the 2026 UPSL Spring season
Buckhead SC (Mableton, GA)
Buckhead are making their qualifying debut this year. Buckhead finished 6-1-9 in the 2025-26 APSL Terminus Conference.
Oranje FC (DC Premier Lg.)
vs.
DC Hyper (UPSL)
Prince George Community College – Largo, Md.
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
DC Hyper (Washington, D.C.)
DC Hyper returns to qualifying after taking last year off. Their initial qualifying run for the 2025 Cup ended after their opening game. After taking the first half of 2026 off Hyper has returned for the 2026 UPSL Fall season.
Oranje FC (Rockville, MD)
Oranje FC are making their second qualifying appearance after debuting last year, which ended after losing their opening game. Oranje FC finished the 2026 DC Premier League Spring season 8-0-2, and won the DCPL playoff Final.
SWFL SC (UPSL)
vs.
Naples United FC (SCL)
Seacrest Country Day School – Naples, FL
Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET
SWFL SC (North Fort Myers, FL)
SWFL SC are making their qualifying debut this year. SWFL SC took part in the UPSL Florida Summer Cup and began play in the 2026 UPSL Fall season.
Naples United FC (Naples, FL)
Naples United return to qualifying after a year off. Their previous appearances in 2023 and 2025 ended after just one game. Naples United played in the NPSL from 2017-2025. The club played in the Sunshine Conference Soccer League this past summer and began play in the 2026 UPSL Division 1 Fall season.
Boca Jrs Miami FC (UPSL)
vs.
Florida Island United FC (UPSL)
Oak Grove Park – Miami, FL
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. ET
Boca Jrs. Miami FC (Margate, Fla.)
Boca Jrs. Miami FC are making their second ever qualifying attempt after their debut last year, which was halted after one game by a 3-0 loss to Miami United FC. Boca finished 6-2-5 in the 2026 Spring UPSL Division 1 season.
Florida Island United FC (Miami, FL)
Florida Island United FC are making their qualifying debut. Island United played in the United States Soccer League during the Spring & Summer of 2026, reaching the South Florida Final. The club is playing in the 2026 UPSL Division 1 Fall league in the same division as Boca Jrs Miami FC.
Steel City FC (USL-2)
vs.
Croatia Cleveland (NCSL)
Mentor HS – Mentor, OH
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Steel City FC (Pittsburgh, PA)
Steel City earned their first Open Cup bid in 2024 their performance in the 2023 NPSL season and secured a spot in the 2026 tournament with a 3-2 win over Croatia Cleveland. Steel City moved to USL League Two in 2025, In their first three seasons, Steel City played under the name Pittsburgh Hotspur. Steel City finished 9-3-0 in the 2026 USL League Two Great Forest Division and reached the Central Conference Semifinals.
Croatia Cleveland (Eastlake, OH)
Croatia Cleveland are back in qualifying for a second year in a row. Known alternately as American Croatian and Croatian Rebels over the years, Croatia Cleveland got its start in 1957 and was a regular participant in the Open Cup from the 1960s to the 1990s Croatia’s most successful Open Cup run came in 1975 when they reached the national semifinals, falling to Inter Giuliana of New York City 1-0 after extra time. Croatia Cleveland will be looking for revenge after losing to Steel City in the Final Round last year.
MORE: Checkered Roots and Family Ties: Croatia Cleveland’s U.S. Open Cup Renaissance (US Soccer)
MSI (UPSL)
vs.
Bowleys Athletic (UPSL)
Eastern Regional Park – Middle River, MD
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
MSI (Rockville, MD)
MSI are making their third consecutive qualifying run. Last year MSI reached the final round where they lost to Virginia Dream FC 2-0 after extra time. MSO finished 6-3-1 in the 2026 UPSL Spring season.
Bowleys Athletic (Bowleys Quarters, MD)
Located a half hour to the East of Baltimore on the Chesapeake Bay, Bowleys Athletic are making their qualifying debut this year. Bowleys finished 8-1-1 in the 2026 UPSL Spring season.
Bowleys and MSI are two teams who are very familiar with one another, having met three times since April in UPSL play. The first game was on April 25 with Bowleys coming out 3-0 winners. Game #2 came a month later and this time MSI took the honors with a 4-2 victory. Finally near the beginning of the Fall season, on Aug. 22 Bowleys took the rubber match, 4-2.
Red Force FC (PFL)
vs.
Florida Badgers FC (UPSL)
Broward College – Pembroke Pines, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Red Force FC (Aventura, FL)
Five-time qualifiers Red Force FC are making their ninth qualifying appearance and third in a row. Red Force has qualified for the 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2026 tournaments
In 2013 they lost their opening match to fellow Florida club Ocala Stampede of the Premier Development League (now USL League Two). In 2014 Red Force picked up their first cup win, edging the Colorado Rovers (USSSA) on the road by the score of 2-1. The run would end in Round 2 with a rough and tumble 2-1 road loss to the PDL’s Laredo Heat. The match saw a fight break out and five red cards handed out. Red Force finished 7-0-2 in the Premier Futbol League 2026 Spring season.
Florida Badgers FC (Boynton Beach, FL)
The Badgers are making their second qualifying run after finding success last year in their debut, defeating Miami United 5-3 after extra time to qualify for the 2026 US Open Cup. The Badgers finished 11-1-1 in the 2026 UPSL Spring season, reaching the Round of 32 in the UPSL National playoffs.
Prima FC (APSL)
vs.
Swarm FC (USL-2)
Marathon Soccer Park – Austell, GA
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Prima Football Club (Atlanta, GA)
Prima Football Club are making their qualifying debut this year. Prima finished 12-2-2 in 2025-26 APSL Terminus Conference, and reached the APSL National Semifinals were they were eliminated by champions WC Predators via penalties after a 4-4 draw.
SSA Swarm FC (Dallas, GA)
SSA Swarm FC are making their qualifying debut this year and finished 7-5-0 in the 2026 USL League Two South Central Division.
New York Athletic Club (APSL)
vs.
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (APSL)
Tibbetts Park – Yonkers, NY
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
New York Athletic Club (New York, NY)
New York Athletic Club are making their qualifying debut this year. The New York Athletic Club was founded in 1868. NYAC finished 7-0-15 in the 2025-26 APSL Metropolitan Conference.
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (Yonkers, NY)
Four-time qualifiers Lansdowne Yonkers FC are making their 10th qualifying appearance
Lansdowne have qualified three times through Open Division qualifying (2016, 2018, 2024) and again in 2022 as National Amateur Cup champions. They’re looking to return to the Open Cup after a three-year absence. Lansdowne finished 17-2-3 in 2025-26 APSL Metropolitan Conference, just two points behind leaders NY Greek Americans. Lansdowne finished runners-up in the 2026 National Amateur Cup, losing to El Farolito 3-1 after extra time.
Lansdowne and NYAC met twice during the 2025-26 APSL season. On September 6, 2025 Lansdowne defeated NYAC 4-1, and prevailed in the second game on March 8 5-2.
Problems FC (NISA Nation)
vs.
Temecula FC (UPSL)
Chaparral HS – Temecula, CA
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Problems FC (Long Beach, CA)
Problems FC are making their qualifying debut this year and finished 3-0-7 in the 2026 NISA Nation Spring season.
Temecula FC (Temecula, CA)
Temecula FC returns to qualifying after a two-year absence. Temecula’s last appearance was in 2024 qualifying where they reached the final round before losing to Irvine Zeta FC 3-1.
Temecula FCfinished 7-1-2 in the 2026 UPSL Spring season.
Ethos United (UPSL)
vs.
Chicago Strikers (UPSL)
Marmion Academy – Aurora, IL
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
Ethos United (Lisle, IL)
Ethos United previously competed as United SC and have entered qualifying for the 2025 and 2026 Open Cups, each time being eliminated after one game. After sitting out the 2026 UPSL Spring season, the club is returning for the Fall session. Ethos also fields a team in the Greater Chicago Soccer League, where they went 9-1-2 in the Premier Division.
Chicago Strikers (Oswego, IL)
The Strikers are making their fourth qualifying attempt and have yet to advance past their opening game. The Strikers finished the 2026 UPSL Spring season 3-3-4.
Be Pro FC (SWPL)
vs.
STG Premier FC (SWPL)
Snow Canyon HS – St. George, UT
Kickoff: 9:30 p.m. ET
Be Pro FC (Las Vegas, NV)
Be Pro FC are making their qualifying debut this year and finished 2-1-7 in the 2026 SWPL / Nevada Premier League spring season.
STG Premier FC (St. George, UT)
STG Premier FC are making their qualifying debut this year and finished 7-0-3 in the 2026 SWPL / Nevada Premier League Spring season.
Be Pro and STG were scheduled to meet twice in the 2026 Spring season but only played once. Their game on May 2 resulted in a 3-3 draw, while on May 9 Be Pro were awarded a 3-0 forfeit win.
Las Vegas United FC (SWPL)
vs.
Sin City FC (NISA Nation)
Mater Academy East – Las Vegas, NV
Kickoff: 11 p.m. ET
Las Vegas United FC (Las Vegas, NV)
Las Vegas United FC are making their qualifying debut this year and finished 7-0-3 in the 2026 SWPL/Nevada Premier League Division 2 Spring season.
Sin City FC (North Las Vegas, NV)
Sin City FC are making their qualifying debut this year and finished 8-0-2 in the 2026 NISA Nation Spring season. Sin City also reached the Region IV Final of the 2026 National Amateur Cup.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Kalonji Pro-Profile (UPSL)
vs.
Peachtree FC (APSL)
Mount Paran Christian School – Kennesaw, GA
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
Kalonji Pro-Profile (Dacula, GA)
Kalonji Pro-Profile are seeking to qualify for their second Open Cup in a row after making the cut in 2026. Despite losing the First Round match to Chattanooga FC of MLS NEXT Pro, Kalonji made headlines as 14-year-old Braiden Kalonji became the youngest goalscorer on record in the Modern Era of the Open Cup. Kalonji finished the 2026 UPSL Spring season with a perfect 10-0-0 record, allowing just four goals.
Peachtree FC (Atlanta, GA)
Peachtree FC are making their qualifying debut this year and finished 9-3-4 in 2025-26 APSL Terminus Conference.
Mockingbird Valley Premier (OVPL)
vs.
Southern Indiana Guardians FC (UPSL)
Woehrle Athletic Complex – Jeffersonville, IN
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
Mockingbird Valley Premier (Louisville, KY)
Mockingbird Valley Premierare making their qualifying debut this year and finished 9-1-0 in the 2026 Ohio Valley Premier League season.
Southern Indiana Guardians FC (New Albany, IN)
Southern Indiana Guardians FC are making their third attempt at qualifying after two one-and-done performances in 2025 and 2026. The Guardians finished 0-0-10 in the 2026 NPSL season and are fielding a team for the UPSL fall season.
SC Vistula Garfield (APSL)
vs.
Five Rivers SC (UPSL)
Joseph Medwick Park – Carteret, NJ
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET
SC Vistula Garfield (Garfield, NJ)
SC Vistula Garfield are making their sixth qualifying appearance in a row, and came close to qualifying on their first try in 2022, when they were beaten by Lansdowne Yonkers 2-0 in the final round. Vistula finally made the cut last year with a 2-1 win over Oaklyn United.
Founded in 1952, Vistula have entered the Open Cup off and on since the early 1970s. Vistula finished 7-2-13 in the 2025-26 APSL Metropolitan Conference.
Five Rivers SC (Carteret, NJ)
Five Rivers FC are making their qualifying debut this year and finished 3-1-7 in the 2026 UPSL Spring season. The club touts itself as the first Sikh-American semi-pro soccer club.
Virginia Dream FC (UPSL)
vs.
Arlington SA Pro (UPSL)
Thomas Jefferson HS – Alexandria, VA
Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET
Virginia Dream FC (Arlington, VA)
Two-time Open Cup qualifiers Virginia Dream are out to make it three in a row this year. Making the cut in 2025 and 2026, Virginia Dream has yet to lose a qualifying game in 5 starts. Virginia Dream finished 8-2-0 in the 2026 UPSL Spring season
Arlington SA Pro (Arlington, VA)
Arlington SA Pro makes their third qualifying appearance after attempts in 2024 and 2026. Last year they reached the second round, losing to MSI Pro 1-0. Arlington SA finished 8-2-0 in the 2026 UPSL Spring season.
Virginia Dream FC and Arlington SA Pro met twice earlier this year during the UPSL Spring season, resulting in a 1-1 draw on May 20. Arlington eliminated Virginia Dream from the 2025 UPSL Fall playoffs 3-2 on Nov. 9, 2025.
Akron City FC (USL-2)
vs.
Lorain County Leviathan FC (USL-2)
ForeFront Field – Avon, OH
Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET
Akron City FC (Akron, OH)
Akron City are making their second qualifying appearance after their debut last year. Akron City finished 6-1-5 in the 2026 USL League Two Great Forest Division
Lorain County Leviathan FC (Avon, OH)
Lorain County Leviathan are making their qualifying debut this year, and finished 6-1-5 in the 2026 USL League Two Great Forest Division.
Akron City and the Lorain County Leviathan faced each other twice this year during the USL League Two season. The first game on June 13 resulted in a 4-1 home win for Lorain County, but the return game in Akron on June 27 went to Akron City 4-0.
Northern Virginia FC (APSL)
vs.
Doradus FC (UPSL)
West Springfield HS – West Springfield, VA
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Northern Virginia FC (Centreville, VA)
NoVa FC (aka Northern Virginia FC) is entering qualifying for the fifth time, making the cut in 2022 and reaching the Final Round in 2023 and 2024. NoVa was able to avoid qualifying last year by earning a spot via their USL League Two team. NoVa appeared in the Open Cup as a pro team in 1999 and 2000. Nova finished 14-0-0 in the 2025-26 APSL Mid-Atlantic Conference.
Doradus FC (Alexandria, VA)
Doradus FC are making their third ever qualifying attempt and second in a row. Last year they reached the Second Round before losing to Virginia Dream 2-1. Doradus finished the 2026 UPSL Spring season with a 7-0-3 record.
Tennessee Tempo FC (UPSL)
vs.
Tennessee United SC (UPSL)
Drakes Creek Park – Hendersonville, TN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Tennessee Tempo FC (Nashville, TN)
Qualifying in 2026 as the 2025 UPSL Spring Champions, Tennessee Tempo are back in the qualifying mix after failing to defend their championship. In their previous two qualifying attempts Tennessee reached the Final round each time, qualifying in 2023 (as Beaman United) but falling short in 2024. Tennessee Tempo finished 11-1-0 in the 2026 UPSL Spring season and made it to the Round of 16 in the UPSL national playoffs.
Tennessee United SC (Hendersonville, TN)
Tennessee United are making their second run at qualifying after their debut last year. Tennessee United finished 6-2-4 in the 2026 UPSL Spring season
Tennessee United and Tennessee Tempo met three times during the 2026 UPSL Spring season, with the Tempo prevailing in all three. On March 21 Tempo pounded United 6-2, and on June 13 Tempo won 4-2. In the KY-TN Division playoff Final on June 27, Tempo advance via penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw.
Terminus FC (ADASL)
vs.
UFA Lawrenceville (UPSL)
Rhodes Jordan Park – Lawrenceville, GA
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Terminus FC (Atlanta, GA)
Terminus are making their third qualifying appearance in the last four years and have yet to advance past the opening game. Terminus finished 16-1-4 in the 2025-26 Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League season.
UFA Lawrenceville (Lawrenceville, GA)
UFA Lawrenceville are making their qualifying debut this year and are a branch of the United Futbol Academy in Georgia. UFA Lawrencevillefinished 3-0-7 in the 2026 UPSL Spring season
FC Denver (CPL)
vs.
Timbers SC (MPL)
David A. Lorenz Regional Park – Highlands Ranch, CO
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
FC Denver (Denver, CO)
FC Denver has participated in every Open Division qualifying tournament except the first one in 2016. They qualified for the Open Cup in 2018 and 2019, and last year was the first time since 2022 that Denver failed to advance past their opening game. FC Denver posted a 3-1-3 record in the 2026 Spring Colorado Premier League season.
Timbers SC (Littleton, CO)
Timbers SC are making their qualifying debut this year and finished 10-2-6 in the 2026 Spring and Summer Mountain Premier League seasons.
American Soccer Club NY (NPSL)
vs.
Osner’s FC (UPSL)
Floyd Bennett Sports Complex – Brooklyn, NY
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
American Soccer Club New York (Hicksville, NY)
American Soccer Club New York makes their second qualifying appearance after a one-and-done debut last year. ASCNY finished 4-4-2 in the 2026 NPSL season.
Osner’s FC (Meniola, NY)
Osner’s FC are making their second ever qualifying run after debuting last year, where they were eliminated by Zum Schieder FC in the Second Round 07-3 after extra time. Osner’s finished 6-2-2 in the 2026 UPSL Spring season.
Patuxent FA (APSL)
vs.
Yinz United (SSL)
Langley HS – McLean, VA
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Patuxent FA (Hollywood, MD)
Patuxent FC are back for their third qualifying attempt, and will look to improve upon the one-and-done efforts of the first two. Patuxent finished 9-3-4 in 2025-26 APSL Terminus Conference
Yinz United (Washington, D.C.)
Yinz United are making their third qualifying appearance in the last four years, having gone out in the opening round last year. While based in Maryland, the club was founded by a group from Pittsburgh where the clubs’ black and gold colors and the team name originates. Yinz is slang in Western Pennsylvania for the term “ya’ll”.
Yinz United finished 7-2-1 in the 2026 Super Soccer League Virginia division and won the SSL Championship over Baltimore City FC.
Shark Coast FC (USL-2)
vs.
FC Kanks (UPSL)
XL Lake Nona – Orlando, FL
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET
Shark Coast FC (New Smyrna Beach, FL)
Shark Coast FC are making their qualifying debut this year and finished 2-6-4 in the 2026 USL League Two Southeast Division.
FC Kanks (Maitland, FL)
FC Kanks are back for their second attempt at qualifying after an unsuccessful debut last year, where they lost in their opening game 3-0 to Harbor City FC. Kanks finished 2-1-8 in the 2026 UPSL Division 1 Spring season.
FORO SC (TLFC)
vs.
StrikerZ DFW (DSA)
McKinney Boyd HS – McKinney, TX
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
FORO SC (Dallas, TX)
Two-time qualifiers FORO SC will try and make up for a disappointing outing last year. FORO qualified in 2024 and 2025 and staged a memorable upset of Austin FC II in the 2024 Open Cup and followed up in 2025 by defeating USL League One club Texoma FC 2-1 after extra time. Last year, FORO crashed out last year in their opening game of qualifying.
FORO finished 3-2-5 in the 2026 season in the League for Clubs Red River Northeast Conference, and their APSL team reached the APSL Championship.
StrikerZ DFW (Allen, TX)
StrikerZ DFW are making their third straight qualifying appearance after their first two resulted in one-and-done results. StrikerZ DFW won the 2026 Summer Open 1 division of the Dallas Soccer Alliance.
Colorado Rovers (CPL)
vs.
Peak Eleven FC (MPL)
Pinnacle Athletic Complex – Thornton, CO
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
Colorado Rovers (Denver, CO)
The Colorado Rovers have entered every qualifying tournament since 2016 but have yet to make the cut. They came closest in 2020, reaching the final round where they lost to FC Boulder Harpos 4-0. The 2020 Open Cup tourney ultimately was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic. Rovers finished the 2026 Spring season of the Colorado Premier League 1-2-3.
Peak Eleven FC (Superior, CO)
Peal Eleven are making their sixth consecutive appearance in qualifying, beginning with their debut in 2022. Last year Peak snapped a string of three straight one-and-done affairs, though they were eliminated in the next round. Peak Eleven finished 1-2-5 in the 2026 Summer Mountain Premier League season.