The Fourth Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup kicks off on Tuesday night (May 7) with seven games on the schedule, followed by nine more games on Wednesday night (May 8).
The 16 Third Round winners, which feature four Division 3 clubs (Charlotte Independence, South Georgia Tormenta, and Union Omaha of USL League One, plus NYCFC II of MLS NEXT Pro), are joined by the eight remaining teams from the USL Championship, the second division of American soccer.
Also entering this round are the seven clubs from Major League Soccer (MLS) that did not participate in this year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup, as well as defending US Open Cup champions Houston Dynamo.
The winners of the Fourth Round will advance to matchups in the Round of 16 that were arranged during the Fourth Round draw.
You can find the schedule for Round 4 and the potential Round of 16 matchups here and the goalscoring leaders here. You can find a review of every Round 1 game HERE and the Round 2 games HERE and the Round 3 games HERE. .
TheCup.us will have reporters at every Round 4 game and will be providing live updates on X (Twitter), @USOpenCup.
As a reminder all Fourth Round matches stream for free on US Soccer’s website. You can find all of the live video embedded here.
Below you will find a preview of every game with video links (as they become available):
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C)
vs.
FC Tulsa (USL-C)
Highmark Stadium – Pittsburgh, PA
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
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 eight of the last 11 seasons, including the last six. 2023 ended on a bitter note however, after finishing first overall in the regular season, Pittsburgh were upset in the opening round of the playoffs at home by No. 8 seed Detroit City FC, 1-0.
The Riverhounds will have a huge hole to fill with Albert Dikwa moving to Rhode Island FC. Dikwa led the league in 2023 with 20 goals and accounted for nearly half of the Riverhounds’ 50 goals. After starting the season on a three-game losing skid, Pittsburgh has rebounded by going unbeaten in their last five games. The two clubs won’t have to wait long to go at it again, as they are scheduled to meet on May 11 at ONEOK Field in Tulsa.
Pittsburgh’s Open Cup history has been short on success, having been knocked out of the tournament eight times in their opening game, 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.
FC Tulsa began playing 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.
Unlike many of the USL Championship clubs still alive in the Open Cup, Tulsa still have the services of their leading goal scorer from 2023, Philip Goodrum. Departing is assists leader and No. 2 goal scorer Marcus Epps (Hartford Athletic). To try and fill that hole Tulsa brought in Stefan Stojanovic, who scored 10 times for Philadelphia Union II in MLS NEXT Pro last season. Also new are goalkeepers Michael Creek and Joey Roggeveen, who have split the netminding duties left behind by Michael Nelson (free agent). Tulsa is currently 2-2-3 in league play and are 1-1-3 in their last five league games.
Open Cup success for FC Tulsa has been hard to come by. Three of their last four appearances have ended after one game, and Tulsa’s only “win” over another pro team in five tries was a PK shootout win over San Antonio FC in 2017 after a 0-0 draw. Tulsa’s one Open Cup game against Division 3 opposition came in 2013, when they lost 1-0 to in state rivals Oklahoma City Energy.
If FC Tulsa pulls off a win over Pittsburgh, it will mark a pair of firsts in the clubs’ Open Cup history. It will be their first ever road Open Cup win, where Tulsa is 0-6, and it will also be the first win over a Division 2 team. Tulsa is 0-1-1 against teams from their own level, the tie resulting in besting San Antonio FC in 2017 on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Tulsa entered this year’s tournament in the Third Round, where they handed the Northern Colorado Hailstorm a 2-1 defeat. Diogo Pacheco and Milo Yosef delivered goals in the first half and Tulsa held off an attempted comeback from the USL League One side.
The survivor of this game will travel to either Sporting Kansas City (MLS) of Union Omaha (USL-1) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C)
20th US Open Cup appearance (2000-2006, 208-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 17-17-3 (1-2 PK)
Home: 12-5-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 4-13-2 (0-2 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 3-4-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (201, 2023)
FC Tulsa (USL-C)
8th US Open Cup appearance (2015-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 4-7-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 0-6-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Fourth Round (2017)
Atlanta United FC (MLS)
vs.
Charlotte Independence (USL-1)
Fifth Third Bank Stadium – Kennesaw, GA
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Atlanta United was founded in 2014 but did not play its first game until the 2017 season. They immediately became a sensation, averaging 47,162 in attendance for all home games. The club followed this in 2018 by winning MLS Cup, and then capturing the U.S. Open Cup in 2019. Since then, Atlanta has cooled off a bit, missing the playoffs of the last two of the last four seasons. 2023 was somewhat of a bounce back year for Atlanta, finishing 6th in the Eastern Conference, though they were eliminated in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, acquired from Celtic FC before the 2023 season, emerged as the clubs’ new goal scoring threat, finishing second in MLS with 17 goals. Paired with league-leading assist man Thiago Almada (19 assists), Atlanta scored 66 goals over 30 games, just one behind league-leading Columbus. Atlanta is off to a slow start to the 2024 season, sitting at 3-4-3 and having managed just three draws in their last five games.
Outside of their 2019 title win, Atlanta United’s Open Cup history has been rather ordinary, as they’ve been eliminated after two games in three of their five previous appearances, and in 2023 they were upset by Memphis 901 FC in their opening game.
Charlotte has the second longest Open Cup history of all the USL League One teams with seven appearances. The club’s high point was a run to the Fifth Round 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 Player of the Round by TheCup.us for his performance against New England. Charlotte has outright lost only one Open Cup game in seven played against amateur competition, a 3-1 loss to the Ocean City Nor’easters in the 2018 Second Round. The next year in the same round Charlotte were ousted by Florida Soccer Soldiers on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Charlotte advanced to the First Round with a 2-0 win over amateur side Vereinigung Erzgebirge (USL of Pennsylvania). After a scoreless opening half Omar Ciss and Kharlton Belmar each scored a goal and assisted on the other. In the Second Round, Charlotte was held to a 0-0 draw through 120 minutes against the UPSL’s South Carolina United Heat, but advanced by winning the penalty tiebreaker 4-3. Austin Pack saved two of the last three Heat penalties, while his teammates struck four in a row after the first attempt was missed.
Charlotte advanced on penalties again in the Third Round over USL-C’s Rhode Island FC after a back and forth 4-4 draw. After trading the lead twice, the teams settled at 3-3 after 90 minutes. Both team scored in extra time to make it 4-4, and Charlotte came out on top of the PK tiebreaker 4-3.
Charlotte is 3-1-1 in USL League One play and are currently riding an 8-game unbeaten streak in all competitions. Juan Carlos Obregón and Luis Álvarez currently sit among the top six League One goal scorers.
The winner will travel to face either South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1) or the Charleston Battery (USL-C) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Atlanta United FC (MLS)
6th US Open Cup appearance (2017-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 8-4-0
Home: 6-2-0
vs. Div. 2: 4-2-0
Best finish: 2019 US Open Cup champions
Charlotte Independence (USL-1)
8th US Open Cup appearance (2015-19, 2022-23)
Overall: 7-6-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 5-4-0
vs. MLS: 1-1-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2015)
Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
vs.
Detroit City FC (USL-C)
Shell Energy Stadium – Houston, TX
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
While the seven other MLS clubs were chosen to participate in this year’s Open Cup due to their non-participation in the COCACAF Champions Cup, Houston was the exception since they are the defending Open Cup Champions. The clubs run in the CONCACAF Champions Cup came to an end in March with a second round loss to the Columbus Crew. After finishing fourth in the Western Conference in 2023, Houston nearly took home the double, falling to Los Angeles FC 2-0 in the Western Conference Final of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Houston’s offseason was highlighted more by who will not be on the field for them. MF Hector Herrera, who has 17 assists in 2023, started the year injured and has just recently returned, Nelson Quinones is lost for the year with a knee injury, and Corey Baird, who was a big part of Houston’s Open Cup championship run, left for FC Cincinnati. Houston are 4-4-2 so far this year, and only scored nine times, second lowest in MLS.
Since relocating from San Jose in 2006, the Dynamo have had quite a bit of success in the tournament, reaching the Quarterfinals in 2010, 2015 & 2016, the Semifinals in 2006 & 2009, and winning the Cup in 2018 and 2023. Houston are aiming to become the first back-to-back Cup winners since the Seattle Sounders won three in a row in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Detroit City started a year earlier in 2012 as an NPSL side, and quickly became known for its fervent fan base. Detroit City joined NISA, where it won two championships. In 2022 the club left NISA to join the USL Championship.
Detroit defeated arch-rivals Michigan Stars 1-0 in the Third Round, but it wasn’t easy. Despite out-shooting the Stars 22-6, DCF didn’t get the winning goal until three minutes into second half stoppage time through Maxi Rodriguez. With a win DCFC will become the first Michigan team to reach the Round of 16 since the Flint City Bucks (then known as the Michigan Bucks) did it in 2012.
After just making the playoffs with a 11-15-8 record in 2023, DCFC pulled off a 1-0 upset over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the top seed in the Eastern Conference. One thing Detroit needs to improve is boosting their offensive output, which produced a league low 30 goals last season. The return of Maxi Rodriguez and the addition of Victor Bererra (Chicago Fire II) and Elvis Amoh (Hartford Athletic) hope to correct that problem. Detroit City are off to a hot start in 2024, winning their first five games.
Before being stopped by Pittsburgh. A scoreless draw with Loudoun United on May 4 puts DCFC’s record at 5-1-1.
The winner will travel to face either San Antonio FC (USL-C) or Indy Eleven (USL-C) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
16th US Open Cup appearance (2006-2010, 2012-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 25-12-2 (1-1 PK)
Home: 19-5-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 8-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Champions (2018, 2023)
Detroit City FC (USL-C)
7th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022-2023)
Overall: 3-3-5 (2-3 PK)
Away: 0-2-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 1-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2022)
FC Dallas (MLS)
vs.
Memphis 901 FC (USL-C)
Toyota Stadium – Frisco, TX
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
For much of their Open Cup history FC Dallas has been one of the most successful MLS clubs, having reached at least the Quarterfinals 16 times, reaching the Final four times, and winning the Cup in 1997 and 2016. The 16 Quarterfinal appearances are the second-most in the history of the tournament (dating back to 1913). Since the 2016 title, Dallas reached the quarters in 2017 followed by three consecutive exits after two games and a 2-0 loss to Nashville SC in their opening game last year. Against Division 2 opponents, Dallas are 20-2-2 all time, their last loss being a 2-1 defeat to New Mexico United in 2019.
FC Dallas allowed the 3rd fewest goals (37) in MLS during the 2023 season, but were only able to score 41 times, leading to a 7th place Western Conference finish. To help boost the offence Dallas acquired Croatian forward Petar Musa from Benfica for a club-record $9.7 million transfer fee.
FC Dallas are off to a rough start in 2024, sitting second to last in the Western Conference with a 2-6-2 record, having gone 1-2-2 in their last five with just 10 goals scored for the season.
Memphis 901 (901 being the telephone area code for Memphis) has been in the USL Championship since the club was founded in 2019 and have reached the playoffs each of the last three seasons. Longtime USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard finished his playing career in Memphis with six games in 2022, and now serves as the club’s Sporting Director. In 2023, Memphis’ 59 goals scored were nullified by 53 conceded. To try and correct that, 901 have replaced GK Andrew Romig with Tyler Deric (Rio Grande Valley FC). Memphis’ 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies on May 4 snapped a four-game losing streak in league play, giving them a 3-5-0 record.
This is the third trip to the Fourth Round for Memphis in the last four tournaments (2019 and 2023) but the most successful so far has to be last year, when 901 upset Atlanta United 2-1 in extra time in the Third Round. To get to the Fourth Round, Memphis ended the Cinderella dreams of amateurs Miami United (USSSA) with a 2-0 win. Nighte Pickering provided all the scoring Memphis needed, getting a goal in each half.
The winner of this game will travel to play either Birmingham Legion FC or Tampa Bay Rowdies, both of USL-C, in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
FC Dallas (MLS)
25th US Open Cup appearance (1996-2008, 2011-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 22-7-3 (5-1 PK)
Home: 22-7-3 (2-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 20-2-2 (2-0 PK)
Best finish: Champions (1997, 2016)
Memphis 901 FC (USL-C)
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 5-3-0
Away: 2-2-0
vs. MLS: 1-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2019, 2023)
San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
vs.
Oakland Roots SC (USL-C)
PayPal Park – San Jose, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
In what is unofficially being called the “John Fisher Derby”, Oakland Roots prepare for not only their first Open Cup game ever against MLS opposition, but also look to defend their city against what has become Oak Town’s No. 1 arch-enemy, John Fisher. Fisher, who owns the Oakland A’s as well as the Earthquakes, has become hated in the Bay Area for planning to relocate the A’s to Las Vegas.
San Jose are one of eight current MLS clubs to have never reached the Open Cup Final, although the rest of the clubs on that list have 31 combined Open Cup appearances to San Jose’s 18. In fact, the Earthquakes have only reached the Semifinals twice in their history (2004, 2017). Since the club returned to San Jose in 2008, the club have exited the Open Cup after one or two games seven out 10 times.
San Jose’s MLS accomplishments as of late have not been any better than their Open Cup performance. The two-time MLS Cup winners (201, 2003) have reached the playoffs just five times since returning to San Jose in 2008. 2023 brought a bit of optimism as the ‘Quakes edged out Portland for the final Western Conference playoff spot by one point. Perhaps San Jose’s biggest offseason addition was Norwegian forward Amahl Pellegrino, who led Norway’s Eliteserien in goal scoring in 2022 and 2023 with Bodø/Glimt. San Jose also recently acquired 23-year-old midfielder Hernan Lopez from Argentina’s Godoy Cruz for a club record $6 million transfer fee.
San Jose are currently in last place in the Western Conference at 2-8-1, with a league worst 26 goals allowed. The ‘Quakes managed to earn just one point in their last six games.
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), but missed the playoffs in 2023 with a 10th place finish after reaching third place just two months prior. Oakland’s major change for 2024 came with their defense, swapping out their entire back line and goalkeeper for new players. Oakland recently added two-time Open Cup winner Dom Dwyer to their roster. Dwyer, who broke out in 2013 while on loan to Orlando City of the USL, has scored 11 Open Cup goals in his career, which is the 7th most of all players from the Modern Era (1995-present).
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. San Jose will be Oakland’s first ever MLS opponent in the Open Cup.
The club is off to a slow start in 2024, currently holding a 2-5-2 record, and are 1-3-1 in their last five. Their 16 goals allowed are among the bottom five ibn the league. Ownership partners for the Roots include Green Day singer Billy Joe Armstrong and Jason Kidd, current head coach of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
The winner of this game will travel to play either Monterey Bay FC or Sacramento Republic FC, both of USL-C, in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
19th US Open Cup appearance (1997, 1998, 200-2005, 2012-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 16-14-8 (4-4 PK)
Home: 9-5-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 9-3-2 (2-0 PK)
Best finish: Semifinals (2004)
Oakland Roots SC (USL-C)
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2022, 2023)
Overall: 2-2-0
Away: 0-2-0
vs. MLS: 0-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2023)
Orange County SC (USL-C)
vs.
Loudoun United FC (USL-C)
Championship Soccer Stadium – Irvine, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
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. Remarkable, none of Orange County’s 18 Open Cup games have been against an opponent from its own division, they’ve played five MLS teams, one Division 3 team and the rest against amateur clubs. Last year’s road game against the Portland Timbers of MLS was the first time Orange County had played against a team from outside of the state of California.
Orange County have 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. 2023 was another successful season, ending with a second-place finish in the Western Conference. The club will be without team goal scoring leader Milan Iloski (39 goals in 66 games), who left to join FC Nordsjælland of the Danish Superliga. Orange County have picked up where they left off last season, currently holding a 4-1-3, and 3-1-1 in their last five.
Loudoun United have played in the USL Championship since 2019, but only became eligible for the Open Cup last year once their status as D.C. United’s reserve club ended. Loudoun have lived at the bottom of the USL championship table each of their five seasons, only hitting double digits in wins once (11 in 2019). Top goal scorers Zach Ryan and Kalil ElMedkhar return, but Loudoun have overhauled their midfield with new arrivals Tommy McCabe, Keegan Tingey and Drew Skundrich. Loudoun are currently 2-4-2 in league play and are 1-3-1 in their last five games.
Loudoun’s debut in the Open Cup last year was a bit of a bright spot in their lackluster season, reaching the Fourth Round to face the Columbus Crew after defeating North Carolina FC (USL-1) and Flower City Union (NISA). Loudoun advanced to the Fourth Round via penalties after going 0-0 through 120 minutes with the Richmond Kickers. Loudoun made all five of their penalty attempts and goalkeeper Dane Jacomen save Richmond final attempt.
The winner of this game will travel to play either Los Angeles FC (MLS) or Las Vegas Lights FC (USL-C) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Orange County SC (USL-C)
12th US Open Cup appearance (2011-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 7-9-2 (0-2 PK)
Home: 4-3-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2011, 2013, 2017, 2022, 2023)
Loudoun United FC (USL-C)
2nd US Open Cup appearance (2023)
Overall: 2-1-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 0-0-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2023)
Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
vs.
Monterey Bay FC (USL-C)
Heart Health Park – Sacramento, CA
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Monterey Bay has the least experience of all the USL Championship clubs, having only played two seasons, Monterey Bay have struggled to find success in the USL Championship, finishing both seasons near the bottom of the standings. They’ve found a bit more success in the Open Cup. Last year, they upset the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0, and then held Los Angeles FC to a 2-2 draw before being eliminated on penalties.
The early 2024 season is off to a fantastic start for Monterey Bay, sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 4-3-2 record. Tristan Trager, arriving from the Charleston Battery, leads the team with four goals, with the other goals spread out among seven other players.
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). 2023 brought a first-place finish in the Western Conference and a league low 26 goals allowed. It was for naught as they were upset in the Western Conference Final by No. 6 seed Phoenix Rising. New acquisition Trevor Amann is currently among the top 5 goal scorers in the young USL Championship season with five. Ammann set the USL League One goal scoring mark in 2023 with 23 as a member of the Northern Colorado Hailstorm.
Sacramento is starting the 2024 season in first place at 5-0-4, the only unbeaten club remaining in USL-C Western Conference. Their six goals allowed is tied with Orange County and Detroit City for the fewest in the league.
The winner of this game will host either Oakland Roots SC (USL-C) or San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
8th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 20-7-2 (1-1 PK)
Home: 18-2-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 6-0-0
Best finish: Final (2022)
Monterey Bay FC (USL-C)
3rd US Open Cup appearance (2022, 2023)
Overall: 3-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 1-1-0
vs. Div. 2: 1-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2023)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8
Charleston Battery (USL-C)
vs.
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1)
Patriot’s Point Soccer Stadium – Mt. Pleasant, SC
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Charleston has the most experience in the Open Cup among USL Championship clubs, having been founded in 1993 and making 22 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 (33), and Cary, NC’s WakeMed Soccer Park (32).
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,
After finishing 6-21-7 in the 2022 season, Charleston stormed back in 2023, finishing third in the Eastern Conference and reaching the USL Championship title game. In 2024 the Battery show no signs of slowing down, leading the USL Championship in goals with 25 and sitting atop the East with a 7-0-3 record. One of the Battery’s key additions is striker MD Myers, who won the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot with 19 goals in 28 games with NYCFC II. Also adding to the goal total is Nick Markanich, who scored four in a 6-0 win over Las Vegas Lighs on April 27, and leads the league with 12.
South Georgia 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. Tormenta won the 2022 USL League One championship, defeating the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 2-1 in the Final. Tormenta finished an agonizing one-point shy of reaching the USL League One playoffs in 2023. Tormenta FC are currently 2-4-1 in league play, and 2-2-1 in their last five games of League One and Jägermeister Cup play.
Tormenta have made three appearances in the Open Cup, with their best run coming in 2022 when they upset a pair of USL Championship teams (Charleston 1-0 & Birmingham 2-0) to reach the Third Round where they dropped a 3-1 decision to Inter Miami. By advancing to this year’s Fourth Round, Tormenta have eclipsed their previous best Open Cup run by making it to a fourth game. Tormenta has never lost to a USL Championship team in the Open Cup, going 4-0 with the win over Miami FC.
Tormenta advanced to the Second Round via a 1-0 win over Open Division qualifier FC America CFL Spurs. Nick Akoto’s goal in the 5th minute held up the rest of the way as South Georgia won their first Open Cup match played against amateur competition. In the Second Round, Tormenta dominated NISA’s Savannah Clovers 4-0, four different players contributing to the scoring. In the Third Round, Tormenta looked to be headed to extra time in a 2-2 draw with Miami FC of USL-C, but Callum Stretch and Sebastián Vivas scored in the final three minutes of the game to give South Georgia the 4-2 upset.
The winner of this game will host either Charlotte Independence (USL-1) or Atlanta United (MLS) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Charleston Battery (USL-C)
23rd US Open Cup appearance (199-2002, 2004-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 36-19-7 4-3 PK)
Home: 28-7-5 (2-3 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 7-2-0
Best finish: Final (2008)
South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL-1)
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022-23)
Overall: 5-3-0
Away: 3-3-0
vs. Div. 2: 4-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2022)
North Carolina FC (USL-C)
vs.
Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)
WakeMed Soccer Park – Cary, NC
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
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. NCFC’s are finding their return to the USL Championship a bit difficult, sitting at 1-4-4, only managing to gain two points in their last five games.
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 and the LA Galaxy each year.
North Carolina entered the 2024 tournament with a 1-0 win over MLS NEXT Pro’s Carolina Core, Julian Placias getting the lone goal in the 60th minute. With their Third Round win NCFC stopped a streak of losing three straight tournament games dating back to the 2019 US Open Cup.
With the advantage of a later starting point in this year’s tournament, Phoenix will look to advance to the Round of 16 for the first time ever. The deepest Phoenix have previously gone is the final 32 in 2014 and 2022.
Phoenix Rising began in 2014 as Arizona United, and in 2017 new ownership changed the clubs name to Phoenix Rising. In 2017 Cote d’Ivoire legend Didier Drogba signed on with Phoenix as a player-owner, holding a minority stake in the club.
Defending USL Championship champions Phoenix Rising took quite the dramatic path to the USL title last year. As the No. 6 seed in the West, Phoenix won their first two playoff games deep into extra time over San Diego Loyal and Orange County SC. Then a stoppage time goal in the 90th minute gave them a 2-1 win over top seed Sacramento Republic. To top it off in the championship game, Phoenix played the Charleston Battery to a 1-1 draw, achieved by a 90th minute equalizer, then took the title on penalties.
Phoenix will have to try and match last year’s success without leading goal scorer Danny Trejo (19 goals), who has since moved on to Polish club Korona Kielce. Early on it looks as if Phoenix has found a new goal scorer in Remi Cabral, who had played the previous three seasons with LA Galaxy II & Colorado Rapids II. Cabral has accounted for five of Phoenix’s ten goals thus far as club sits mid-table in the West with a 3-4-2 record
The winner will travel to face either Louisville City FC (USL-C) or Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
North Carolina FC (USL-C)
15th US Open Cup appearance (2007-2010, 2012-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 23-12-3 (1-2 PK)
Home: 22-7-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 7-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Semifinals (2007)
Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)
9th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 7-6-2 (0-2 PK)
Away: 3-2-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 1-2-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2014, 2022)
Indy Eleven (USL-C)
vs.
San Antonio FC (USL-C)
The Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl – Indianapolis, IN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
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.
Indy are currently 3-4-2, winning their last two after a rough three game stretch in April when they played three in a row against the top three clubs in the Eastern Conference, Detroit City (2-1 loss), Louisville City (5-3 loss) and Charleston (4-2 loss).
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.
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.
During the offseason San Antonio lost their top 3 goal scorers from ’23, Tani Oluwaseyi (Minnesota United), Santiago Patiño (Ho Chi Minh City FC) and Rida Zouhir (CF Montreal). Also departing was veteran midfielder PC (Union Omaha). In an attempt to replace that goalscoring power, the club have brought in MLS and UNMNT veteran Juan Agudelo (who was the 2023 TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament with the Birmingham Legion FC), Brazilian forward Lucas Silva and Luis Solignac, who was the leading scorer for El Paso Locomotive last season. After starting unbeaten in their first four games, San Antonio has slowed down to a 3-2-4 record.
San Antonio hasn’t had much success in Open Cup play in its history, only advancing three-games deep twice (2016 & 2022). They’ve only faced a Division 2 team three times, losing once outright and drawing twice, going 1-1 in penalty shootouts. Their high point was upsetting Austin FC 2-1 in extra time in 2022
The winner will host either Detroit City FC (USL-C) or Houston Dynamo FC (MLS) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Indy Eleven (USL-C)
9th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 5-7-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 4-2-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2014, 2016)
San Antonio FC (USL-C)
7th US Open Cup appearance (2016-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 8-5-2 (1-1 PK)
Away: 3-4-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-2 (1-1 PK)
Best finish: Fourth Round (2016, 2018, 2022)
Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C)
vs.
Birmingham Legion FC (USL-C)
Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, FL
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Birmingham have reached the USL Championship playoffs all five seasons they’ve existed, although they’ve yet to advance past the conference semifinals. The Legion have started 2024 with a 2-2-1 record. After a pair of Third Round exits in the Open Cup in 2019 and 2022, Birmingham hit paydirt in 2023, reaching the Quarterfinals, knocking off Charlotte FC 1-0 In the Fifth Round in front of a record 12,722 fans at Protective Stadium. The record would be shattered for the Quarterfinal game against Inter Miami as an announced crowd of 18,418 witnessed the home side fall 1-0. (It was the 26th largest crowd to witness a US Open Cup game in tournament history). Former USMNT member Juan Agudelo was voted TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament, notching three goals and an assist in Birmingham’s run in the 2023 tournament.
Birmingham kicked off their 2024 Open Cup campaign with a 4-2 extra time struggle over Chattanooga Red Wolves of USL League One. Stefano Pjnho handled all the scoring, netting twice in the second half and two more in extra time. The feat earned Pinho TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for the Third Round, as he became just the 13th player in the tournament’s Modern Era (1995-present) to score four or more goals in a single game. Pinho finished in a three-way tie for the goal scoring lead in the 2017 Open Cup with 4 goals for Miami FC.
Birmingham saw the departure of 2023 leading goal scorer Nico Brett (Memphis 901 FC) an Juan Agudelo (San Antonio FC), but are hoping Pinho and a returning Enzo Martinez (10 goals in 2023) can fill that void. Birmingham sit in the middle of the Eastern Conference with a 3-3-2 mark, and ate 2-1-2 in their last five games.
Tampa Bay will be looking to avenge the 3-0 defeat Birmingham handed to them to eliminate the No. 2 seed Rowdies from the opening round of last year’s USL Championship playoffs. The two team won’t have to wait long for a rematch, as they are slated to meet again on May 11 at Al Lang Stadium.
Tampa started in 2008 as FC Tampa Bay due to 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 are off to a good start in the 2024 season, suffering their first loss of the season to Memphis 901 FC on May 4, 4-1 The setback leaves the Rowdies at 3-4-1, with forward Cal Jennings sitting among the league goal scoring leaders with six.
The Rowdies Open Cup history is the opposite of their league success, having only advanced past a second game once in 12 tournaments. They are 0-4 against Division 2 opponents, and 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.
The winner will host either Memphis 901 FC (USL-C) or FC Dallas (MLS) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C)
12th US Open Cup appearance (2010, 2012-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 9-11-0
Home: 6-2-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-4-0
Best finish: Third Round (2011)
Birmingham Legion FC (USL-C)
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 6-3-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 1-1-0
vs. Div. 2: 1-1-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2023)
NYCFC II (MLSNP)
vs.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C)
Belson Stadium – Queens, NY
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
After years of having loose affiliations with USL clubs, New York City FC finally fielded their own reserve team with the formation of MLS NEXT Pro in 2021. NYCFC II’s first season saw them miss the playoffs by a single point. Forward MD Myers finished 2023 in a three-way tie atop the league’s goalscoring chart with 19 goals, before moving on and signing with the Charleston Battery of the USL Championship. The Baby Blues have done something the senior club has never accomplished in the Open Cup, win three games in a single tournament. NYCFC won twice in 2019 and 2022 to reach the Quarterfinals but had the benefit of starting later in the tournament. Now NYCFC II have a new first to accomplish, becoming the first MLS reserve team to reach the Round of 16.
In the opening round, NYCFC II. Taylor Calheira, Andrew Baiera and Maximo Carrizo shared the scoring duties and NYCFC outshot FC Motown 34-4 in their 3-0 victory. The Second Round proved a bit more challenging with the reserve version of the Hudson River Derby against New York Red Bulls II. NYCFC II jumped out to a 3-1 halftime lead through a pair of goal from Jonathan Jimenez and a single from Malachi Jones. Red Bulls II mounted a comeback, scoring right after halftime, and seeing Julian Hall’s PK attempt saved in the 64th minute. Jimenez put the cap on his hat trick with a successful PK in the 87th minute to give the Baby Blues a 4-2 win over the Baby Bulls. Jimenez was the runner-up for TheCup.us Player of the Round. The win gave NYCFC II something their MLS club had never done, a victory over the Red Bulls in the Open Cup. NYCFC is 0-3 against their rivals in the competition.
NYCFC II’s Third Round 3-2 extra time win over Hartford Athletic was a back-and-forth affair that turned chaotic at the end. After playing to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, Taylor Calheira’s scored his second goal just minutes after Hartford took the lead in extra time. Maximo Carrizo scored what would be the winner in the 109th minute, then at the end of extra time two players from Hartford and one from NYCFC II were sent off. In MLS NEXT Pro play, NYCFC II are 3-4 overall and 2-3 in their last five, Jonathan Shore currently leads the team with four goals.
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. Like a few USL Championship teams, the Switchbacks will be without their leading goal scorer from 2023, Romario Wiliams, who moved to Hartford Athletic. The club hope to fill Williams’s spot with another clubs’ leading 2023 goal scorer, Ronaldo Damus, who led San Diego Loyal with 15 goals in 2023.
The Switchbacks got off to a dreadful start the season, but are starting to turn it around. Near the bottom of the Western Conference at 2-5-1 with just six goals scored. The Switchbacks started 0-5-0 with one goal scored, but are 2-0-1 in their last three.
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.
The winner will host either Real Salt Lake (MLS) or New Mexico United (USL-C) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
NYCFC II (MLSNP)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 3-0-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C)
8th US Open Cup appearance (2015-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 7-6-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 2-2-1 (0-1)
vs. Div. 3: 2-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2015, 2016)
Union Omaha (USL-1)
vs.
Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Al F. Caniglia Field – Omaha, NE
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Making their third appearance in the Open Cup, Union Omaha has a high bar to duplicate their best showing in the tournament. In 2022 the Owls knocked off two MLS clubs (Chicago Fire & 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 in the history of the tournament from Nebraska to reach the Quarterfinals and the first third division team to do so since 2013. Omaha saw their cup run end abruptly last year with a 5-1 loss to St. Louis CITY in front of a Third Round record crowd of 22,423 fans in St. Louis.
Union finished the 2023 USL League One season in first place but were upset by the Charlotte Independence in the playoff semifinals on penalty kicks after a scoreless draw. Dominic Casciato was named USL League One Coach of the Year for the 2023 season. Omaha is currently riding an 18-match unbeaten streak in league play that stretches back to last season and is currently 3-0-1.
In the First Round, Omaha had a relatively easy time defeating the Western Mass Pioneers (USL-2) 4-0. After being held to a 1-0 lead at the half, the floodgates opened after halftime and Omaha scored three more times, including Joe Gallardo completing a hat trick and getting strong support for TheCup.us Player of the Round honors.
In the Second Round, Omaha overcame the Des Moines Menace and their squad featuring a few retired MLS players, 3-1. Pedro Delabella and Marco Milanese gave Omaha 2-0 halftime lead, and Lagos Kunga added the third goal deep into second half stoppage time. The Third Round saw Union and El Paso Locomotive play 120 minutes of scoreless soccer, though El Paso missed a penalty kick just before halftime. Omaha preceded to make all five of its penalty kicks, while GK Rasheed Nuhu managed to stop one of El Paso’s attempts to advance to the Fourth Round.
Initially known as the Kansas City Wiz and Kansas City Wizards, Sporting KC, along with the Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders, are on the cusp of joining Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC and the Fall River Marksmen as five-time Open Cup champions. SKC are 4-3 against Division 3 opposition in the Open Cup, though their last loss was to Orlando City SC in 2013 when Orlando City was still a USL club.
Kansas City snuck into the MLS Cup playoffs last year as a No. 8 seed in the wild card round and turned it into a run to the Western conference, where they fell to 2023 Open Cup champion Houston Dynamo. Sporting bid adieu to two club legends, Graham Zusi and Roger Espinoza, although Espinoza played with the Des Moines Menace in their Second Round loss to Union Omaha, Other core players such as Alan Pulido, Johnny Russell, Andreu Fontàs and goalkeeper Tim Melia are all in their mid-30s.
SKC is off to an ordinary start to the 2024 season, currently in 10th in the Western Conference with a 2-4-5 record, 0-3-2 in their last five. Erik Thommy (4), William Agada (3), and Alan Pulido (3) have accounted for 10 of the club’s 18 goals this year.
The winner will host either FC Tulsa (USL-C) or Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Union Omaha (USL-1)
Overall: 6-2-2 (2-0 PK)
Home: 4-0-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. MLS: 1-2-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2022)
Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
24th US Open Cup appearance (1996-1998, 200-2006, 2008-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 32-16-7 (4-3 PK)
Away: 8-9-5 (2-3 PK)
vs. Div. 3 :4-3-0
Best finish: Champions (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017)
New Mexico United (USL-C)
vs.
Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Isotopes Park – Albuquerque, NM
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
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, then upsetting the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas before falling to Minnesota United in the Quarterfinals. NMU have only played (and won) four of their previous 11 Open Cup games at home,
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.
In 2023 New Mexico claimed the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 13-14-7 record and are off to a 5-2-1 start in 2024, good for second in the Western Conference despite a -2 difference. In what seems to be a trend among USL Championship clubs, New Mexico waived goodbye to its 2023 goal scoring leader, Armano Moreno, who left to join El Paso Locomotive. Head Coach Eric Quill begins his first full season with the club, having taken over from Zach Prince at mid-season last year.
Of their previous 14 appearances, RSL have only had three notable runs, a championship game appearance 2013 and a pair of semifinal runs in 2015 and 2023. Seven times RSL has been “one and done”, including four times in a row from 2017-2022. The club is only 4-4 against Division 2 teams, and they hold a 3-6 record as the away team.
RSL are the only MLS club to make the playoffs each of the last three seasons. 2023 ended with a 5th place finish in the Western Conference, but elimination in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs. Salt Lake is riding high at the start of the 2024 season, sitting atop the Western Conference at 6-2-3, and on a seven-game unbeaten streak. Forward Cristian Arango is third in the league in goal scoring with eight, two behind Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, and sits atop the assists chart with seven.
The winner will travel to face either Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C) or NYCFC II (MLS NEXT Pro) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
New Mexico United (USL-C)
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 6-3-2 (2-0 PK)
Home: 4-0-0
vs. MLS: 1-2-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2019)
Real Salt Lake (MLS)
14th US Open Cup appearance (2005, 2006, 2011-20192022, 2023)
Overall: 13-12-2 (1-1 PK)
Away: 3-6-0
vs. Div. 2: 4-4-0
Best finish: Final (2013)
Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
vs.
Louisville City FC (USL-C)
Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, WA
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Since Louisville City FC relocated from Orlando in 2014 they have been 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, 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.
Louisville City defeated Indy Eleven 5-3 in the first USL Championship game televised nationally on CBS on April 6. The Boys in Purple have been piling up the goals in 2024, scoring 23 over seven games, leading them to win their first four games before being cooled off by Eastern Conference-leading Charleston Battery 3-2 on April 9. They trail only the red-hot Charleston Battery in the East with a 6-1-0 record. Wilson Harris sits second among the goalscoring leaders in USL-C with seven goals.
Like Sporting Kansas City, Seattle is entering this year’s Open Cup looking to make history, as they are one championship away from joining Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC and the Fall River Marksmen as five time Cup champions. Historically Seattle haven’t played many Division 2 clubs in the Open Cup, with two of their last three encounters ending in defeat to the Tampa Bay Rowdies 2013 and Sacramento Republic in 2018, The loss to the Rowdies stopped a 22-game unbeaten run in the Open Cup, and prevented Seattle from a possible fourth straight Open Cup title. The last five Open Cup tournaments haven’t been very successful for the Sounders, going “one-and-done” three times, and the other two lasting just two games.
Seattle’s 2023 season was bittersweet, a second-place finish in the Western Conference in which they allowed a league low 32 goals ended with an exit in the Conference Semifinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs. During the offseason Seattle acquired Pedro de la Vega, a touted 23-year old Argentine youth international. So far in 2024, Seattle is off to a slow start, sitting in the bottom half of the standings at 2-5-4, 1-2-2 in their last five.
The winner will host either Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C) or North Carolina FC (USL-C) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
26th US Open Cup appearance (1995-1997, 1999-2003, 2005-2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 37-18-7 (4-3 PK) | 22-7-5 (3-2 PK) I MLS
Home: 29-4-3 (2-1 PK) | 18-2-2 (1-1 PK) in MLS
vs. Div. 2: 5-3-2 (1-1 PK) | 4-2-0 in MLS
Best finish: Champions (2009, 2010, 2011, 2014)
Louisville City FC (USL-C)
8th US Open Cup appearance (2015-19, 2022-23)
Overall: 11-7-3 (3-0 PK)
Away 3-6-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. MLS: 1-5-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2018)
Las Vegas Lights FC (USL-C)
vs.
Los Angeles FC (MLS)
Cashman Field – Las Vegas, NV
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Las Vegas’ short Open Cup history isn’t much to write home about. They’ve never advanced to a third game in their four appearances, and are 1-2 against fellow professional teams, the lone win being a 4-0 victory over NISA’s LA Force last year. Vegas have only played one Open Cup game against an MLS team, a 3-1 extra time loss to Real Salt Lake last year.
The record for Las Vegas in USL Championship play isn’t much better. In its six seasons the club has yet to reach the playoffs. In fact, Vegas has gone above 10 wins just twice (2019, 2022). The club was sold before the 2024 season to an investor group led by former Major League Baseball star Jose Bautista. Las Vegas has a 3-6-0 record in league play, matching their win total for 2023, though they are currently on a four-game losing skid following their three-game win streak in April.
Los Angeles FC came into existence in 2018 and quickly became one of the better teams in MLS, winning the MLS supporters Shield in 2019 and 2022, as well as the MLS Cup title in 2022. In 2023, LAFC finished third in third in the Western Conference, and reached the MLS Cup Final, losing to the Columbus Crew 2-1. Gabonese forward Denis Bouanga burst on the scene, leading MLS with 20 goals, and Bouanga has picked up where he left off in 2023, netting six goals so far in 2024. Missing from the LAFC roster is Carlos Vela, who currently is a free agent. With the departure of Maxime Crépeau (Portland Timbers) and John McCarthy (LA Galaxy), Los Angeles will have a new face in goal in Hugo Lloris, who spent the last 11 seasons at Tottenham Hotspur.
LAFC are in familiar territory in the standings, 3rd in the Western Conference at 5-2-4, their 21 goals best in the Western Conference and second in MLS behind Miami’s 32. Denis Bouanga is picking up where he left off last year, leading the team with six goals.
LAFC made a splash in their inaugural Open Cup appearance in 2018, reaching the Semifinals where they were ousted by the Houston Dynamo on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Since then a Quarterfinal finish in 2019 is the deepest LAFC has gone, getting eliminated by “El Trafico” rivals LA Galaxy in 2022 & 2023.
The winner will host either Loudoun United FC (USL-C) or Orange County SC (USL-C) in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Las Vegas Lights FC (USL-C)
5th US Open Cup appearance (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 3-4-0
Home: 3-2-0
vs. MLS: 0-1-0
Best finish: Third Round (2018, 2019, 2023)
Los Angeles FC (MLS)
5th US Open Cup appearance (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)
Overall: 7-3-2 (1-1 PK)
Away: 1-1-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 3-0-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Semifinals (2018)
