Preview

With two matches on Tuesday and the remaining six on Wednesday, eight teams will move to within three wins of a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup championship and a spot in the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Three lower division clubs are among the Final 16, Louisville City and Colorado Springs Switchbacks from the Division 2 USL Championship and One Knoxville from third-tier USL League One. One Knoxville also won the $50,000 prize for the Division 3 club going furthest in this year’s tournament.

Four teams, Charlotte FC, St. Louis CITY SC, Colorado Springs Switchbacks and One Knoxville are competing for their first Quarterfinal spot, while the Chicago Fire try to stay on track for their record-tying fifth US Open Cup title.

Follow TheCup.us on BlueSky @TheCup.us and X (Twitter) @USOpenCup throughout the round for live updates from our reporters who will be at every stadium.

All eight games will be streamed live on Paramount+, with six select games also being shown on the CBS Sports Network.

Below you will find a preview of all eight games with links to the live streams:

TUESDAY, APRIL 28

Charlotte FC (MLS) 
vs.
Atlanta United FC (MLS)
Mecklenburg County Sportsplex; Matthews, NC
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+/CBS Sports Network

Southern MLS rivals duke it out for a spot in the Quarterfinals when Atlanta United FC visits Matthews, N.C. to take on Charlotte FC.

While the MLS teams representing Charlotte and Atlanta have never crossed paths in the Open Cup, other clubs have done so in the Modern Era (1995-present).

In the 2007 Second Round, the Atlanta Silverbacks of the USL First Division (Div. 2) defeated the USL Second Division Charlotte Eagles 1-0 on a Rodrigo Rios goal assisted by Warren Ukah in the 48th minute. Atlanta goalkeeper Ryan McIntosh later preserved the lead by saving a penalty kick from Charlotte’s leading goalscorer Jacob Coggins.

More recently Atlanta United faced off with a club from the Queen City. In the 2024 Fourth Round Charlotte Independence of USL League One visited Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia, but left defeated by Atlanta United 3-0. After a scoreless opening half Nick Firmino scored in the 52nd and 71st minutes and Daniel Ríos added a third with five minutes remaining.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 16

Charlotte FC (MLS) 

In the Queen City derby, Charlotte FC started slow then turned on the gas with a 6-0 romp over Charlotte Independence of USL League One. An Archie Goodwin stoppage time goal gave the MLS club a 1-0 halftime lead, then the floodgates opened in the second half. Henry Kessler (60’), Nimfasha Berchimas (67’), David Schnegg (75’), Kerwin Vargas (86’) and Baye Coulibaly (88’) all scored for Charlotte FC in a dominating final 45 minutes.

Atlanta United FC (MLS)

Atlanta United overcame an early 1-0 deficit to cruise past Chattanooga FC 3-1, the lone MLS NEXT Pro club remaining in the tournament. Chattanooga struck first in the 6th minute, but Atlanta eventually took over on goals from Cayman Togashi (21’), Fafà Picault (64’) and Pedro Amador (75’). It was the only comeback regulation win of any match of the Third Round.

CURRENT FORM

Charlotte FC

Chatotte heads into the Round of 16 on the heels of two heavy defeats in league play. On April 22 Charlotte saw a 1-1 draw with Orlando City at halftime escalate into a 4-1 defeat. A few days later on April 26 Charlotte fell to Eastern Conference leaders Nashville 4-2. Spanish midfielder Pep Biel leads with five goals, and shares the assist lead with Wilfried Zaha and Ashley Westwood at 4.

Atlanta United FC

After a five win 2025 season Atlanta United finds themselves near the bottom of the Eastern Conference once again. Atlanta heads into the Open Cup on a positive note, snapping a five game winless streak with a 2-1 win over Toronto FC. The result also broke a drought where they scored just one goal in five games. Aleksey Miranchuck has scored five of Atlanta’s nine goal on the season.

Charlotte FC 
Major League Soccer | Charlotte, NC
4th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2022
Manager: Dean Smith
Overall: 6-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 3-0-0
vs. MLS: 1-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2022, 2023, 2025)

Charlotte FC has only played in three tournaments, the first two times they won two games and lost on the road in the Fifth Round, 2025 was the first year they were eliminated after just two games.

Before 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). Charlotte Independence have had a couple of tournaments where they advanced three times in a single tournament (2015, 2024). The Independence and the Eagles met twice with the Jacks winning both meetings in 2016 and 2017.

Atlanta United FC (MLS)
Major League Soccer | Atlanta, GA
8th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2017
Manager: Gerardo “Tata” Martino
Overall: 10-5-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 3-2-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. MLS: 3-2-0
Best finish: Champions (2019)

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. The last time Atlanta reached the Quarterfinals was during their 2019 championship run. After they needed extra time to beat the Charleston Battery in front of an empty stadium, they beat the Columbus Crew on the road before they defeated Saint Louis FC of the USL Championship 2-0. After shutting out Orlando City on the road, they edged Minnesota United 2-1 in the championship game in front of 35,709 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the largest crowd to ever witness a US Open Cup Final. It was the first time that a Final was held indoors and the first time that a Georgia team had ever lifted the trophy.

The city of Atlanta’s involvement in the Open Cup goes back to 1979. With enough clubs from the South showing interest, the field was split into four regions, Region I (East), Region II (Midwest), Region III (South) & Region IV (West), with the winner of each region getting a spot in the National Semifinals. Atlanta was represented early on in the final four by the Atlanta Wolves (1980) and Datagraphic (1981), but teams from the city were never able to reach the Final. The Atlanta Silverbacks were the first pro team to represent Atlanta, but their best finish was a run to the Quarterfinals in 2014. Finally, in 2019, Atlanta United not only reached the Final but also won the city’s first Open Cup championship. 

San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) 
vs.
Minnesota United FC (MLS) 
PayPal Park; San Jose, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+/CBS Sports Network

San Jose will be looking for just their fourth Open Cup win over an MLS team in their history when they host Minnesota United in the Round of 16.

In their 20 previous Open Cup appearances, San Jose is just 3-9-6 (1-5 PKs) against fellow MLS clubs, starting off 0-7-3 (0-3 PKs) before beating the Seattle Sounders 2-1 in the 2017 Fifth Round. They followed that with a 3-2 win over the LA Galaxy in the Quarterfinals. Their only other outright win came over the Portland Timbers in the 2025 Fifth Round, 1-0 after extra time. The lone penalty kick win came at the expense of the Seattle Sounders in the 2022 Fourth Round after a 2-2 draw.

Since joining MLS, Minnesota United are 6-6-1 (1-0 PKs) against MLS clubs and are just 1-4 on the road against their league mates. The lone away win came in the 2019 Fifth Round, a 3-2 victory over the Houston Dynamo.

The lone Open Cup meeting between San Jose and Minnesota United came back in the 2012 Fourth Round, when Minnesota United was known as the Minnesota Stars and playing in the NASL (Div. 2 pro). San Jose won 1-0 on an 85th minute goal from Steven Lenhart.

The ‘Quakes have had one other Open Cup meeting with a team from the Twin Cities. In the 2004 Quarterfinals San Jose travelled to St. Paul, Minn. to face the A-League’s Minnesota Thunder. In a back-and-forth game the Earthquakes would survive via a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw. Thunder standout Melvin Tarley opened the scoring in the 4th minute, with Brian Ching answering for San Jose 20 minutes later. In the 63rd minute U.S. National Team legend Landon Donovan put San Jose up 2-1, but Dustin Branan would level the game at 2-2 in the 77th minute. In the shootout the Earthquakes made all five of their shots while Minnesota missed one. 

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 16

San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) 

On the strength of two early goals, San Jose was able to outlast a game Phoenix Rising team, 2-0. Nick Fernandez scored in the 3rd minute, then assisted on Jack Jacinski’s 23rd minute goal. The Earthquakes won despite Phoenix outshooting them 17-14, and going a man down on Jonathan González’s 39th minute red card.

Minnesota United FC

Minnesota United not only had to work overtime to get past Sacramento Republic but also had to endure a marathon penalty shootout to advance to the Round of 16 via penalties after a 0-0 draw. After battling 120 minutes to a scoreless draw, MUFA and Sac Republic slugged it out in a 12-round penalty shootout. After finishing the first five rounds 3-3, each team made their next five attempts. In the 11th round goalkeepers Alec Smir (Minnesota) and Danny Vitello (Sacramento) stepped up, with Smir missing and then saving Vitello’s attempt. Finally Minnesota’s Joaquín Pereyra and Sacramento’s Domink Wanner stepped up for the second time, and Pereyra converted his second penalty while Wanner missed his to send Minnesota United through. It was the second-longest penalty kick shootout of the Modern Era.

CURRENT FORM

San Jose Earthquakes

Two years ago the Earthquakes were anchored to the bottom of the MLS Western Conference with a 6-25-3 record. Ten games into the 2026 season they’re top of the league at 9-1-0 and have scored a league-high 25 goals. The ‘Quakes are riding a six-game winning streak in MLS, with their only blemish coming on March 15, a 1-0 loss to Seattle. Preston Judd (6), Ousseni Bouda (5) and Timo Werner (4) account for 15 of the club’s 25 goals, and Werner is one behind Niko Tsakris’ team leading six assists. Brazilian goalkeeper Daniel heads up a defence that has only allowed 6 goals in 10 games.

Minnesota United FC 

Heading into the Open Cup Minnesota United saw its four game win streak come to an end with a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles FC. The Loons are currently 5-3-2 and in 5th pl;ace in the Western Conference. Kelvin Yeboah is responsible for 5 of the 11 goals scored by MUFC this year, and Tomas Chancalay has assisted with four of them.

San Jose Earthquakes
Major League Soccer | San Jose, CA
21st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Bruce Arena
Overall: 20-15-9 (4-5)
Home: 13-5-3 (1-2 PK)
vs. MLS: 3-9-6 (1-5 PK)
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 four 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 the MLS Cup in 2001 and 2003 and the Supporters’ Shield in 2002. That all changed after the 2005 season, when the club left the Bay Area for Houston and became 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.  

The city of San Jose first dipped their toe into the Open Cup pool during the 1970 tournament, when the San Jose Latinos entered. Throughout the 70s, teams like the San Jose Portuguese AC, San Jose Grenadiers, and San Jose Lobos would be regular entrants and would make the occasional deep run. The San Jose Oaks won the Open Cup in 1992, 2-1 over Vasco da Game of Bridgeport, Conn.

The Earthquakes are managed by Bruce Arena, who led D.C. United to an Open Cup title in 1996. After falling short on penalty kicks with D.C. in the 1997 Final (to the Dallas Burn), Arena has not led a team to the championship game since 1997. Only two of his teams (2015 and 2016 LA Galaxy) have survived more than two games in a single tournament. Arena, one of American soccer’s all-time great coaches, has a career Open Cup coaching record of 16-10-2 (1-1 PKs). He has 11 US Open Cup Major titles (MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, CONCACAF Champions Cup, US Open Cup) to his credit, which is tied with Sigi Schmid for the most.

Minnesota United FC 
Major League Soccer | Saint Paul, MN
14th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2010
Manager: Cameron Knowles
Overall: 15-11-4 (3-1 PK) | 10-6-3 (3-0 PK) as MLS
Away: 8-6-3 (2-1 PK) | 4-4-2 (2-0 PK) as MLS
vs. MLS: 7-9-1 (1-0 PK) | 6-6-1 (1-0 PK) as MLS
Best finish: Final (2019)

Minnesota got its start in 2010 as the NSC Minnesota Stars. After a year in the USSF Division 2 league, Minnesota joined the now-defunct NASL, winning the championship in 2011. In 2015, it was announced that the franchise would join Major League Soccer starting with the 2017 season.

Since Minnesota joined MLS in 2017, they’ve had respectable 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 career Open Cup goals in the Modern Era.

According to TheCup.us records, 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.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29

Red Bull New York (MLS) 
vs.
New York City FC (MLS)
Sports Illustrated Stadium; Harrison, N.J
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

New York City FC will try and break their Hudson River Derby Open Cup drought when they visit their arch-rival Red Bull New York in the Round of 16.

NYCFC may hold a 12-11-4 record overall in the Hudson River Derby during the MLS regular season, but in cup competitions (Open Cup, Leagues Cup and MLS Cup playoffs), the boys in blue are 0-5 against the Red Bulls, 0-3 in the Open Cup.

The first Open Cup meeting took place in the 2017 Fourth Round, and the Red Bulls took the inaugural Cup meeting 1-0 on Daniel Royer’s 67th minute goal

The next year in the same round, the Red Bulls upped the humiliation, crushing NYCFC 4-0.  Vincent Bezecourt (2’) and Aaron Long (52’) put the Red Bulls up 2-0, and Daniel Royer put his name on the scoresheet again with two late goals. The loss was also NYCFC’s fourth one-and-done Open Cup performance in a row.

The third meeting would be in 2022 and the stakes were a bit higher with a Semifinal spot on the line. Once again the Red Bulls held sway over their rivals, winning 3-0. Lewis Morgan (52’), Luquinhas (70’) and Omir Fernandez (90’+1) scored in the second half of a game that also saw three players being sent off. All told, the aggregate score for the Open Cup is 8-0 in favor of the Red Bulls, and 11-0 when the other cup competitions are included.

While the Red Bulls Open Cup record against MLS clubs is a less than stellar 12-14-5 (3-2 PK), since 2022 they are 4-2-2 (1-1 PK). RBNY are also riding a five-game unbeaten streak at home, with their last outright loss coming in the 2019 Fourth Round to the New England Revolution, 3-2 after extra time.

NYCFC have played 9 of their 13 Open Cup games on the road, and the win last round at Westchester SC snapped a four-game road winless streak, with their last road win coming when they defeated D.C. United 2-1 in the 2019 Fifth Round.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 16

New York City FC 

New York City FC avoided a third straight one-and-done Open Cup with a commanding 5-2 win at USL League One Westchester SC. NYCFC jumped out to a 4-1 halftime lead on two goals from Talles Magno and one each from Agustin Ojeda Arnau Farnós. Mango completed the 2026 tournament’s first hat-trick midway through the second half.

Red Bull New York

The Red Bulls had an easy time with defending USL Championship titlists Pittsburgh Riverhounds, defeating them 3-1. All three for New York came in the first 47 minutes with Swedish veteran Emil Forsberg scoring in the 25th minute and Julian Hall following with a pair of goals in the 28th and 47th minutes.

CURRENT FORM

New York City FC 

After starting off hot at 3-0-1, NYCFC have found themselves locked in a freezer, going 0-4-2 in their last six games. On April 22 two goals in stoppage time by FC Cincinnati turned a 4-2 win into a 4-4 draw. Nicolas Mercau leads the team with eight goals, and is tied for third in the league. Maxi Morales is the top assist man with six.

Red Bull New York

While the Red Bulls have the same record (3-4-3) as their rivals NYCFC, their 25 goals allowed keep them five places behind them in the standings. RBNY are winless in their last four games, and have allowed opponents to score two or more goals in six of their ten games. Julian Hall is the bright spot on the offensive side, scoring six times.

New York City FC 
Major League Soccer | Bronx, NY
9th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2013
Manager: Pascal Jansen
Overall: 5-6-2 (0-2 PK)
Away: 2-5-2 (0-2 PK)
vs. MLS: 2-4-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2019, 2022)

NYCFC began their Open Cup history with four straight one-and-done eliminations from 2015-2018. Finally, in 2019 and 2022, they broke the skid and reached the Quarterfinals. However, in 2023 and 2025, it was back to square one as they were ousted after just one game once again. In MLS play, New York City FC has missed the playoffs just twice in the past 11 seasons, winning the MLS Cup in 2021.

Red Bull New York
Major League Soccer | Harrison, NJ
25th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Michael Bradley
Overall: 29-22-5 (3-2 PK) 
Home: 14-6-4 (2-2 PK)
vs. MLS: 12-14-5 (3-2 PK)
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, falling 1-0 in front of their home fans to the Chicago Fire in 2003. After rebranding as the New York Red Bulls, another deep run did not come until a return to the Final in 2017 when they lost on the road to Sporting Kansas City. Then, in 2022, the Red Bulls made another Semifinal run, which ended with a one-sided loss to Orlando City on the road..

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.

New England Revolution (MLS) 
vs. 
Orlando City SC (MLS)
Centreville Bank Stadium; Pawtucket, R.I.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+/CBS Sports Network

Calling Pawtucket’s Centreville Bank Stadium home for the second game in a row, the New England Revolution will try to reach the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2017 when they face Orlando City SC in the Round of 16.

New England has a history of playing home Open Cup matches outside of their normal home venue. The Revolution have played just 10 of their 25 Open Cup games in their home venues of Foxboro Stadium and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

The rest of their Cup home games have taken place in 7 venues in 4 different cities, with Pawtucket’s Centreville Bank Stadium becoming venue number 8 and city number 5. Their most popular “home away from home” is Veterans Memorial Stadium in New Britain, Conn., although that venue has not been used by the Revs since the 2009 Third Round versus the Harrisburg City Islanders, a 2-1 extra time loss for the MLS side.

Since they moved to MLS, Orlando City only has a 4-5-4 (4-0 PK) record against other MLS clubs and a 4-3-2 (2-0 PK) mark on the road. Orlando City’s only success on the road against an MLS team came in the 2018 Fifth Round when they eliminated D.C. United via PK shootout after a 1-1 draw. This will also be Orlando City’s fifth straight road game in the Open Cup, after playing nine straight home games between the 2019 and 2022 tournaments.

The lone Open Cup meeting between New England and Orlando City resulted in a 2-1 extra time win for Orlando. All the scoring took place in the extra session, as Benji Michel (96’) and Tesho Akindele (101’) put Orlando City up 2-0, and Justin Rennicks scored the Revs’ lone goal with three minutes remaining.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 16

New England Revolution

Playing as the home team in the venue of their opponent, the Revs needed penalty kicks to survive their Third Round encounter with Rhode Island FC of the USL Championship. Returning to the club after a five-year absence, Diego Fagúndez scored in the 51st minute to give the Revs a 1-0 lead. Rhode Island forced extra time deep into second half stoppage time on a goal by sub JJ Williams. Extra time went scoreless and in the penalty shootout Donovan Parisian, making his Revs debut, saved three of Rhode Island’s four penalty attempts to advance to the Round of 16.

Orlando City SC

With the lack of VAR until the Quarterfinals, Orlando City survived a possible upset bid by USL League One’s FC Naples and left with a 1-0 win. Tyrese Spicer scored the lone goal in the 17th minute, but it was in the 70th minute that controversy arose. After a corner kick, a shot from Naples’ Dominick Bachstein appeared to cross the line, but the referee disallowed it. With no VAR in place until the Quarterfinals, Orlando City were able to survive being outshot 20-17 by their lower league opponents.

CURRENT FORM

New England Revolution 

After missing the playoffs in 2025 the Revolution are off to a fantastic start in 2026. A 5-3-1 record has them fourth in the Eastern Conference and are fresh off a 1-1 draw with second place Inter Miami. After a 1-3-0 start New England are unbeaten in April, going 4-0-1. Peyton Miller leads the team with three goals with four other players scoring twice. Luca Langoni has six assists, tied for second most in MLS.

Orlando City SC

Early in the MLS season you could have argued the Open Cup was the only real shot at any hardware for Orlando City in 2026. After head coach Óscar Pareja agreed to step down following a 0-3 start and they held a 1-5-1 record heading into their Third Round Open Cup match with FC Naples. Things have improved just a bit under interim Head Coach Martín Perelman. Orlando City are 1-2-0 in their last three, in those three games their six goals have surpassed the four they scored in the first seven games. Longtime Lions midfielder Martin Ojeda, with the club since 2023, leads the way with four goals and Ivan Angulo has added five assists, which ranks among the MLS top 10.

New England Revolution 
Major League Soccer | Foxborough, MA
22nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Marko Mitrovic
Overall: 23-18-6 (4-2 PK)
Home: 15-7-4 (3-1 PK) 
vs. MLS: 9-11-1 (1-0 PK) 
Best finish: Champion (2007)

Outside of their lone Open Cup championship in 2007 and two other Final 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.

Orlando City SC 
Major League Soccer | Orlando, FL
15th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2010
Manager: Martín Perelman (interim)
Overall: 23-13-5 (5-0 PK) | 11-7-5 (5-0 PK) as MLS
Away: 8-8-2 (2-0 PK) | 5-3-2 (2-0 PK) as MLS
vs. MLS:  6-11-4 (4-0 PK) | 4-5-4 (4-0 PK) as MLS
Best finish: Champion (2022)

Orlando City started in 2010 as a USL club, winning USL Pro championships in 2011 and 2013, and finished first or second overall in all four years in the league. In 2015, the club joined MLS but has yet to find consistent league success.

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. The highlight was the Sporting KC upset when Orlando was forced to play without four key players (including star forward Dom Dwyer), who were loaned to them by KC. Even without those players, they still pulled off the cupset on the road.. Open Cup glory continued in their MLS years, reaching the Semifinals in 2019, then finally winning it all in 2022.

Columbus Crew (MLS) 
vs. 
One Knoxville SC (USL-1)
ScottsMiracle-Gro Field; Columbus, Ohio
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

The last Division 3 team standing, One Knoxville SC, make their second straight road trip to an MLS club when they face the Columbus Crew in the Round of 16.

Defending USL League One champions One Knoxville will attempt to do what has been done only three times in the Modern Era by a Division 3 club, eliminate two MLS teams in one tournament. 

The first club to accomplish this feat was the 1997 San Francisco Bay Seals of the USISL D3 Pro League. After upsetting the A-League Seattle Sounders 1-0 in the Second Round, the Seals pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament by knocking off the Kansas City Wizards 2-1 on a pair of Marquis White goals. Next in the Quarterfinals, the Seals defeated the San Jose Clash 2-1 on second half goals from Shani Simpson (77’) and Shane Watkins (86’). The run came to an end in the Semifinals with a 2-1 loss to defending champions D.C. United.

The next time came in 2011 when the USL Pro League’s Richmond Kickers made their own run to the Semifinals. The Kickers first defeated the Columbus Crew 2-1 in the Third Round 

Nozomi Hiroyama scored in the 20th minute, and Matthew Delicate hit the game-winner with five minutes left. The Kickers then took out Sporting Kansas City 2-0 in the Quarterfinals on goals from Shaka Bangura (66’) and David Bulow (83’). Their run also ended in the Semifinals with a 2-1 lost to the Chicago Fire.

A year later the Harrisburg City Islanders of USL Pro would be the last D3 team to beat two MLS teams in the same tournament. They started off with one of the greatest Open Cup games of the Modern Era when they beat the New England Revolution in PKs in the Third Round. After a scoreless 90 minutes Harrisburg overcame a 3-0 extra time hole to force penalties. Brian Ombiji (111’), Sainey Touray (117’) and JT Noone (120’) scored in a ten-minute span as the City Islanders won the PK shootout 4-3. Extra time was needed again as Harrisburg beat the New York Red Bulls 3-1 in the Fourth Round. Sainey Touray scored twice (13’, 94’) and Lucky Mkosana added the clinching goal in the 118th minute. The Philadelphia Union put an end to the run with a 5-2 Quarterfinal defeat.

Columbus is 7-2-0 all time against Division 3 clubs, but those two losses came in back-to-back years at home. The first was a 2-1 loss to the Richmond Kickers in the 2011 Third Round, then in 2012 the Crew were upset by the Dayton Dutch Lions of USL Pro 2-1 in the Third Round.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 16

One Knoxville SC 

One Knoxville SC traveled to Garfield, N.J. in the opening round to face Vistula Garfield of the USASA’s American Premier Soccer League and won 3-1. After allowing an opening-minute goal, Knoxville took over, scoring twice in the first half through Babacar Diene (14’) and Trinidad & Tobago international Real Gill (21’), and again in the second on a goal from Mikkel Gøling (76’). 

In another Open Cup edition of the Smoky Mountain Series, One Knoxville survived an upset bid by Asheville City, advancing via penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. Braudilio Rodrigues scored first for Knoxville in the 33rd minute, but the USL League Two side equalized in the 67th minute. After a scoreless extra time, Jonathan Burke saved three of Asheville’s five penalties to help Knoxville win the shootout 3-2. 

In a game that was scoreless for 61 minutes, One Knoxville upset D.C. United via penalties after a 3-3 draw. After D.C. finally broke the scoreless tie in the 61st minute, Babacar Diene (75’) and Denis Krioutchenkov (78’) put One Knox up 2-1, only to see the MLS club draw level with seven minutes remaining. In extra time, D.C. struck in the 97th minute, but Krioutchenkov bagged his second goal in the 13th minute. In the penalty shootout, One Knoxville made all its attempts, and Jonathan Burke saved D.C’s.sixth shot to send the underdogs through. For his performance, Krioutchenkov was the runaway winner of TheCup.us Player of the Round. One Knoxville is the lone Division 3 club to advance to the Round of 16, earning $50,000

Columbus Crew

After a two-year absence, the Columbus Crew returned in a strong fashion, easily defeating the Richmond Kickers of USL League One 3-0. Hugo Picard scored the first two Crew goals in the 42nd and 63rd minutes, and Jamal Thiaré finished with a 73rd minute goal.

CURRENT FORM

Columbus Crew SC

After starting the season with a 0-3-2 record, the month of April has brought new life into the Crew. Since the calendar turned Columbus is 3-1-1, with the only loss coming to New England on a 85th minute penalty kick. Wessam Abou Ali, Diego Rossi and Max Arfsten lead the attack with 5, 4 & 3 goals respectively. Arfsten shares the assist lead with Dylan Chambost at 3.

One Knoxville SC

Defending USL League One Champions One Knoxville find themselves in familiar territory, near the top of the USL League One standings. One Knox are tied for first with FC Naples at 14 points with a 4-1-2 record, and are currently on a five game unbeaten streak in USL League One and have not lost in all competitions over nine games, including their 1-1 draw with FC Tulsa on April 25 in the Prinx Tires USL Cup. Leading the club in goal scoring is Denis Krioutchenkov with three goals over seven games. Goalkeeper Johan Garaby is second in the league with three clean sheets.

Columbus Crew SC (MLS)
Major League Soccer | Columbus, OH
23rd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Henrik Rydström
Overall: 26-18-3 (0-3 PK)
Home: 15-6-2 (0-2 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 7-2-0 
Best finish: Champions (2002)

Outside of the Crew’s three Open Cup finals appearances (1998, 2002 and 2010) and lifting the trophy in 2002, Columbus’ Open Cup history is not that great. They hold the third-longest streak in the Modern Era in exiting the tournament after two or fewer games. The Crew return to the Open Cup after a two-year absence, and their last appearance in 2023 broke a string of 10 tournaments where they exited after one of two games.

One Knoxville SC
USL League One | Knoxville, TN
4th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2021
Manager: Ian Fuller
Overall: 4-3-2 (2-0 PK)
Away: 4-1-2 (2-0 PK) 
vs. MLS: 0-0-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Third Round (2025)

One Knoxville began as an amateur team in USL League Two with the intent to eventually move to USL League One. After registering an 11-1-2 record and reaching the League Two Quarterfinals in the 2022 season, One Knoxville made the move to League One for the 2023 campaign but missed the playoffs. 2024 saw an improvement to a 9-5-8 record and a playoff berth, allowing a league-low 16 goals but also scoring a league-low 23.

In their third season in USL League One, One Knoxville did the double, taking the USL League One Players’ Shield with a regular season-best 16-5-9 but also winning the USL League One championship with a 2-0 win over Spokane Velocity.

Head coach Ian Fuller nearly made history in 2008 when he led the Charleston Battery (USL) to the US Open Cup Final. He scored an early equalizer against D.C. United in the Final, but the MLS side would eventually lift the trophy with a 2-1 win.

Chicago Fire FC (MLS) 
vs. 
St. Louis CITY SC (MLS)
SeatGeek Stadium; Bridgeview, Ill.
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

It’s the Windy City versus the Mound City, as longtime Open Cup opponents St. Louis and Chicago renew their rivalry through the Fire and CITY SC in the Round of 16.

The cities of St. Louis and Chicago are no strangers to each other in the annals of Open Cup history. The two Midwestern giants first met in the Open Cup in the 1920 Quarterfinals when St. Louis’ Ben Miller FC defeated Olympia FC of Chicago 2-1 on their way to winning the first Open Cup championship for St. Louis. Throughout the years, it was not uncommon to see teams from St. Louis and Chicago face each other in the latter rounds of the tournament.

More recently the MLS clubs representing the cities have met just once in the Open Cup. In the 2023 Fourth Round the Fire won 2-1 over St. Louis CITY in CITY’s debut year (NOTE: St. Louis CITY entered its reserve team from MLS NEXT Pro team in 2022, a year before launching the MLS franchise). Maren Haile-Selassie and Fabian Herbers scored for the Fire while Miguel Perez (now with St. Louis CITY 2) had the lone goal for St. Louis.

The Fire have had other Open Cup clashes with teams from St. Louis in the Modern Era. In the 2017 Fourth Round the Fire defeated St. Louis FC of the USL 1-0 with Luis Solignac scoring the lone goal in the 27th minute. Two years later, Saint Louis FC would turn the tables and upset the Fire 2-1 in the 2019 Fourth Round. First half goals from Austin Martz and Guy Abend put the USL club up 2-0 at the half, and Namanja Nikolic’s second half penalty for the Fire cut the lead in half.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 16

Chicago Fire

In a rematch from last year’s tournament, Chicago Fire travelled to Hamtramck, Mich. and came away with a 2-1 win over Detroit City FC of the USL Championship in the Third Round. Jason Shokalook struck twice in the span of three minutes (34,36’) in the first half, and Chicago withstood a goal from Detroit in the 79th minute and Puso Dithejane being sent off a minute later to advance to the Round of 16.

St. Louis CITY SC

St. Louis CITY had no trouble defeating the visiting FC Tulsa 4-0 in the Third Round. Marcel Hartel (20’) and Jeong Sang-bin (36’) put St. Louis up 2-0 at the half and Mykhi Joyner (61’) and Tomás Ostrák (78’) closed out the scoring in the second half.

CURRENT FORM

Chicago Fire FC

The Chicago Fire are unbeaten in their last five MLS games, going 4-0-1 in that span, and are heading back into Open Cup play after thrashing Sporting Kansas City 5-0. Hugo Cuypers is the leading goalscorer with eight, tied for third best in MLS. Phili[p Zinckernagel and Marren Halle-Salassie have three assists each. Goalkeeper Chris Brady is tied for the league lead with five clean sheets.

St. Louis CITY SC
Early in the MLS season St. Louis finds themselves in the familiar position of being at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 1-5-3 record. Their lone win came over a month ago, and with nine goals they are just one of three teams who have yet to score ten goals on the year. Marcel Hartel leads the meager offence with three goals.

Chicago Fire FC
Major League Soccer | Chicago, IL
26th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1998
Manager: Gregg Berhalter
Overall: 48-18-7 (4-3 PK)
Home: 29-2-3 (1-2 PK) 
vs. MLS: 25-12-2 (2-0)
Best finish: Champions (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006)

When the Chicago Fire franchise was 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 all-time in US Open Cup history), and 16 Quarterfinal appearances (2nd most all-time in US Open Cup history). No team in the Modern Era has more wins (48) and advances (52) than the Fire. The closest teams to that wins mark are the Seattle Sounders FC, FC Dallas, and the now-defunct Rochester Rhinos with 39. 

Chicago has been chasing a record-tying fifth Open Cup Championship since winning their fourth title in 2006. Since 2011, the Fire have reached the Semifinals five times, and in their last two tournaments, they have advanced to the Quarterfinals.

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 that a Chicago team was a contender for the crown. Prior to the Fire lifting the trophy for the first time in 1998, the last Illinois-based club to win the Open Cup was the AAC Eagles in 1990. 

St. Louis CITY FC 
Major League Soccer | St. Louis, MO
3rd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2023
Manager: Yoann Damet
Overall: 3-2-0
Home: 3-0-0
vs. MLS: 0-2-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2025) 

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.

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 to 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.

Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
vs. 
Louisville City FC (USL-C)
Shell Energy Stadium; Houston, Texas
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

After taking down 2025 runners-up Austin FC, Louisville City will try and do the same to 2023 Open Cup champions Houston Dynamo when they visit Shell Energy Stadium for their Round of 16 encounter,

Last round, Louisville snapped a six-tournament run of being eliminated by MLS teams. Now they will attempt to eliminate two MLS clubs in the same tournament for the first time in their history. This year marks the third time Louisville City has advanced at least four games deep into an Open Cup tournament. The first was in 2018, their deepest run when they reached the Quarterfinals. More recently in 2022, Louisville fell one game short of matching their Quarterfinal run, falling to Nashville FC 2-1 in the Round of 16.

Houston is currently on a seven game home unbeaten streak in the Open Cup, with their lone home elimination coming in the 2024 Fourth Round when Detroit City knocked them out via penalties. Houston has never outright lost a home Open Cup game to a non-MLS opponent.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 16

Louisville City FC

Two goals from Tola Showunmi in the 20th and 30th minutes were all Louisville City needed to defeat their opening round opponents from across the Ohio River, Southern Indiana FC of the UPSL.. Louisville outshot Southern Indiana 21-4 as the returning Showunmi, who was previously with Louisville in 2014, provided the scoring.

In the Second Round, Louisville recorded their fifth straight Commonwealth Cup victory over in-state rivals Lexington Sporting Club 2-0. Senegalese midfielder Babacar Niang opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, and Tola Showunmi doubled the lead in the 51st minute with his third goal of the tournament.

In the Round of 32, Tola Showunmi scored his Open Cup-leading fourth goal in the 32nd minute to help Louisville City t0 pull off the 2-1 upset of 2025 runner-up Austin FC. Sean Totsch, Lou City’s all-time Open Cup goalscorer, scored his 7th career Open Cup goal in the 26th minute. Then Showunmi. who has scored in every Open Cup game this year followed six minutes later. Austin narrowed the gap to 2-1 with 20 minutes left.

Houston Dynamo FC

Houston had no trouble with El Paso Locomotive, rolling over the USL Championship club 4-1.in the Round of 32. The Dynamo very quickly jumped in front on Ondrej Lingr’s 2nd minute goal, then were helped even more when El Paso was reduced to ten men due to a 25th minute red card. Mateusz Bogusz (46’), Nick Markanich (58’) and Ezequiel Ponce (80’) finished things for Houston with second half goals

CURRENT FORM

Houston Dynamo

After starting the year 2-4-0 Houston have bounced back a bit with two wins in their last three games. Houston is coming off a 2-0 loss to Austin FC in the Copa Tejas. The Dynamo are now sitting in 9th place in the Western Conference. Leading the offense is the new signing from Brazil, Guillerme, who has five goals and four assists

Louisville City

Two-time defending USL Championship Players’ Shield winners Louisville City are right where they usually are, in first place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference. At 5-1-1, Lou City’s only blemish this year was a 2-0 home loss to the Charleston Battery on April 4. The defeat ended a 20-game regular season unbeaten streak and a 26-game home unbeaten streak for Louisville City. Louisville opened the Prinx Tires USL Cup on April 25 with a 3-1 home win over Fort Wayne FC. Jansen Wilson is the club’s leading goal scorer with three, and the rest of the club’s 10 goals are spread out among nine different players. Taylor Davila is tied for the league lead in assists with three.

Houston Dynamo FC (MLS) 
Major League Soccer | Houston, TX
18th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2006
Manager: Ben Olsen
Overall: 27-13-3 (1-2 PK)
Home: 20-5-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 10-2-2 (0-2 PK)
Best finish: Champions (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 season, 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. 

The city of Houston made a mark on the Open Cup before any of its clubs did. The 1983 Open Cup Semifinals and Final were hosted at Houston’s Delmar Stadium, and won by New York Pancyprian Freedoms in a 4-3 goal fest over St. Louis’ Kutis SC.

Louisville City FC
USL Championship | Louisville, KY
10th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Simon Bird (interim)
Overall: 16-8-4 (3-1 PK)
Away: 4-6-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 2-6-1 (0-1 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 City had yet another stellar season in the 2025 USL Championship, finishing 22-7-1 and claiming the USL Championship Player’s Shield for the second consecutive year. The run came to a screeching halt in the playoffs as Louisville were upset by No. 8 seed Detroit City FC 1-0 in the opening round.

Last year, Louisville saw its Open Cup run end after two games. In the Third Round, LCFC fell to Minnesota United 1-0.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USLC) 
vs. 
Colorado Rapids (MLS)
DICK’S Sporting Goods Park; Commerce City, Colo.
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

After a 10-year pause, the I-25 derby resumes when the Colorado Rapids host the Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the Round of 16.

The Rapids and Switchbacks have met twice in the Open Cup, the last time being a decade ago. The first encounter came in the Switchbacks inaugural season, and the Rapids showed no mercy with a 4-1 win. Dillon Serna scored twice and had one assist, and Dominique Badji and Joseph Greenspan also scored. Jordan Burt scored a consolation goal for the Switchbacks in second half stoppage time. Later in their careers, Serna and Greenspan would play for the Switchbacks.

The second and last meeting took place a year later and was much closer. Dillon Serna once again boosted the Rapids with an 84th minute goal to win 1-0. The Switchbacks outshot the Rapids 14-13 and also held an 11-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Remarkably, the Rapids have played just 12 home games out of the 27 Open Cup games in their history with most of those games in the last ten years, The Rapids are 8-2-1 (0-1 PK) at home, one of the few positive stats from their Open Cup history. Meanwhile, Colorado Springs have played just 6 of their 20 Open Cup matches on the road, and this will be the third road Open Cup game in the last 14 for Colorado Springs.

On the negative side the Rapids are just 7-8-1 (0-1 PK) against Division 2 opposition in the Open Cup and are just 3-2-1 (0-1 PK) since 2012. The Rapids are one of just two MLS teams with a losing record against Division 2 teams with a minimum of five games(Real Salt Lake). The two wins over the Switchbacks were when the USL was considered a Division 3 league. 

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 16

Colorado Springs Switchbacks

In their opener, after jumping out to a 1-0 lead on Jonas Fjeldberg’s sixth-minute goal, it took the Switchbacks nearly 75 minutes to get another two and finally end the upset bid by Azteca FC 3-0. Sadam Masereka (82’) and Khori Bennett (86’) came through for Colorado Springs to beat the stubborn Colorado Premier League side. 

In the Second Round, the Switchbacks faced USL League One side Spokane Velocity and were taken to penalties after a 1-1 draw. Talen Maples scored for Colorado Springs just before halftime, but Spokane equalized with three minutes remaining. In the penalty tiebreaker, Christian Herrera saved Spokane’s first two attempts, and the Switchbacks prevailed 4-2

The Switchbacks pulled off the shock result in the Third Round by routing Sporting Kansas City 3-0. It was the first defeat of an MLS by a non-MLS club by three or more goals since Sacramento Republic defeated Real Salt Late 4-1 in the 2017 Fourth Round. Juan Tejada (11’) and Sadam Masereka (31’) put Colorado Springs up 2-0 at the half, and Khori Bennett (86’) added the third late in the game.

Colorado Rapids

The Rapids returned to the Open Cup after a two-year absence and came way with a 1-0 win over the always dangerous Union Omaha from USL League One. Dante Sealy recorded the games only goal in the 21st minute, and Colorado held on to advance to the Round of 16.

CURRENT FORM

Colorado Rapids

Since the Rapids defeated Union Omaha in the Third Round they’ve hit a rough patch in league play, losing two of the three games and drawing the other. To be fair, the  games were against three of the top teams in the league (Inter Miami, LAFC,  & Vancouver Whitecaps), with the last two on the road. Only one of the Rapids four wins have come against teams above the playoff line, and all five losses have come against teams currently making the playoff cut. Colorado’s 21 goals are the third most in MLS, with Rafael Navarro leading the way with 7 goals and 4 assists. 

Colorado Springs Switchbacks

The start of the Switchbacks’ 2026 season has been up and down. While their current Open Cup run is clearly an early highlight, league play has them sitting with a 2-2-2 record, though the Switchbacks halted a two-game losing streak at the end of March with a 1-1 draw with Lexington and a 4-1 win over Monterey Bay. The Switchbacks opened the Prinx Tires USL Cup on April 25 with a 1-0 win over Phoenix Rising. Khori Bennett leads both the Switchbacks and USL Championship with six goals. Bennett also has an Open Cup goal to his career resume, scoring for Reading United AC (USL League Two) in their 2018 Second Round PK elimination to the Richmond Kickers.

Colorado Rapids
Major League Soccer | Commerce City, CO
22nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1995
Manager: Matt Wells
Overall: 16-20-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 9-2-1 (0-1 PK) 

vs. MLS: 4-10-0
Best finish: Final (1999)

The Rapids are the most snakebit MLS team in terms of Open Cup success. You could call it the “Curse of the Foxes”, since the Rapids Open Cup debut in 1996 was replacing the A-League Colorado Foxes mid-tournament. The Foxes had five players called up by Jamaica for World Cup qualifying and withdrew when they couldn’t get their Quarterfinal game with the Kansas City Wizards rescheduled.

At 16-20-1, they are the only MLS club with more than 20 Open Cup games played to hold an overall record below .500. The Rapids hold the Modern Era record for most consecutive tournaments being eliminated after two or fewer games at 17 (2000-2022). While the Rapids have reached an Open Cup Final in 1999, they are the lone MLS team to lose the Final to a lower division club, the A- League Rochester Raging Rhinos.

In MLS play, the Rapids have won one MLS Cup Championship in 2010 and were playoff regulars in their early years. Recent seasons have been a struggle, missing the playoffs three of the last four seasons.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 
USL Championship | Colorado Springs, CO
10th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Alan McCann
Overall: 10-8-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 2-3-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 1-3-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2015, 2016)

Switchback refers to a type of path that follows a zig-zag pattern up a steep stretch of terrain, such as a hill or mountainside. The club has generally been middle of the road as far as success in the USL Championship, having made the playoffs three straight seasons after four years of missing out. In 2024, 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.

Colorado Springs took a step back from winning the USL Championship crown in 2024, finishing 10-13-7 in 2025 and beating out Lexington Sporting Club by one point for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. In the Open Cup, the Switchbacks snapped a three-year one-and-done streak with a 3-2 extra-time win over One Knoxville. In the following round, the Switchbacks lost to the New York Red Bulls, 4-1.

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.

It’s the round the lower-league clubs of America wait for, when MLS teams enter the ring, and they get a chance to knock off one of the “big boys” and possibly repeat Sacramento Republic’s run to the Final in 2022.

The 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup continues this week with 16 Third Round games on the schedule. With seven games on Tuesday and nine more on Wednesday, the 16 winners will advance to the Round of 16 (April 28-29).

Follow TheCup.us on BlueSky @TheCup.us and X (Twitter) @USOpenCup throughout the round for live updates from our reporters who will be at every stadium.

All 16 games will be streamed live on Paramount+, with six select games also being shown on the CBS Sports Network.

Below you will find a preview of all 16 games with links to the live streams:

TUESDAY, APRIL 14

New England Revolution (MLS)
vs.
Rhode Island FC (USL-C)
Centreville Bank Stadium – Pawtucket, RI
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

In a rematch of their 2025 encounter in the Fourth Round, the New England Revolution have the odd designation of being the home team while playing at the venue of their opponents, Rhode Island FC.

The winner will face the either FC Naples or Orlando City in the Round of 16.

New England has a history of playing home Open Cup matches outside of their normal home venue. The Revolution have played just 10 of their 25 Open Cup games in their home venues of Foxboro Stadium and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

The last time the Revolution lost an Open Cup game to a Division 2 level team was in the 2023 Fourth Round when they fell 1-0 to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

The rest of their Cup home games have taken place in 7 venues in 4 different cities, with Pawtucket’s Centreville Bank Stadium becoming venue number 8 and city number 5. Their most popular “home away from home” is Veterans Memorial Stadium in New Britain, Conn., although that venue has not been used by the Revs since the 2009 Third Round versus the Harrisburg City Islanders, a 2-1 extra time loss for the MLS side.

New England and Rhode Island met in the 2025 Fourth Round in a game that was won at the very end. Played at Centreville Bank Stadium, with Rhode Island as hosts, the Revs struck first through Tomas Chancalay in the 38th minute. Rhode Island equalized five minutes into the second half on a goal from Mexi Rodriguez. With two minutes remaining, Cristiano Oliveira put away a cross that rebounded off the upright of a 2-1 win.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

Rhode Island FC had no trouble with CD Faialense of the Bay State Soccer League, winning 4-0 in Round 1. Dani Rovira (13’) and Calvin Williams (26’) scored in the opening half, and Nick Scardina’s goal (78’) was followed two minutes later by an own goal.

In the Second Round, Rhode Island handed USL Championship rivals Hartford Athletic a 2-0 loss. JJ Williams assisted with Aldair Sanchez’s 12th-minute goal, then scored himself in the 29th minute.

New England Revolution 
Major League Soccer | Foxborough, MA
22nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Marko Mitrovic
Overall: 23-18-5 (3-2 PK)
Home: 15-7-3 (2-1 PK) 
vs. Div. 2: 8-11-1 (1-0 PK) 
Best finish: Champion (2007)

Outside of their lone Open Cup championship in 2007 and two other Final 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
3rd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2019
Manager: Khano Smith
Overall: 1-1-0 (0-1 PK)
Away:  1-0-1 (0-1 PK)
Vs. MLS: 0-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2025)

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, which 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 (Western Penn.) 6-3 over two games.

While Rhode Island fell short of matching its 2024 appearance in the USL Championship Final, it did reach the Eastern Conference Final despite a 7th-place finish at 10-12-8. Each year, Rhode Island has improved its Open Cup performance. After being eliminated by Charlotte Independence on penalties after a wild 4-4 draw in their opening game in 2024, last year they defeated Portland Hearts of Pine 2-1 in their opening contest, moving on to a game against the New England Revolution, where they lost 2-1.

Louisville City FC (USL-C)
vs.
Austin FC (MLS)
Lynn Family Stadium – Louisville, KY
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+/CBS Sports Network

Last year’s Open Cup runner-up, Austin FC, begin their quest to return to the Final when they visit Lynn Family Stadium to face Louisville City FC.

The winner will face either the Houston Dynamo (MLS) or El Paso Locomotive (USL-C) in the Round of 16.

After not achieving much success in their first two Open Cup appearances, Austin went to the Final in 2025. After opening with a comeback 3-2 victory over El Paso Locomotive of the USL Championship “The Verde and Black” ran a gauntlet of MLS Western Conference rivals, knocking off the Houston Dynamo FC (3-1), San Jose Earthquakes (2-2, 4-2 PKs) and Minnesota United FC (2-1 AET) before falling 2-1 to Nashville SC in the Final.

Louisville has been eliminated from the last six tournaments by MLS teams, a run that goes back to 2018 when they beat the New England Revolution 3-2 and reached the Quarterfinals. It was also the only time Louisville have defeated an MLS club at home.

Technically, this isn’t the first time Austin and Louisville have met this year. On Jan. 28, the clubs met in a closed-door pre-season friendly in Austin, Texas, which Austin won 1-0.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

Two goals from Tola Showunmi in the 20th and 30th minutes were all Louisville City needed to defeat their opponents from across the Ohio River, Southern Indiana FC of the UPSL, in the opening round. Louisville outshot Southern Indiana 21-4 as the returning Showunmi, who was previously with Louisville in 2014, provided the scoring.

In the Second Round, Louisville recorded their fifth straight Commonwealth Cup victory over in-state rivals Lexington Sporting Club 2-0. Senegalese midfielder Babacar Niang opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, and Tola Showunmi doubled the lead in the 51st minute with his third goal of the 2026 Open Cup.

Louisville City FC
USL Championship | Louisville, KY
10th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Simon Bird (interim)
Overall: 15-8-4 (3-1 PK)
Home: 10-2-2 (2-0 PK)
vs. MLS: 1-6-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2018)

Louisville City had yet another stellar season in the 2025 USL Championship, finishing 22-7-1 and claiming the USL Championship Player’s Shield for the second consecutive year. The run came to a screeching halt in the playoffs as Louisville were upset by No. 8 seed Detroit City FC 1-0 in the opening round.

Last year, Louisville saw its Open Cup run end after two games. In the Third Round, LCFC fell to Minnesota United 1-0.

AUSTIN FC 
Major League Soccer | Austin, TX 
4th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2021
Manager: Nico Estévez
Overall: 4-3-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 1-1-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 2-1-0
Best finish: Final (2025)

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. The Rockets would go on to reach the 1991 US 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 D-3 Pro League, appearing in three tournaments from 1997 to 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.

The new Austin Aztex qualified as a PDL club 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, which appeared in 2024 and were upset by amateur side FORO SC on penalties.

Westchester SC (USL-1)
vs.
New York City FC (MLS)
Mount Vernon Memorial Field – Mount Vernon, NY
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

New York City FC looks to rebound from two straight early exits when they make the short trip to Mount Vernon, New York, to face Westchester SC of USL League One.

The winner will face either Red Bull New York (MLS) or the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C) in the Round of 16.

New York City FC’s 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in last year’s Fourth Round prevented the Round of 16 from being an all-MLS affair. In their opening game of the 2023 Open Cup, NYCFC were bounced by FC Cincinnati 1-0.

NYCFC’s only Open Cup game against a Division 3 club came in the 2022 Fourth Round, when they defeated Rochester New York FC, the remnants of the Rochester Rhinos, 3-1.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

Former Little Rock Ranger Daniel Burko was all the offense Westchester needed to beat the NY Renegades 2-0 in the First Round. Burko converted a penalty kick in the 34th minute, then put the game away with an 83rd-minute goal.

Westchester were taken to penalties by USL League Two Cupset darlings Vermont Green in the Second Round, winning the tiebreaker 4-3 after a 0-0 draw. Goalkeeper Matias Molina saved the first and last penalties from Vermont to avoid the upset. Molina was also a finalist for TheCup.us Player of the Round honors.

Westchester SC 
USL League One | Westchester County, NY
2nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2024
Manager: George Gjokaj
Overall: 4-1-0
Home: 1-0-0
vs. MLS: 0-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2025)

Westchester’s Open Cup debut was a little better than their league debut, defeating amateur clubs FC Motown (1-0) and New York Pancyprian Freedoms (3-2) before dropping a 3-1 decision to Detroit City FC (USL-C) in the Third Round.

Westchester’s debut in USL League One is certainly one to improve on, finishing last in the 14-team league at 5-16-9. Despite the last-place finish, Juan Carlos Obregón won the Golden Boot as the leading goal scorer in USL League One with 17. Obregón has since moved on to a new USL Championship side, Brooklyn FC.

New York City FC 
Major League Soccer | Bronx, NY
9th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2013
Manager: Pascal Jansen
Overall: 4-6-2 (0-2 PK)
Away: 1-5-2 (0-2 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2019, 2022)

NYCFC began their Open Cup history with four straight one-and-done eliminations from 2015-2018. Finally, in 2019 and 2022, they broke the skid and reached the Quarterfinals. However, in 2023 and 2025, it was back to square one as they were ousted after just one game once again. In MLS play, New York City FC has missed the playoffs just twice in the past 11 seasons, winning the MLS Cup in 2021.

Detroit City FC (USL-C)
vs.
Chicago Fire FC (MLS)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Keyworth Stadium – Hamtramck, MI
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+/CBS Sports Network

Detroit City will try to redeem themselves after last year’s drubbing when they host the Chicago Fire in the Third Round.

The winner will face either St. Louis CITY SC (MLS) or FC Tulsa (USL-C) in the Round of 16.

In the 2025 Open Cup, Chicago opened with their largest Open Cup win since 2018, when they defeated Detroit City 4-0. Hugo Cuypers (4’), Omari Glasgow (50’), and Maren Haile-Selassie (71’) scored for the Fire, and Detroit added an own goal by Darren Smith (35’) in that DCFC were outshot 23-5.

Detroit has two eliminations of MLS teams since they turned professional. The first was a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew in the 2022 Third Round, then in 2024, DCFC eliminated defending Open Cup champions Houston Dynamo via penalties after a 3-3 draw.  It marked just the third time in the Modern Era that a lower division team rallied from a two-goal deficit and then advanced via a PK shootout. 

Chicago has been chasing a record-tying fifth Open Cup Championship since winning their fourth title in 2006. Since 2011, the Fire have reached the Semifinals five times, and in their last two tournaments, they have advanced to the Quarterfinals.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

Forced to move the game indoors to the Legacy Center Fieldhouse in Brighton, Mich., due to the threat of bad weather, Detroit City had no trouble with the Michigan Rangers, winning 5-1. After their NPSL opponents grabbed a shock 1-0 lead after eight minutes, it was all Detroit City. Preston Tabortetaka tied it in the 22nd minute, then Maxi Rodriguez (56’), Alexander Dalou (65’), Ates Diouf (81’) and Preston Tabortetaka (86’) again scored in the second half to pull away.

In the Second Round, Detroit survived one of the great amateur Cupset artists, defeating USL League Two’s Flint City Bucks 1-0. Alexander Dalou scored the lone goal in the 40th minute as Le Rouge avoided becoming the Bucks’ 12th upset victim.

Detroit City FC 
USL Championship | Hamtramck, MI
9th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2012
Manager: Danny Dichio
Overall: 6-5-6 (3-3)
Home: 6-1-3 (1-2) 

MLS: 1-2-1 (1-0 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. 

In the 2025 USL Championship season, Detroit City just made the playoff cut with a 9-11-10 record, then upset the top seed Louisville City FC 1-0 in the opening round of the playoffs. It was the second time in three years Detroit defeated the No. 1 seed as the 8th seed, knocking off the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 2023 by the same score.

Despite having no Open Cup winners, Detroit still has a rich history in the tournament. Two teams from the Motor City have reached the championship game: Holley Carburetor (1927) and Chrysler SC (1941).

Chicago Fire FC
Major League Soccer | Chicago, IL
26th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1998
Manager: Gregg Berhalter
Overall: 47-18-7 (4-3 PK)
Away: 17-16-3 (2-1 PK) 
vs. Div. 2: 9-4-3 (2-0 PK) 

Best finish: Champions (1998, 2000, 2003, 2006)

When the Chicago Fire franchise was 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 all-time in US Open Cup history), and 16 Quarterfinal appearances (2nd most all-time in US Open Cup history). No team in the Modern Era has more wins (47) and advances (51) than the Fire. The closest teams to that wins mark are the Seattle Sounders FC, FC Dallas, and the now-defunct Rochester Rhinos with 39.

In league play, they’ve been far less successful. After winning the MLS Cup in their debut year of 1998, the only other accolade the Fire has earned was the Supporters’ Shield in 2003. The club was on a dreadful seven-season run of missing the MLS Cup playoffs from 2018-2024 before snapping that streak last year.

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 that a Chicago team was a contender for the crown. Prior to the Fire lifting the trophy for the first time in 1998, the last Illinois-based club to win the Open Cup was the AAC Eagles in 1990. 

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C)
vs.
Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Weidner Field – Colorado Springs, CO
Kickoff: 8 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

Sporting Kansas City, one of the two four-time Open Cup champions in this year’s tournament, begin their quest to end their eight-year wait for championship No. 5 when they make just their second-ever Open Cup trip to Colorado to face the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.

The winner will face either the Colorado Rapids (MLS) or Union Omaha (USL-1) in the Round of 16.

Sporting KC have lost to Division 2 opposition in the Open Cup just twice in their previous 24 appearances, 3-1 to the A-League Nashville Metros in the 1998 Third Round, and 3-1 to the Minnesota Thunder in the 2005 Quarterfinals. While SKC have never outright lost an Open Cup road game to a Division 2 foe, they have been eliminated twice via penalties. The first time was in the 2008 Quarterfinals to the then-USL First Division Seattle Sounders after a scoreless draw, and more recently in the 2022 Semifinals to Sacramento Republic, again after a 0-0 draw.

Sporting have only made one trip to Colorado for the Open Cup, and it ended with a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rapids in the 2003 Fourth Round at the North Area Athletic Complex in Avada, Colo.

The Switchbacks have faced MLS opposition just three times in the Open Cup, losing all three. Twice they faced the Colorado Rapids in 2015 (4-1 loss) and 2016 (1-0 loss), and more recently the New York Red Bulls in 2025 (4-1 loss), all in the Fourth Round.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

In their opener, after jumping out to a 1-0 lead on Jonas Fjeldberg’s sixth-minute goal, it took the Switchbacks nearly 75 minutes to get another two and finally end the upset bid by Azteca FC 3-0. Sadam Masereka (82’) and Khori Bennett (86’) came through for Colorado Springs to beat the stubborn Colorado Premier League side. 

In the Second Round, the Switchbacks faced USL League One side Spokane Velocity and were taken to penalties after a 1-1 draw. Talen Maples scored for Colorado Springs just before halftime, but Spokane equalized with three minutes remaining. In the penalty tiebreaker, Christian Herrera saved Spokane’s first two attempts, and the Switchbacks prevailed 4-2.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC 
USL Championship | Colorado Springs, CO
10th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Alan McCann
Overall: 9-8-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 8-4-0
vs. MLS: 0-3-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2015, 2016)

Switchback refers to a type of path that follows a zig-zag pattern up a steep stretch of terrain, such as a hill or mountainside. The club has generally been middle of the road as far as success in the USL Championship, having made the playoffs three straight seasons after four years of missing out. In 2024, 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.

Colorado Springs took a step back from winning the USL Championship crown in 2024, finishing 10-13-7 in 2025 and beating out Lexington Sporting Club by one point for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. In the Open Cup, the Switchbacks snapped a three-year one-and-done streak with a 3-2 extra-time win over One Knoxville. In the following round, the Switchbacks lost to the New York Red Bulls, 4-1.

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.

Sporting Kansas City
Major League Soccer | Kansas City, KS
25th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1995
Manager: Raphaël Wicky
Overall: 36-17-7 (4-3 PK)
Away: 9-10-5 (2-3 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 9-2-3 (1-2 PK)
Best finish: Champions (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017)

Initially known as the Kansas City Wiz, then the Kansas City Wizards, and now Sporting Kansas City, along with the Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders, are on the cusp of joining Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC, and the Fall River Marksmen/New Bedford Whalers as five-time Open Cup champions. After a slow first few years, KC hit their stride in the Open Cup, and since 2002, they’ve never gone more than two years between reaching at least the Quarterfinals. 

Kansas City has been waiting for title number 5 since last lifting the trophy in 2017. Since then, they nearly won that elusive fifth title when they reached the 2024 Final, but they lost to Los Angeles FC 3-1 after extra time.

Colorado Rapids (MLS)
vs.
Union Omaha (USL-1)
DICK’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, CO
Kickoff: 9:30 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+/CBS Sports Network

After a two-year absence, the Colorado Rapids will try to regain their momentum when they host Union Omaha in the Third Round.

The winner will face either the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C) or Sporting Kansas City (MLS) in the Round of 16.

In their last Open Cup appearance in 2023, Colorado broke a 17-tournament streak of being eliminated after two or fewer games, nearly doubling the next longest streak by an MLS club set by the Columbus Crew from 2011-2022.

Colorado has been eliminated by lower division teams 11 times. They lost to a lower division team in five straight tourneys (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001). The last time the Rapids lost to a team from this level was in the 2013 Third Round, when they fell 3-1 to Orlando City, who were then part of USL Pro.

Union Omaha has one outright win and a penalty tiebreaker win over an MLS club, both in the same tournament. The PK win came in the 2022 Third Round when they tied the Chicago Fire 2-2, then advanced via penalties 5-4. Two rounds later, Omaha shocked Minnesota United 2-1, sending the Union to their lone Quarterfinal appearance.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

Omaha virtually had a First Round bye when they overwhelmed BOHFS St. Louis of the Midwest Premier League 8-0. Second-half sub Sergio Ors scored twice and assisted in two other goals in his half hour of game time. Samuel Owusu also scored twice in Omaha’s largest-ever Open Cup win.

Omaha pulled off its fourth upset of a higher-division foe with a 2-1 win over Indy Eleven in the Second Round. The score remained 0-0 for 75 minutes until Omaha struck twice in eight minutes. The first goal came from Samuel Owusu in the 75th minute, then the second from Kempes Tekiela in the 83rd. Indy pulled a goal back in stoppage time, but it was too little too late.

Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Major League Soccer | Commerce City, CO
22nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1995
Manager: Matt Wells
Overall: 15-20-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 6-17-0
vs. Div. 3: 4-2-0
Best finish: Final (1999)

The Rapids are the most snakebit MLS team in terms of Open Cup success. At 15-20-1, they are the only MLS club with more than 20 Open Cup games played to hold an overall record below .500. The Rapids hold the Modern Era record for most consecutive tournaments being eliminated after two or fewer games at 17 (2000-2022). While the Rapids have reached an Open Cup Final in 1999, they are the lone MLS team to lose the Final to a lower division club, the A- League Rochester Raging Rhinos.

In MLS play, the Rapids have won one MLS Cup Championship in 2010 and were playoff regulars in their early years. Recent seasons have been a struggle, missing the playoffs three of the last four seasons.

Union Omaha
USL League One | Omaha, NE
5th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2019
Manager: Vincenzo Candela
Overall: 11-4-2 (2-0)
Away: 6-3-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. MLS: 1-4-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2022)

Omaha took a step back from their double championship in 2024, finishing 13-10-7 and being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by newcomers FC Naples. They also finished with 51 goals, second-best in USL League One. 

Omaha’s best Open Cup performance came in their debut 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.

Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
vs.
Minnesota United FC (MLS)
Heart Health Park – Sacramento, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+/CBS Sports Network

Minnesota United kicks off their quest to best their 2025 Semifinal finish when they head west to face Sacramento Republic of the USL Championship.

The winner will face either the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) or Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C) in the Round of 16.

Minnesota has a four-tournament streak of playing at least three games, while Sacramento saw their similar six-tournament streak end with a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes.

Since the Open Cup returned from its COVID-19 hiatus, Sacramento has played 14 of its 17 Open Cup games at Heart Health Park and holds a 23-3-1 (1-0 PK) record there.

As an MLS club, Minnesota United had not lost to a Division 2 team over four games. Their only loss came when they were part of the single-season USSF Division 2 league and known as the NSC Minnesota Stars, losing 1-0 to AC St. Louis.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

Sacramento needed extra time to oust Cupset darlings El Farolito 2-0, but it was what happened near the end of the game that made headlines. Forster Ajago’s two extra-time goals gave the Republic the win, but moments after the second goal in stoppage time, tempers boiled over, and altercations between players erupted. After the referee officially ended the match, a few El Farolito players climbed into the stands to argue with fans before finally making their way to the locker room.

Sacramento’s Second Round game was a bit easier, defeating Valley 559 FC of the UPSL 4-0. Kyle Edwards led the way with a pair of goals in the 38th and 64th minutes, and assisted on Dominik Wanner’s 36th-minute score. Lee Desmond opened the scoring in the 11th minute, assisted by Wanner.

Minnesota United FC 
Major League Soccer | Saint Paul, MN
14th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2010
Manager: Cameron Knowles
Overall: 15-11-3 (2-1 PK) | 10-6-2 (2-0 PK) (MLS)
Away: 8-6-2 (1-1 PK) | 4-4-1 (1-0 PK) (MLS)
vs. Div 2: 3-1-1 (1-0 PK) | 3-0-1 (1-0 PK) (MLS)
Best finish: Final (2019)

Minnesota got its start in 2010 as the NSC Minnesota Stars. After a year in the USSF Division 2 league, Minnesota joined the now-defunct NASL, winning the championship in 2011. In 2015, it was announced that the franchise would join Major League Soccer starting with the 2017 season.

Since Minnesota joined MLS in 2017, they’ve had respectable 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 career Open Cup goals in the Modern Era.

According to TheCup.us records, 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.

Sacramento Republic FC
USL Championship | Sacramento, CA
11th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2012
Manager: Neill Collins
Overall: 25-9-2 (1-1 PK)
Home: 23-3-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. MLS: 5-8-2 (1-1 PK)

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 honors.

Sacramento has also been very successful in the USL Championship, making the playoffs in all but one of their 11 seasons, and winning the title in 2014 (when it was known as USL Pro) 

The Republic returned to the top half of the USL Championship standings in 2025, finishing second behind FC Tulsa with a 13-8-9 record. They also had one of the stingiest defenses in USL-C, allowing only 27 goals over 30 games, second-lowest behind Louisville City’s 19. Sacramento was upset in the opening round of the playoffs by Orange County SC, being ousted on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Sacramento also reached the Final of the USL Cup, where they lost to Hartford Athletic 1-0.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15

FC Naples (USL-1)
vs.
Orlando City SC (MLS)
Paradise Coast Sports Complex – Naples, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+/CBS Sports Network

Orlando City SC heads to Naples, Fla., to face a tier 3 team for just the second time since joining MLS as they face FC Naples of USL League One.

The winner will face either the New England Revolution (MLS) or Rhode Island FC (USL-C) in the Round of 16.

Orlando’s lone encounter with a Division 3 team while under the MLS banner came in the 2015 Fourth Round when they eliminated the Charleston Battery via penalty kicks after a 4-4 extra time draw. Four goals were scored in the extra session, and Orlando’s Carlos Rivas had a historic penalty kick hat-trick. GAME VIDEO

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

FC Naples had little trouble with Open Division qualifiers Red Force FC, winning 3-0. Marc Torrellas (23’) and Hudson Gay (30’) scored first-half goals, and Taylor Gray added the third in second-half stoppage time. Kevin O’Connor assisted on two goals as Naples outshot their USASA Premier Futbol League foes 16-1. HIGHLIGHTS

In the Second Round, Naples once again posted a 3-0 win, this time over the UPSL’s FC America CFL Spurs. Andres Ferrin opened the scoring early on a 3rd minute penalty kick, and Julian Cisneros (60’) and Dominick Bachstein (90’+3) followed with second-half goals. HIGHLIGHTS

Orlando City SC 
Major League Soccer | Orlando, FL
15th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2010
Manager: Martín Perelman (interim)
Overall: 22-13-5 (5-0 PK) | 10-7-5 (5-0 PK) (MLS)
Away: 7-8-2 (2-0) | 4-3-2 (2-0) (MLS)
vs. Div. 3:  1-0-1 (1-0) | 0-0-1 (1-0 PK) (MLS)
Best finish: Champion (2022)

Orland City started in 2010 as a USL club, winning USL Pro championships in 2011 and 2013, and finished first or second overall in all four years in the league. In 2015, the club joined MLS but has yet to find consistent league success.

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. The highlight was the Sporting KC upset when Orlando was forced to play without four key players (including star forward Dom Dwyer), who were loaned to them by KC. Even without those players, they still pulled off the cupset on the road.. Open Cup glory continued in their MLS years, reaching the Semifinals in 2019, then finally winning it all in 2022.

FC Naples
USL League One | Naples, FL
2nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2024
Manager: Matt Poland
Overall: 3-0-1 (0-1 (PK)
Home: 2-0-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 0-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (20252)

Having made their debut in 2025, FC Naples has a very limited Open Cup history. They made their way to the Third Round, defeating a pair of USL League Two sides, Sarasota Paradise (2-1), and Little Rock Rangers (3-1). Naples then pushed USL Championship club Tampa Bay Rowdies to the limit, losing in a 10-round penalty tiebreaker after 120 minutes of 1-1 soccer.

FC Naples made a mark in their debut USL League One season, posting a 13-9-8 record and finishing 4th in the 14-team league. Naples were one of two debut teams out of five to make the 2025 USL League One playoffs, the other being Portland Hearts of Pine. Naples would reach the USL League One semifinals before falling 1-0 to eventual champions One Knoxville SC.

FC Naples, along with Naples United in 2025, were the first clubs representing Naples, Fla., in the Open Cup since the PDL’s Southwest Florida Adrenaline in 2015.

The first team in the Modern Era to represent the area was the Fort Myers/Naples Manatees of the USISL Premier League (now USL League Two) in 1996.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We are missing some historical information about that Manatees club. If any of our readers know anyone associated with that club, please contact us HERE.

Richmond Kickers (USL-1)
vs.
Columbus Crew SC (MLS)
City Stadium – Richmond, VA
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

A rematch ten years in the making will kick off when the Columbus Crew visits the Richmond Kickers in the Third Round.

The winner will face either D.C. United (MLS) or One Knoxville SC (USL-1) in the Round of 16.

Richmond and Columbus have met three times in the Open Cup over the years, but not since 2015. Their first meeting came in the 2002 Third Round, as Columbus’ 3-0 win was the first step in winning the Open Cup that year. Brian McBride opened the scoring with a 34th-minute penalty, and Dante Washington added a pair of Kyle Martino-assisted goals in the 69th and 73rd minutes.

The next meeting came in the 2011 Third Round, and Richmond travelled to Columbus and got revenge. Nozomi Hiroyama opened the scoring for Richmond in the 20th minute, but the Crew answered through Cole Grossman seventeen minutes later. With five minutes remaining, Matthew Delicate headed in the winner from an Edson Elcock assist.

Finally, in the 2015 Third Round, Adam Bedell scored a pair of goals, and Ethan Finlay added another as Columbus came away with the 3-1 victors. Fred Owusu Sekyere scored for Richmond in the opening half.

Ironically, the Crew’s last Open Cup game against a Division 3 team was the 2015 game with Richmond. Columbus has lost two Cup games to Div. 3 clubs, the last coming in the 2012 Third Round when they were upset by the Dayton Dutch Lions of USL Pro 2-1. Richmond has lost nine straight Open Cup games to MLS clubs, with their last win coming in the 2011 Quarterfinals, 2-0 over Sporting Kansas City. That was the only time Richmond defeated two MLS clubs in the same tournament.

This game will mark the 38th Open Cup contest played at Richmond’s City Stadium, which recently broke the Modern Era record of 36 held by MUSC Health/Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C., which has since closed. With their win in the last round, the Kickers now have 38 wins which has surpassed D.C. United and Sporting Kansas City with 37 Open Cup wins in the Modern Era (1995-present), 7th best overall.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

Richmond made sure they weren’t eliminated two years in a row by an amateur club by handling Northern Virginia FC 2-0. It wasn’t all easy, as Richmond only outshot NoVa 18-11. Josh Kirkland scored in the 31st minute on a breakaway goal, then Lucca Dourado finally gave Richmond some breathing room with the second goal in the 89th minute. HIGHLIGHTS

Richmond left it late in their Second Round upset of Loudoun United of the USL Championship, as Lucca Dourado’s goal in the 7th minute of second-half stoppage time gave the Kickers a 1-0 win. HIGHLIGHTS

Richmond Kickers
USL League One | Richmond, VA
26th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1993
Manager: Darren Sawatzky
Overall: 37-22-5 (2-3 PK)
Home: 30-9-2 (0-2 PK)
vs. MLS: 5-15-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Champions (1995)

Richmond, which was founded in 1993, will make its 22nd straight US Open Cup appearance. Aside from their Open Cup championship win in 1995, Richmond has one Semifinal appearance (2011) and three trips to the Quarterfinals (2001, 2004, 2007) on their Open Cup resume. Since that Semifinal run in 2011, the Kickers have advanced to a third game just four times and have faced MLS opposition seven times without success.

Columbus Crew SC (MLS)
Major League Soccer | Columbus, OH
22nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Henrik Rydström
Overall: 25-18-3 (0-3)
Away: 8-11-1 (0-1)
vs. Div. 3: 6-2-0 
Best finish: Champions (2002)

Outside of the Crew’s three Open Cup finals appearances (1998, 2002 and 2010) and lifting the trophy in 2002, Columbus’ Open Cup history is not that great. They hold the third-longest streak in the Modern Era in exiting the tournament after two or fewer games. The Crew return to the Open Cup after a two-year absence, and their last appearance in 2023 broke a string of 10 tournaments where they exited after one of two games.

D.C. United (MLS)
vs.
One Knoxville SC (USL-1)
Audi Field – Washington, D.C.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

Looking to break a Finals drought going on 12 years, D.C. United welcomes One Knoxville of USL League One to Audi Field for a Third Round matchup.

The winner will face either the Richmond Kickers (USL-1) or Columbus Crew (MLS) in the Round of 16.

After reaching the Open Cup Final five times from 1998-2013, D.C. United have not even reached the Semifinals since then, exiting the tournament after two or fewer games from 2014 to 2023.

D.C. United have just two losses out of 14 games against Division 3 opponents in the Open Cup. The last time it happened was way back in the 2014 Fourth Round when they fell to the Rochester Rhinos 1-0.

After never facing a club from Tennessee in their 25-year Open Cup history, this will be D.C’s second consecutive game against a team from the Volunteer State, after their Quarterfinal game versus Nashville FC last year. This is Knoxville’s first-ever Open Cup game against an MLS team.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

One Knoxville SC traveled to Garfield, N.J., to face Vistula Garfield of the USASA’s American Premier Soccer League and won 3-1. After allowing an opening-minute goal, Knoxville took over, scoring twice in the first half through Babacar Diene (14’) and Trinidad & Tobago international Real Gill (21’), and again in the second on a goal from Mikkel Gøling (76’). HIGHLIGHTS

In another Open Cup edition of the Smoky Mountain Series, One Knoxville survived the upset bid by Asheville City, advancing via penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. Braudilio Rodrigues scored first for Knoxville in the 33rd minute, but the USL League Two side equalized in the 67th minute. After a scoreless extra time, Jonathan Burke saved three of Asheville’s five penalties to help Knoxville win the shootout 3-2. HIGHLIGHTS

D.C. United 
Major League Soccer | Washington, D.C.
25th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Troy Lesesne
Overall: 36-7-8 (4-4 PK)
Home: 26-6-5 (2-3 PK)
vs. Division 3: 11-2-1 (1-0 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 limited, as United have failed to advance past a second game in eight attempts. 

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 that teams from the District 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.

One Knoxville SC
USL League One | Knoxville, TN
4th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2021
Manager: Ian Fuller
Overall: 5-3-0
Away: 4-2-0
vs. MLS: 0-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2025)

One Knoxville began as an amateur team in USL League Two with the intent to eventually move to USL League One. After registering an 11-1-2 record and reaching the League Two Quarterfinals in the 2022 season, One Knoxville made the move to League One for the 2023 campaign but missed the playoffs. 2024 saw an improvement to a 9-5-8 record and a playoff berth, allowing a league-low 16 goals but also scoring a league-low 23.

In their third season in USL League One, One Knoxville did the double, taking the USL League One Players’ Shield with a regular season-best 16-5-9 but also winning the USL League One championship with a 2-0 win over Spokane Velocity.

Head Coach Ian Fuller nearly made history in 2008 when he led the Charleston Battery (USL) to the US Open Cup Final. He scored an early equalizer against D.C. United in the Final, but the MLS side would eventually lift the trophy with a 2-1 win.

New York Red Bulls (MLS)
vs.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C)
Sports Illustrated Stadium – Harrison, NJ
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds travel to Harrison, N.J., looking to repeat what they did last year: Post a win over a New York MLS side; this time the New York Red Bulls.

The winner will face either Westchester SC (USL-1) or New York City FC (MLS) in the Round of 16.

Last year, the Riverhounds were the only non-MLS team to reach the Round of 16, upsetting New York City FC 1-0 at home on Beto Ydrach’s stoppage-time goal.

The problem is, Pittsburgh has only won one road Open Cup game against an MLS opponent, a 1-0 win in the 2023 Fourth Round over the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. On top of that, the Red Bulls’ only home loss to a Division 2 team was way back in 1999, when they lost 3-2 in golden goal extra time to the A-League’s Staten Island Vipers. New York has a five-game winning streak against Division 2 teams; their last loss was to the New York Cosmos (then with the NASL), a 3-0 defeat in the 2014 Fourth Round.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

Pushed back a week due to inclement weather, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the clear favorites entering the game, could be accused of “playing with their food” too much in the 2-1 win over Steel City FC. Up 2-0 on goals from Danny Griffin (6’) and Charles Ahl (66’), Steel City stayed in the game and pulled a goal back via penalty in the 76th minute. The Riverhounds held on to win despite being outshot 12-5 by their amateur opponents.

The Riverhounds squashed the upset hopes of the UPSL’s Virginia Dream with a 2-0 Second Round win. After a scoreless opening half, Daniel Griffin (51’) and Eliot Goldthrop (59’ PK) put Pittsburgh up 2-0 as Pittsburgh advanced to the Third Round.

New York Red Bulls 
Major League Soccer | Harrison, NJ
25th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Michael Bradley
Overall: 28-22-5 (3-2 PK) 
Home: 13-6-4 (2-2 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 9-5-0 
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, in 2022, the Red Bulls made 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.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
USL Championship | Pittsburgh, PA
22nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1999
Manager: Rob Vincent
Overall: 21-19-3 (1-2 PK)
Away: 5-14-2 (0-2 PK)
vs. MLS: 4-8-0
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. 

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.

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 to 1956, Western Pennsylvania teams reached the Final eight times.

Chattanooga FC (MLSNP)
vs.
Atlanta United FC (MLS)
Finley Stadium – Chattanooga, TN
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

Chattanooga FC, the lone MLS NEXT Pro club, faces an MLS team for just the second time in the Open Cup when Atlanta United comes to Finley Stadium in the Third Round.

The winner will face either Charlotte FC (MLS) or Charlotte Independence (USL-1) in the Round of 16.

Chattanooga’s first MLS opponent in the Open Cup was none other than Atlanta United, and the “The Five Stripes” had an easy time in their 2022 Third Round encounter, winning 6-0. Dom Dwyer led the way with two goals and an assist.

Chattanooga didn’t have much luck with United’s predecessor, the Atlanta Silverbacks of the NASL. Chattanooga first suffered a 5-0 loss in the 2014 Third Round, then were eliminated 2-1 after extra time in the 2015 Third Round. It is important to note that Chattanooga was still an amateur team playing in the NPSL for both games.

Atlanta has only played Division 3 opposition twice in the Open Cup, winning both games. The first was the previously mentioned 2022 win over Chattanooga, and the other was a 3-0 win over Charlotte Independence in the 2024 Fourth Round.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

In Round 1, Chattanooga recovered from an early 1-0 deficit to overcome amateur side Kalonji Pro-Profile of the UPSL 2-1. In the 13th minute, Kalonji’s 14-year-old Braiden Kalonji made history when he scored off a saved penalty kick, becoming the youngest player to score a goal in the Modern Era (according to TheCup.us records). Chattanooga then took over when Darwin Ortiz (45’+1) and Ameziane Sid Mohand (46’) scored on either side of halftime. HIGHLIGHTS

In the Second Round, Chattanooga needed just one goal to defeat the 2025 Spring UPSL champion Tennessee Tempo, 1-0. Nathan Koehler scored in the 44th minute when he headed in a corner kick from Daniel Mangarov. HIGHLIGHTS

Chattanooga have played eleven of their 18 Open Cup games at home in Finley Stadium, where they are 4-4-3, with the three draws resulting in 2 penalty tiebreaker wins and one loss. Chattanooga has a 3-2-3 (2-1 PKs) record against amateur opponents, with the three wins coming after they turn professional.  

Chattanooga FC
MLS NEXT Pro | Chattanooga, TN
10th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid as an independent MLS NEXT Pro club
Founded: 2009
Manager: Richard Dixon
Overall: 6-7-6 (3-3 PK)
Home: 5-4-3 (2-1 PK)
MLS: 0-1-0
Best finish: Third Round (2014, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2023)

Chattanooga FC started as an NPSL club in 2009, reaching the NPSL championship game four times. The club transitioned to a professional team when they joined NISA in 2019, where they became one of that league’s more successful teams despite not winning a league championship. In 2024, the club moved to MLS NEXT Pro, where they barely missed the playoffs. In the 2024 US Open Cup, Chattanooga FC were upset at home by amateur club Miami United FC 1-0.

Chattanooga FC are by far the most experienced MLS NEXT Pro team as far as the Open Cup is concerned, having made nine previous appearances. Chattanooga’s deepest run came in 2015, when they advanced past the Ocala Stampede and Wilmington Hammerheads on penalties, only to lose in extra time to the NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1.

Atlanta United FC (MLS)
Major League Soccer | Atlanta, GA
7th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2017
Manager: Gerardo “Tata” Martino
Overall: 9-5-1 (1-0)
Away: 2-2-1 (1-0)
vs. Div. 3: 2-0-0
Best finish: Champions (2019)

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. The last time Atlanta reached the Quarterfinals was during their 2019 championship run. After they needed extra time to beat the Charleston Battery in front of an empty stadium, they beat the Columbus Crew on the road before they defeated Saint Louis FC of the USL Championship 2-0. After shutting out Orlando City on the road, they edged Minnesota United 2-1 in the championship game in front of 35,709 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the largest crowd to ever witness a US Open Cup Final. It was the first time that a Final was held indoors and the first time that a Georgia team had ever lifted the trophy.

The city of Atlanta’s involvement in the Open Cup goes back to 1979. With enough clubs from the South showing interest, the field was split into four regions, Region I (East), Region II (Midwest), Region III (South) & Region IV (West), with the winner of each region getting a spot in the National Semifinals. Atlanta was represented early on in the final four by the Atlanta Wolves (1980) and Datagraphic (1981), but teams from the city were never able to reach the Final. The Atlanta Silverbacks were the first pro team to represent Atlanta, but could only make it to the Quarterfinals in 2014. Finally, in 2019, Atlanta United not only reached the Final but also won the city’s first Open Cup championship. 

Charlotte FC (MLS)
vs.
Charlotte Independence (USL-1)
Mecklenburg County Sportsplex – Matthews, NC
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

After winning the Battle of the Carolinas in the Second Round, Charlotte Independence now aims for supremacy in North Carolina when they travel to face Charlotte FC in the Third Round.

The winner will face either Chattanooga FC (MLS NP) or Atlanta United FC (MLS) in the Round of 16.

Charlotte FC are undefeated at home (2-0-0) and against Division 3 opponents in the Open Cup. All three games were against USL League One clubs with a combined score of 11-3: 2-1 (AET) at Greenville Triumph SC and 5-1 at Richmond Kickers in 2022, and 4-1 over South Georgia Tormenta in 2023.

The Independence has played MLS teams in the Open Cup just three times, with their only win coming in the 2015 Fourth Round over the New England Revolution 1-0.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

Charlotte’s First Round game versus Ristozi FC of the NPSL went a bit smoother. Clay Dimick opened the scoring for Charlotte in the 4th minute, but the amateur side from Baltimore equalized heading into halftime. The Independence pulled away in the second half on goals from Enzo Martínez (69’), Fabrice Ngah (87’), and Christopher Jaime (89’) for a 4-1 win.

In the Second Round, the Independence squandered a 2-0 lead with 20 minutes remaining but recovered to defeat the Charleston Battery 3-2 after extra time. Souaibou Marou (37’) and Luis Alvarez (58’) put Charlotte up 2-0, but Charleston scored in the 70th and 77th minutes to tie the game at 2-2 and force extra time. As a penalty tiebreaker loomed, Viggo Ortiz scored the game-winner for Charlotte in the 118th minute.

Charlotte FC 
Major League Soccer | Charlotte, NC
4th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2022
Manager: Dean Smith
Overall: 5-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 2-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 3-0-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2022, 2023)

Charlotte FC has only played in three tournaments, the first two times they won two games and lost on the road in the Fifth Round, 2025 was the first year they were eliminated after just two games.

Before 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).

Charlotte Independence
USL League One | Charlotte, NC
9th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Mike Jeffries
Overall: 11-8-3 (2-1 PK)
Away: 6-5-0
Home: 1-2-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2015)

Charlotte has the second-longest Open Cup history of all the USL League One teams, with eight previous appearances. The club’s high point was a run to the Fifth Round (Round of 16) in 2015, when they upset the New England Revolution 1-0 in the Fourth Round. The Independence fell short of reaching the Quarterfinals, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Chicago Fire. Captain Jorge Herrera was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round for his performance against New England.

Charlotte reached the USL League One playoffs for the sixth straight season in 2025, finishing 10-7-13. Their 2025 Open Cup run lasted three games, defeating the Long Island Rough Riders (3-2) and Carolina Core (2-1), both in extra time affairs, before losing 3-1 to North Carolina FC in the Third Round.

St. Louis CITY SC (MLS)
vs.
FC Tulsa (USL-C)
Energizer Park – St. Louis, MO
Kickoff: 8 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

St. Louis CITY will try to live up to the history its city has created in the Open Cup when it hosts FC Tulsa in the Third Round.

The winner will face either Detroit City FC (USLC) or Chicago Fire FC (MLS) in the Round of 16.

With only four Open Cup games under their belt, St. Louis CITY is still somewhat of an unknown entity in the competition.

While St. Louis CITY’s Open Cup history is limited to their two games in 2023, the city they represent is rich in Open Cup history. However, St. Louis CITY entered 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 to 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.

Not only is Tulsa 0-3 against MLS teams in the Open Cup, but they’re also 3-7-0 on the road. The good news is that Tulsa has won the last two road games, both of them coming last year.

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

FC Tulsa had a bit of a fight with the Little Rock Rangers of USL League Two, but managed to hold on for a 4-2 win. Rémi Cabral (19’) and Jamie Webber (32’) gave Tulsa a 2-0 advantage at the break, only to see Little Rock make it 2-1 early in the second half. Lamar Batista restored the two-goal lead in the 70th minute, then Nelson Pierre tallied less than a minute after Rangers got their second goal.

In what could be called Battle of the Alamo II, Tulsa outlasted San Antonio FC 1-0 in extra time in the Second Round. The match saw 60 fouls called and 14 cards handed out, including a red for San Antonio in extra time. It was the second-most combined fouls of any Modern Era game, according to TheCup.us records. In the end, it was Rémi Cabral who put Tulsa in front for good with a goal in the 106th minute.

St. Louis CITY FC 
Major League Soccer | St. Louis, MO
3rd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2023
Manager: Yoann Damet
Overall: 2-2-0
Home: 2-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2025) 

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.

FC Tulsa
USL Championship | Tulsa, OK
10th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2013
Manager: Luke Spencer
Overall: 9-8-2 (1-1 PK)
Away: 5-7-0
vs. MLS: 0-3-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2024)

FC Tulsa started out as the Tulsa Roughnecks in 2014, paying homage to the NASL team that played from 1978 to 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.

After missing the playoffs in 2024, FC Tulsa rebounded in a big way, finishing first in the Western Conference with a 16-5-9 record and reaching the USL Championship Final, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

While the original NASL avoided the Open Cup during its existence, in 1983, the Tulsa Roughnecks showed interest in entering. While it was too late to join the 1983 tournament, plans were made for 1984. Unfortunately, the league folded before that could happen, and Tulsa’s Open Cup plans had to be scrapped.

Houston Dynamo FC (MLS)
vs.
El Paso Locomotive FC (USL-C)
Shell Energy Stadium – Houston, TX
Kickoff: 8 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

Houston continues to “defend” their 2023 US Open Cup championship and stop the string of bad results when they host El Paso Locomotive in the Third Round.

The winner will face either Louisville City FC (USLC) or Austin FC (MLS) in the Round of 16.

Houston are the last Open Cup Champions to enter the Open Cup, as the last two winners (Los Angeles FC in 2024 and Nashville FC in 2025) have not returned to defend their titles due to CONCACAF Champions Cup commitments. Since winning the Open Cup in 2023, Houston has not had much success in the tournament, being bounced by Detroit City after one game in 2024, and only lasting two games last year.

Houston have been eliminated by a Division 2 opponent just four times in its history. The last time came as the Dynamo were beginning defense of their 2023 Open Cup championship, eliminated via penalties by Detroit City FC after a 3-3 draw. They let a two-goal lead slip away before falling in the tiebreaker. The last outright loss was in the 2012 Third Round when they were upset by San Antonio FC 1-0.

After four years of one-and-done performances in the Open Cup, El Paso finally broke through and made a run to the Fourth Round. After beating amateurs Harpos FC 5-1 for their first-ever Open Cup win, El Paso knocked off Ventura County FC  (MLSNP) 3-0. In the Third Round, El Paso eliminated USL Championship rivals New Mexico United on penalties after a 2-2 draw. The run came to an end after Austin FC (MLS) scored three unanswered goals to overcome a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2.

El Paso found themselves with a challenge in the USL League Two’s Laredo Heat. They came away with a 2-0 win with each team taking 15 shots, El Paso took a 1-0 lead on Diego Abitia’s 51st-minute goal and could finally breathe easy when Rubio Rubín put El Paso up by two in the 89th minute. HIGHLIGHTS

For the second year in a row, El Paso topped their Derby Del Camino Real rivals New Mexico United in the Open Cup, this time by a resounding 4-0 scoreline. Up 1-0 at the half on Alvaro Quezada’s 37th-minute goal, the Locomotive extended their lead with three second-half goals from Alex Mendez (63’), Rubio Rubin (69’), and Eric Calvillo (86’). 

Houston Dynamo FC (MLS) 
Major League Soccer | Houston, TX
18th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2006
Manager: Ben Olsen
Overall: 26-13-3 (1-2 PK)
Home: 19-5-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 9-2-2 (0-2 PK)
Best finish: Champions (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 season, 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. 

The city of Houston made a mark on the Open Cup before any of its clubs did. The 1983 Open Cup Semifinals and Final were hosted at Houston’s Delmar Stadium, and won by New York Pancyprian Freedoms in a 4-3 goal fest over St. Louis’ Kutis SC.

El Paso Locomotive FC
USL Championship | El Paso, TX
6th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Junior Gonzalez
Overall: 4-4-2 (1-1)
Away: 3-3-2 (1-1)
vs. MLS: 0-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2025)

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. El Paso did well in the 2025 USL Championship season, going 10-9-11 and finishing 4th in the Western Conference, though they exited the playoffs in the opening round.

San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
vs.
Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)
PayPal Park – San Jose, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m.
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+/CBS Sports Golazo Network

The San Jose Earthquakes will renew their quest to finally reach an Open Cup Final when they host the USL Championship’s Phoenix Rising FC.

The winner will face either Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C) or Minnesota United FC (MLS) in the Round of 16.

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 four 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.

In their 20 previous Open Cup appearances, San Jose has never faced a club from Arizona. Three of San Jose’s last four Open Cup appearances have ended in defeat to a USL Championship team: 2-0 to Sacramento Republic in 2022, 1-0 to Monterey Bay FC in 2023, and 4-3 (AET) again to Sacramento in 2024. 

Phoenix is 0-3 against MLS clubs in the Open Cup, and their last two cup runs were stopped by an MLS club (2-1 vs. Seattle in 2024, 4-1 (AET) to Houston in 2025)

ROAD TO THE ROUND OF 32

Phoenix had an easy opening game, cruising past San Ramon FC of The League for Clubs 4-0. Phoenix led at halftime 2-0 on goals from Hope Avayevu (15’) and Juan Carvajal (45’+2) before topping things off with late goals from Aleksander Vukovic (90’) and Anthony Capetillo (90’+4).

In the final game of the Second Round, Phoenix needed extra time to vanquish USL Championship rivals Orange County SC 2-1. In a game that saw 43 fouls and a Modern Era record-tying 15 yellow cards, Gunnar Studenhofft put Phoenix ahead 1-0 in the 35th minute, only to see Orange County equalize with four minutes remaining. Aleksander Vukovic restored Phoenix’s advantage five minutes into extra time as they held on to win.

San Jose Earthquakes
Major League Soccer | San Jose, CA
21st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1996
Manager: Bruce Arena
Overall: 19-15-9 (4-5)
Home: 12-5-3 (1-2 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 11-4-2 (2-0 PK)
Best finish: Semifinals (2004, 2017)

San Jose was once a powerhouse in MLS, winning the MLS Cup in 2001 and 2003 and the Supporters’ Shield in 2002. That all changed after the 2005 season, when the club left the Bay Area for Houston and became 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.  

The city of San Jose first dipped their toe into the Open Cup pool during the 1970 tournament, when the San Jose Latinos entered. Throughout the 70s teams like the San Jose Portuguese AC, San Jose Grenadiers, and San Jose Lobos would be regular entrants and would make the occasional deep run. The San Jose Oaks won the Open Cup in 1992, 2-1 over Vasco da Game of Bridgeport, Conn.

The Earthquakes are managed by Bruce Arena, who led D.C. United to an Open Cup title in 1996. After falling short on penalty kicks with D.C. in the 1997 Final (to the Dallas Burn), Arena has not led a team to the championship game since 1997. Only two of his teams (2015 and 2016 LA Galaxy) have survived more than two games in a single tournament. Arena, one of American soccer’s all-time great coaches, has a career Open Cup coaching record of 16-10-2 (1-1 PKs). He has 11 US Open Cup Major titles (MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, CONCACAF Champions Cup, US Open Cup) to his credit, which is tied with Sigi Schmid for the most.

Phoenix Rising FC
USL Championship | Phoenix, AZ
11th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Pa-Modou Kah
Overall: 10-8-3 (1-2 PK)
Away: 5-3-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. MLS:
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, after eliminating FC Tulsa on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the Third Round, Phoenix fell to 2024 Open Cup champs Houston Dynamo 4-1 after extra time.

After a hectic 10-week run in which 87 teams were eliminated over the first five rounds, the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup returns from a six week “summer vacation” with four Quarterfinal matchups on Tuesday, July 9 and Wednesday, July 10.

Among the eight Quarterfinalists, there are three previous champions (Sporting Kansas City, FC Dallas, Seattle Sounders FC) three USL Championship clubs (Sacramento Republic FC, New Mexico United & Indy Eleven), and a MLS club who have never reached the Open Cup Final (Los Angeles FC). Seattle and Kansas City are also gunning for a fifth Open Cup championship, which would tie the all-time record in the tournament’s 109-year history.

The Quarterfinal winners will advance to the Semifinals which are scheduled to take place the week of Aug. 27-28.

You can find the schedule and results for the Round of 16 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 and the Round 4 games HERE. The Round 5 / Round of 16 review can be found here.

TheCup.us will have reporters at every Quarterfinal game and will be providing live updates on X (Twitter), @USOpenCup.

All Quarterfinal matches will be broadcast live on Apple TV with links provided below.

A full round preview can be found below with video links and detailed info on each team’s 2024 US Open Cup run and history throughout the years.

Tuesday, July 9

Atlanta United FC (MLS)
vs.
Indy Eleven (USL-C)
Fifth Third Bank Stadium – Kennesaw, GA
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO (Apple TV)
Winner plays at FC Dallas or Sporting KC in Semifinals

If there was an award for Comeback Team of the Year, Indy Eleven would be top contenders for 2024. After getting off to a lackluster 1-1-4 start to their USL Championship campaign, and amid word the city was talking to unnamed investors and Don Garber about bringing an MLS club to Indianapolis, Indy Eleven caught fire. Starting with a 1-1 draw at Colorado Springs on April 20, Indy went on a nine-match unbeaten streak, the final eight of which were wins. The streak rocketed Indy up the standings, third behind Louisville City and the Charleston Battery, who were threatening to run away with the Eastern Conference.

Jack Blake leads the Indy offense with eight goals, tied for sixth place in the USL Championship. Augustine Williams (five goals), Douglas Martínez and Sebastián Guenzatti (three goals each) help lead the scoring charge that has Indy fourth in the league with 30 goals. Aedan Stanley, who joined Indy after two seasons with Miami FC, is tied for the league lead in assists with seven.

Atlanta United has had quite an up and down season thus far. A 3-2-2 start was followed by a 1-4-2 stretch. The club then ended June on a four-game unbeaten run, but head into their Open Cup Quarterfinal having lost their last two league games, including a 5-2 pounding from Real Salt Lake. All of this leaves the Five Stripes sitting just outside the Eastern Conference playoffs at 6-10-6.

Five players are largely responsible for Atlanta’s offense. Thiago Almada leads the way with six goals, and Giorgos Giakoumakis, Saba Lobjanidze, Daniel Rios and Jamal Thiaré follow with five goals each. The five players account for 26 of Atlanta’s 31 goals this year. Brooks Lennon leads with six assists, and Lobjanidze adds four helpers to his goal total.

Open Cup Pedigree

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. The last time Atlanta reached the Quarterfinals was during their 2019 championship run. After they needed extra time to beat the Charleston Battery in front of an empty stadium, they beat the Columbus Crew on the road before they defeated Saint Louis FC of the USL Championship 2-0. After shutting out Orlando City on the road, they edged Minnesota United 2-1 in the championship game in front of 35,709 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the largest crowd to ever witness a US Open Cup Final. It was the first time that a Final was held indoors and the first time that a Georgia team had ever lifted the trophy.

In Atlanta’s short Open Cup history, they’ve faced Division 2 opposition just seven times resulting in a 4-2-1 record with the one draw resulting in a PK tiebreaker win. Atlanta’s only loss to a USL Championship foe in the Open Cup came last year in a 2-1 extra time defeat at the hands of Memphis 901 FC.

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 only has three Open Cup games against MLS, resulting in a 0-2-1 record, and all three games were on the road.

How they got here

Atlanta had an easy time with Charlotte Independence winning 3-0 at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga. After a scoreless first half Nick Firmino put United up 2-0 with a brace, and Daniel Rios closed out the scoring near the end of the game. 

Atlanta’s Round of 16 game at the Charleston Battery was significantly more difficult, as the MLS side battled host Charleston to a scoreless draw over 120 minutes before prevailing 5-4 in the penalty kick shootout. Goalkeeper Josh Cohen turned out to be the difference maker for Atlanta, saving Charleston’s final two penalty attempts as Atlanta converted their final five shots.

It was Charleston’s fourth Open Cup elimination at the hands of Atlanta United, having previously been knocked out of the tournament in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

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.

Before the Fourth Round, news broke that the city of Indianapolis had been in conversations with Major League Soccer (MLS) about bringing an expansion franchise to the market. This caused plans for “Eleven Park”, a brand new 20,000-seat stadium for the USL side to be halted while the city discussed details of a different plan, tailored to a potential new MLS club with an unnamed group of investors. Despite the drama, Indy Eleven proceeded to eliminate San Antonio FC 2-0 on the strength of goals from Augustine Williams and Jack Blake in the first ten minutes.

Indy Eleven’s Round of 16 against Detroit City FC looked to be their toughest hurdle yet, but it turned out to be the opposite. A 14th minute own goal from DCFC was followed in the first half by scores from Augustine Williams and Ben Ofeimu gave Indy a 3-0 lead at the half. Despite being outshot 17-6, Indy goalkeeper Hunter Sulte made seven saves to keep Detroit off the board and preserve a third straight shutout win with a 3-0 victory, giving Indy Eleven their first quarterfinal appearance in club history. It also marks the first time that a team from Indiana has reached the Quarterfinals since the Indianapolis Inferno did it in 1992.

Atlanta in the Quarterfinals

The city of Atlanta’s first foray into the Quarterfinals came in 1979 when Datagraphic fell to Tampa’s H. Brooks Dodge Chargers 2-1. The Atlanta Wolves became the first Atlanta team to win a Quarterfinal game when they beat the Chargers 5-2 the following year. Datagraphic returned in 1981 and defeated Olympic SC of Louisiana. Soccer City would be Atlanta’s final pre-Modern Era Quarterfinal participant in 1988. Until Atlanta United, the Atlanta Silverbacks were the only Modern Era club to reach the final eight, a 3-1 loss to the Chicago Fire in 2014.

Indianapolis in the Quarterfinals

Indianapolis only has one other appearance in the Quarterfinals, a 2-0 victory by the Indianapolis Inferno over St. Louis’ Scott Gallagher SC.

Atlanta United FC (MLS)
6th US Open Cup appearance (2017-2019, 2022, 2023)
2nd Quarterfinal appearance (2019)
Overall: 9-4-1 (1-0 PK)
Home: 7-2-0
vs. Div. 2: 4-2-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: 2019 US Open Cup champions

Indy Eleven (USL-C)
9th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022, 2023)
1st Quarterfinal appearance
Overall: 7-7-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 1-5-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 0-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Fourth Round (2014, 2016)

---

Tuesday, July 9

Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
vs.
Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
Heart Health Park – Sacramento, CA
Kickoff: 11 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: Apple TV
Winner hosts Los Angeles FC or New Mexico United in Semifinals     

Like Atlanta, Seattle started their season slow, remaining just outside the playoff line. The Sounders then took off in June. After opening the month with a 2-1 loss to Kansas City, Seattle reeled off a five game unbeaten streak which is still ongoing. The hot run has propelled Seattle to sixth place in the Western Conference, although they have just a one point cushion over 10th place Austin FC.

Veterans Jordan Morris and Raul Ruidiaz lead the offense with eight goals each, accounting for over half the Sounders 31 goals this year. Albert Rusnák (10) and Obed Vargas (5) are the club’s assist leaders. Longtime goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who helped the Sounders win their most recent Open Cup title in 2014, has five clean sheets in his 18 games this year.

While Sacramento has been near the top of the USL Western Conference all year, recently they’ve hit a bit of a rough stretch. Their last five games have resulted in a 2-2-1 record, and they’ve only had back-to-back wins once this year. While they have one of the lowest scoring offenses in the USL Championship with just 21 goals in 17 games, their 13 goals conceded is tied for fewest in the league. Leading the defense is longtime goalkeeper Danny Vitiello, who leads the league with eight shutouts. The offense is led by Trevor Amman with eight goals. Amman set the single season goal scoring record for USL League One in 2023 with 23 while with the Northern Colorado Hailstorm.   

Open Cup Pedigree

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. Despite falling short in the 2022 Final, club legend Rodrigo Lopez was voted TheCup.us Player of the Tournament. Sacramento holds a remarkable 20-2-1 (1-1 PK) record in home Open Cup games, including a 14-game unbeaten streak stretching from 2017-2023. However, Republic only have a 5-6-2 (1-1 PKs) record against MLS teams, although their one previous Open Cup game versus Seattle in the 2018 Fourth Round resulted in a 2-1 extra time triumph for Sacramento.(Highlights)

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 five encounters ending in defeat to the Tampa Bay Rowdies 2013 and Sacramento Republic in 2018, The loss to the Rowdies stopped an all-time record 22-game unbeaten run in the Open Cup, and prevented Seattle from a possible fourth straight Open Cup title (something no team has ever done).

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 has had four teams in the Open Cup over the years. While Seattle is an impressive 30-4-4 at home in the Open Cup, their road record is a dreadful 8-14-4.

How they got here

Sacramento added yet another win to their impressive home Open Cup record with a 2-0 win over league rivals Monterey Bay FC in the Fourth Round. Kieran Phillips scored a few minutes after a Monterey own goal to set the final score before halftime. For the rest of the game 2022 Player of the Round winner goalkeeper Danny Vitiello kept Monterey off the board with several clearances and big saves.

Sacramento had a flair for the dramatic in their 4-3 extra time win over the San Jose Earthquakes in the Round of 16. Kieran Phillips’ two first half goal wiped out an early 1-0 San Jose lead, then their MLS foes leveled the score with just ten minutes remaining. San Jose jumped in front in the 100th minute, but Luis Rodrigues and Sebastián Herrera came to the rescue for Sacramento with goals in the 106th and 107th minutes. Phillips was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round for his performance in the game.

Seattle had a bit more work on their plate in eliminating Louisville City FC in front of a Seattle-friendly crowd at Starfire Soccer Complex. Up 2-0 midway through the second half on goals from Paul Rothrock and Danny Musovski, Louisville clawed their way back. After a successful penalty kick from Sean Totsch in the 67th minute, Jorge Gonzalez pulled Louisville level in the 89th minute. After 30 minutes of scoreless extra time, goalkeeper Andrew Thomas stepped up in the penalty tiebreaker, saving three attempts from Louisville before converting a PK of his own to win the shootout 5-4. 

Seattle’s Round of 16 game was another nailbiter, as they squeezed past Phoenix Rising 2-1. A 68th minute Alex Roldan penalty kick cancelled out a PK from Phoenix’s Rami Cabral in the first half. With just two minutes remaining, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi ensured Seattle would avoid extra time and penalties this time around with the game winning goal.

Sacramento in the Quarterfinals

The Sacramento Republic are the only team from the California state capital to reach the Quarterfinals in the history of the Open Cup.

Seattle in the Quarterfinals

The city of Seattle’s first Quarterfinal appearance outside of the Sounders came back in 1970, when the Leif Erikson Vikings upset the San Francisco Scots to reach the final eight. The Vikings would lose on aggregate 6-4 to Los Angeles’ Croatian SC. Heidelberg Brewers would match the Vikings’ run in 1971, this time falling to LA’s Yugoslav American SC 3-0 over two legs. The Mitre Eagles (also known as Croatian SC and FOE Eagles #1) would represent Seattle in the final eight numerous times in the 1980s. The Eagles reached the Quarterfinals in 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1987, with wins coming in 1983 and 1987.

Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
8th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022, 2023)
2nd Quarterfinal appearance
Overall: 22-7-2 (1-1 PK)
Home: 20-2-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. MLS: 5-6-2 (1-1 PK)
Best finish: Runner-Up (2022)

Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
26th US Open Cup appearance (1995-1997, 1999-2003, 2005-2019, 2022, 2023)
12th Quarterfinal appearance (7th in MLS)
Overall: 38-18-8 (5-3 PK) | 23-7-6 (4-2 PK) as MLS
Away: 8-14-4 (2-2 PK) | 4-5-3 (2-1 PK) as MLS
vs. Div. 2: 6-3-3 (2-1 PK) | 5-2-1 (1-0 PK) as MLS
Best finish: Champions (2009, 2010, 2011, 2014)

Wednesday, July 10

Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
vs.
FC Dallas (MLS)
Children’s Mercy Park – Kansas City, KS
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: Apple TV
Winner hosts FC Dallas or Sporting KC in Semifinals

Of the eight teams left in the running for the 2024 US Open Cup, Sporting Kansas City is the one club whose only hope for a trophy likely rests in winning the Open Cup. Currently 11 points adrift from a spot in the MLS playoffs, KC is anchored at the bottom of the MLS Western Conference with only the San Jose Earthquakes keeping them out of last place.

Despite Kansas City’s miserable season, the club ranks 12th overall in MLS in goals scored. Led by Will Agada’s five goals, eight other players have tallied two or more goals this year. Memo Rodriguez leads the way with five assists, and nine other players have at least two assists. Johnny Russell and Erik Thommy are also key players in the offense with four goals and three assists each. KC’s problem lies with their defense, allowing 46 goals in 22 games, second-worst in the league. Kansas City have allowed two or more goals in 13 games this season.

The fortunes for FC Dallas are a little bit better than KC, currently 11th in the MLS Western Conference and only five points out of a playoff spot. Dallas’ goalscoring nearly matches KC with 30 on the year, led by Petar Musa who sits just outside the league top 10 with 10 goals. Jesus Ferreira has four goals and four assists, one assist behind team leader Sebastien Lletget.

Dallas will look to overcome its Open Cup curse against Kansas City, having lost all five Cup games the clubs have faced off in (see below). This is also the second game this week the pair have faced each other in, having met in an MLS contest on July 7, although it’s tough to judge anything from that game as both teams elected to rest many of their regulars in anticipation of their Open Cup clash. For the record, Kansas City won the game 3-2.

Open Cup Pedigree

Initially known as the Kansas City Wiz, then the Kansas City Wizards, and now Sporting Kansas City, 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. After a slow first few years, KC hit their stride in the Open Cup, and since 2002 they’ve never gone more than two years between reaching at least the Quarterfinals. Sporting is also 7-2-3 against Division 2 opponents, with their last outright loss coming to the Minnesota Thunder in the 2005 Quarterfinals. Sporting are 16-11-3 (3-0 PKs) against MLS clubs but are on an eight-game Open Cup home winning streak, and a 14-game home unbeaten streak going back to 2014. KC’s last Open Cup home loss was a 3-1 defeat by the Portland Timbers in the 2014 Fifth Round.

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. This year will mark the 17th trip to the Quarterfinals for FC Dallas, which is tied with St. Louis’ Kutis SC for the 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. Dallas’ record against fellow MLS clubs is less than stellar at 13-15-3 (2-1 in PKs). Their last win versus an MLS team in the Open Cup was a 3-1 home triumph over the Colorado Rapids in the 2017 Fifth Round.

How they got here

In their rematch from the 2022 Quarterfinals, Sporting Kansas City narrowly avoided a penalty shootout with Union Omaha, snatching a 2-1 win at the end of extra time. Omaha held a 1-0 lead at halftime, but Marinos Tzionis equalized for SKC just after the break. The teams battled through over 70 more minutes of scoreless play and just as it looked like a penalty shootout was necessary, Alan Pulido snuck a shot by Omaha goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu from the top of the penalty area to give Sporting the win.

In the Round of 16, KC dominated FC Tulsa 4-0 at home. Felipe Hernández scored on both sides of halftime and Stephen Afrifa and Marinos Tzionis provided the other goals as Sporting outshot Tulsa 34-3.

Dallas eased past Memphis 901 FC 1-0 in the Fourth Round. Logan Farrington’s first goal as a professional in the 73rd minute was all that was needed for Dallas to move on.

In the Round of 16, Dallas travelled to St. Petersburg, Fla. to battle the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship and came away 2-1 winners. Goalkeeper Maarten Paes was peppered with 30 shots and made eight saves. Patrickson Delgado and Logan Farrington provided Dallas with goals in the first half and the Rowdies were kept off the board until Joshua Perez converted a penalty in the 85th minute for the home team.

Previous Open Cup Meetings

Kansas City and Dallas have met five times in the Open Cup, all of them home games for KC and each game won outright by Kansas City (no penalty shootouts). In addition, after the first three wins in 2004, 2015, and 2017, KC went on to win the Open Cup. Out of Open Cup matchups between the same two teams of four games or more, Kansas City isn’t the only teams who are undefeated. FC Dallas has swept all four meetings with the Colorado Rapids and the Chicago Fire have eliminated their rival Columbus Crew in all six of their meetings (that includes the 1998 Final)

Aug. 4, 2004 – Kansas City Wizards 4-0 Dallas Burn

The first Open Cup meeting between Dallas and Kansas City came in the 2004 Quarterfinals when both teams were still known as Kansas City Wizards and the Dallas Burn. After a scoreless opening half, KC broke the game open with four goals in the second half. Chris Klein (52’), Davy Arnaud (57’), Justin Detter (73’), and Alex Zotinca (88’) provided the scoring, with Arnaud providing an assist on Detter’s goal. Kansas City would go on to win their first Open Cup title with a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire. Highlights

July 1, 2015 – Sporting Kansas City 6-2 Dallas Burn

Eleven years later the clubs would meet in the Fifth Round, and Dallas’ fortunes did not improve. Dom Dwyer exploded for four goals (5’, 30’, 41’, 69’) and Krisztian Nemeth added two more (45’+, 59’) as KC jumped out to a 5-0 lead in an eventual 6-2 victory. Michael Barrios (61’) and Kellyn Acosta (73’) netted consolation goals for Dallas. Just as they did in 2004, Sporting went on to win the Open Cup over the Philadelphia Union on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

July 11, 2017 – Sporting Kansas City 3-0 (aet) Dallas Burn

Dallas came into the 2017 quarterfinal contest as defending Open Cup champions, making this loss a bitter pill to swallow. KC were reduced to 10 men in the 15th minute when defender Seth Sinovic drew a straight red card. KC held on for a scoreless draw to force extra time. In the 101st minute Dallas’ Max Urruti was sent off for his second yellow card when his attempted bicycle kick struck KC defender Ike Opara in the head, resulting in Opara being stretchered off the field. In the vast amount of stoppage time because of Opara’s injury, Latif Blessing scored twice to put KC in firm control, In between Blessing’s goals, Dallas’s Javie Morales wassent off for pulling down Benny Feilhaber on a breakaway. Daniel Salloi scored the third and final goal in the 118th minute. KC would go on to win their fourth Open Cup title oner the New York Red Bulls 2-1. Highlights

June 16, 2018 – Sporting Kansas City 3-2 Dallas Burn

The closest of the five games took place in the Fifth Round of the 2018 tournament, when the teams traded the lead twice before KC’s late game winner. Carlos Gruezo put Dallas ahead in the 18th minute, only for Daniel Salloi to knot it up just before halftime. Salloi netted his second goal in the 66th minute, and eleven minutes later Roland Lamah answered for Dallas to level the score at 2-2. As extra time loomed, Yohan Croizet won the game for KC in the 89th minute. Unlike the previous three wins, KC did not go on to win the Open Cup, but instead were eliminated in the Quarterfinals by 4-2 by the Houston Dynamo, the eventual 2018 champions.

May 10, 2022 – Sporting Kansas City 4-2 (aet) Dallas Burn

The two clubs took part in another classic in the 2022 Fourth Round. Dallas jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead on goals from Franco Jara (8’) and Edwin Munjoma (34’). Nikola Vujnovic cut the lead in half in the 60th minute, but Dallas appeared as though they would finally break their dry spell against KC in the Open Cup, but things fell apart in second half stoppage time. Dallas’ Jose Martinez was sent off in the seventh minute of stoppage time, and soon after Marinos Tzionis headed home a corner kick from Remi Walter to tie the game and force extra time. Four minutes into extra time disaster struck again for Dallas, as a shot blocked by goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer rebounded off the back of defender Edwin Cerrillo for an own goal. Khiry Shelton would ice the game in the 113th minute with KC’s fourth goal. Highlights

Kansas City in the Quarterfinals

Outside of sporting Kansas City’s success the city of Kansas City doesn’t have much quarterfinal history in the Open Cup. The only other appearance of a Kansas City team this deep in the tournament came in 1988, when a team called Udinese fell to St. Louis’ Busch Soccer Club 4-0. Udinese was the adult team of a club that fielded many youth teams in the Kansas City area.

Dallas in the Quarterfinals

The city of Dallas was first represented in the Quarterfinals in 1985 by Mean Green, founded by alumni of North Texas State University. The club would soon become one of the more successful teams in the country, making six appearances in the Quarterfinals as well as winning the National Amateur Cup in 1984 and 1988. Over its history the team switched a few times from Dallas Express, Dallas Inter, and even FC Dallas in 1989. From 1991-1994 the Dallas Rockets of the USISL reached the Quarterfinals four years in a row.

Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
24th US Open Cup appearance (1996-1998, 200-2006, 2008-2019, 2022, 2023)
11th Quarterfinal appearance
Overall: 34-16-7 (4-3 PK)
Home: 25-7-2 (2-0 PK)
vs. MLS : 16-11-3 (3-0 PK)
Best finish: Champions (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017)

FC Dallas (MLS)
25th US Open Cup appearance (1996-2008, 2011-2019, 2022, 2023)
17th Quarterfinal appearance (Tied for all-time lead)
Overall: 38-21-6 (5-1 PK)
Away: 15-14-2 (2-0 PK)
vs. MLS: 13-15-3 (2-1 PK)
Best finish: Champions (1997, 2016)

Wednesday, July 10

Los Angeles FC (MLS)
vs.
New Mexico United (USL-C)
BMO Stadium – Los Angeles, CA
Kickoff: 11 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO: Apple TV
Winner plays at Seattle Sounders FC or Sacramento Republic FC in Semifinals

Unlike the other Quarterfinal matchups that feature at least one team fighting for the playoff lives, this encounter is a showdown of first place clubs. New Mexico United, first place in the USL Championship Western Conference, travels to California to face Los Angeles FC, leaders of the MLS Western Conference.

While New Mexico comes in with a slim +3 goal difference in league play, United have won four of their last five games. Head coach Eric Quill is off to an incredible start in his first full season with the club, having taken over from Zach Prince at mid-season last year. Greg Hurst leads the way with seven of New Mexico’s 23 goals on the year and goalkeeper Alex Tambakis has recorded five clean sheets. Despite holding an 7-0-0 record at home, United are just 4-4-1 on the road this year.

LAFC have been near the top of the table all season, and currently hold a 13-4-4 mark. LA’s offense and defense are among the best in MLS, their 43 goals scored is good for 3rd best in the league, and the 24 goals allowed 3rd fewest. Their one-two punch of Denis Bouanga (14 goals) and Mateusz Bogusz (12 goals) rank near the top of the MLS leaders. The pair also lead the team in assists with nine (Bouanga) and six (Bogusz). Veteran goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is second in MLS with eight clean sheets. LAFC got a bit of a break this week, as their MLS game at Houston this past Sunday was postponed due to the arrival of Hurricane Beryl.

Open Cup Pedigree

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.

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. LAFC are 5-0-1 (1-0 PK) against USL/USL Championship clubs and have only ever played MLS or USL Div. 2 teams in their 14 Open Cup games.

How they got here

In the Third Round, a pesky Lubbock Matadors (NPSL) hung with New Mexico United for 58 minutes, then in the blink of an eye were down 3-0 when Harry Swartz, Daniel Bruce and Mukwelle Akale all scored in the span of four minutes for New Mexico on their way to a 3-1 victory.

In the Fourth Round, New Mexico pulled off the unexpected, knocking off MLS Western Conference leader Real Salt Lake 4-2. Zico Bailey opened the scoring with goals in the 17th and 19th minutes, earning him TheCup.us’ Player of the Round award. After trading goals in the first half, RSL closed the gap to one just after halftime, but Jacobo Reyes slammed the door shut with his 85th minute goal.

In the Round of 16, New Mexico ended the Cinderella dreams of the only Division 3 team remaining in the tournament, travelling to Queens, NY to eliminate MLS NEXT Pro’s New York City FC II 3-0. New Mexico took control after a scoreless second half, getting goals from Avionne Flanagan (50’), Talen Maples (65’) and Anthony Herbert (86’). Marco Micaletto provided assists on the first two goals.

LAFC kicked off their tournament in the Fourth Round, putting away the Las Vegas Lights 3-1. After the teams traded goals early in the second half, Cristian Olivera came through with a pair of scores in the 70th minute and stoppage time.

In the Round of 16, LAFC had little trouble with Loudoun United, defeating the USL Championship club 3-0. Timothy Tillman opened the scoring in the 8th minute and Cristian Olivera and Tomas Angel added second half goals.

New Mexico in the Quarterfinals

The state of New Mexico’s only other Quarterfinal appearance came in 1991, when the New Mexico Chiles of the SISL (now USL) defeated Strikers SC of Los Angeles 5-0. Enrique Serrano and Vlade Stanojevic each scored a pair of goals and Brook Miller added one more.

Los Angeles in the Quarterfinals

Clubs from Los Angeles have been a fixture in the Open Cup Quarterfinals since teams from the area began Open Cup play in 1954. Up until 1979 the team that won the Southern California qualifying tournament was guaranteed a spot in the final eight, thus teams from the Southland have made 49 Quarterfinal appearances, led by the LA Galaxy with 13, followed by Maccabee AC with 8, Los Angeles Kickers, LA Exiles and LAFC with three apiece.

Los Angeles FC (MLS)
5th US Open Cup appearance (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)
3rd Quarterfinal appearance
Overall: 9-3-2 (1-1 PK)
Home: 7-2-0
vs. Div. 2: 5-0-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Semifinals (2018)

New Mexico United (USL-C)
4th US Open Cup appearance (2019, 2022, 2023)
2nd Quarterfinal appearance
Overall: 8-3-2 (2-0 PK)
Away: 3-3-2 (2-0 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2019)

After a first round that saw the final game go all the way to 10 rounds of penalty kicks, we’re finally ready to get started with all of the lower division professional teams joining the competition. Even though one match was deemed a forfeit after Rochester NY FC folded before the season started, there are still have 29 matches over the next week to get through to decide who will join 18 lower seeded MLS sides in the Third Round, 10 of which will be played today. Four professional sides will make their US Open Cup debut today in the 10 matches to be played on April 4. 

Below you will find the 10 games being played today with links to each broadcast, if available.

TUESDAY, APRIL 4

Lansdowne Yonkers FC (USASA/EPSL) at Hartford Athletic (USL-C)
Trinity Health Stadium – Hartford, CT
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube

By Jake Sillick @sportzfrk

Hartford Athletic host storied amateur side Lansdowne Yonkers tonight in a match that Hartford hopes is their first win of the 2023 season. Lansdowne will hope to continue their cup run for their first appearance in the Third Round since 2016.

Hartford is making just their third Open Cup appearance and has gone 1-1-0 in both tournament runs in 2019 and 2022. In the 2019 edition, Hartford would defeat New York Cosmos B in the Second Round by a score of 2-1 before falling in the Third Round to fellow USL Championship side Memphis 901, 4-0. The 2022 tournament started with a 3-1 victory over Oyster Bay United before losing to New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the Third Round.

This season has not started well for Hartford with a 0-2-2 record placing them in 10th place currently in the Eastern Conference. This includes a season opening 5-3 loss at Monterey Bay F.C. and a home defeat to Birmingham Legion 0-1.

Lansdowne Yonkers went through 4 grueling rounds of qualifying to get to the tournament proper this year, defeating storied teams like New York Greek American on their road. Their tournament proper started in Hartford as well, where in the first round they defeated Hartford City FC, 2-1.

Lansdowne currently sit in second place in the EPSL Metropolitan Conference with a 11-1-1 record, second to New York Greek American.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

Lansdowne Yonkers FC (USASA/EPSL)
4th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 3-3-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 3-3-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-0
Best finish: Third Round (2016)

Hartford Athletic (USL-C)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-2-0
Home: 2-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 2-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2019, 2022)

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Jacksonville Armada FC U-23s (NPSL) at Miami FC (USL-C)
FIU Soccer Stadium – Miami, FL
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube

By Shana Kerby

Miami FC of the USL Championship will open Round 2 of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup at home against the NPSL’s Jacksonville Armada Under-23s. Both teams look to continue their cross-league rivalry and will compete for a potential matchup with a MLS side in the next round.

The Armada advance to face Miami FC after a dramatic first round win against Miami United. That match saw a red card for the Armada, 120 minutes of open play, 10 rounds of penalty kicks, and a penalty conversion to win the whole thing by the Armada’s starting goalkeeper, Nicklas Rulle. Notably, Nicklas Rulle also went on to be voted TheCup.us Player of the Round, voted on by TheCup.us staff, for his efforts. The Armada will be looking for goals from last year’s top scorer, Eduardo Coimbra, Tuesday night before their regular season opener later this month against Tallahassee SC.

The match against the Armada serves as Miami FC’s debut in the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and a win would see them advance for the third straight tournament. Their league record is currently 0-1-3, leaving them 9th in league standings, but all their matches have had tight margins – their last against Memphis 901 FC was razor thin at a 1-1 final score. American forward Kyle Murphy and midfielder Florian Valot will both be looking to add to their score tallies.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

Jacksonville Armada FC U-23s (NPSL)
4th US Open Cup appearance
NOTE: Pro team entered 4 times
Overall: 2-3-1 (1-0 PK)
Away: 1-2-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-2-0
Best finish: Second Round (2012, 2014, 2017)

Miami FC (USL-C)
6th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 7-5-0
Home: 5-5-0
vs. Amateurs: 4-2-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2017)

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Memphis 901 FC (USL-C) at One Knoxville SC (USL-1)
Regal Soccer Stadium – Knoxville, TN
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube

By Jordan Beech

Regal Soccer Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, will play host to the action on Tuesday night as Memphis 901 FC takes on One Knoxville SC in Second Round action. Regardless of the outcome, club history will be made.

Memphis will be looking to secure their first-ever road triumph in Open Cup play, as well as first win over a third division side in tournament action. It’s been four years since Memphis has tasted victory in tournament play, but in 2019 they secured wins over New York Red Bulls U-23s and Hartford Athletic to reach the Fourth Round. Last year, Memphis finished second in the Western Conference in the regular season with a 21-8-5 record. They would fall in the Conference Semifinals 1-0 to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. They’ve been off to a tough start to the 2023 season, as they have yet to taste victory in their first three games (0-2-1). In their last outing they finished with a 1-1 draw against Miami FC this past Saturday.

One Knoxville will be making their debut in the Open Cup. After a successful stint in USL League Two during the 2022 season in which they made it all the way to the conference finals after winning the South Central Division. Knoxville made the jump to USL League One for the 2023 season; however, their debut match in their new league was postponed this past weekend.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

Memphis 901 FC (USL-C)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-2-0
Away: 0-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2019)

One Knoxville SC (USL-1)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A

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Gold Star Detroit (NISA) at Detroit City FC (USL-C)
Keyworth Stadium – Hamtramck, MI
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Bleacher Report

By Dan Vaughn (@TheDanVaughn)

When Gold Star Detroit launched late in 2022, their coach Alex Lubyansky talked about making the Open Cup one his club’s big priorities. He went so far as saying it was his goal to win the Cup in the next five years. Of course, there’s a lot on Lybyansky’s plate at the moment.

Entering NISA play over the weekend, Gold Star took a 3-0 loss at Chattanooga FC. The Detroit club’s offense didn’t look entirely inept against CFC, but certainly wasn’t up to the challenge of the best club in the Division 3 league. But Gold Star’s opening match in the USOC isn’t against a D3 opponent.

Detroit City hasn’t got off to the run it hoped this season in the USL Championship, only getting points in a lone win against El Paso Locomotive. Out of the three losses in their 1-3-0 record, all of them were by a single goal. Regardless, DCFC will be up for this USOC opening match at Keyworth against an expansion club in Detroit. Their match could give them some momentum with a loud crowd behind them. They are also hoping to build on last year’s Open Cup run. In their first tournament as a professional team, they played three home games and defeated local rival Michigan Stars FC (NISA) 3-0, and pulled off the club’s greatest victory with a 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew (MLS). Their best cup run would end against fellow USL Championship side Louisville City FC in a penalty kick shootout.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

Gold Star Detroit (NISA)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A

Detroit City FC (USL-C)
6th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-2-5 (2-3 PK)
Home: 2-0-3 (1-2 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Fourth Round (2022)

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Manhattan SC (USL-2) at Flower City Union (NISA)
Rochester Community Sports Complex – Rochester, NY
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Eleven Sports

By Dan Vaughn (@TheDanVaughn)

Manhattan SC snuck into the second round of the Cup, thanks to a goal in extra time by William Lulka in a 2-1 win over amateur side FC Motown. The USL League Two side now gets to face a very upgraded Flower City Union (NISA) side. While FCU debut season in NISA was a bit of a disaster, finishing 2-18-3, the 2023 version should be significantly improved. Despite the difficult league season, they did manage to pick up a win in their Open Cup debut on the road with only 10 men. They beat USL League Two side Western Mass Pioneers 1-0 in extra time. They would get their first taste of MLS opposition, falling at home to D.C. United 3-0.

Manhattan won’t begin league play until May, but last year, they qualified for the 2023 US Open Cup for the first time by winning the Metropolitan Division with a 12-2-0 record. Flower City kicked off its regular season NISA schedule this past weekend with a 1-0 loss to Maryland. Even with the added firepower of last year’s NISA golden boot runner-up, Alioune Diakhate (formerly of Indy Eleven and ALBION San Diego), FCU couldn’t put a goal into the net. Not that they didn’t try. In fact, the offense looked smooth at times, with players interchanging and progressing the ball. Will it be enough to win a Second Round match against a well-rested USL-2 side?

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

Manhattan SC (USL-2)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A

Flower City Union (NISA)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-1-0
Home: 0-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2022)

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Nona FC (USL-2) at Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C)
Al Lang Stadium – St. Petersburg, FL
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE

By James Knowles (@RBLRSports)

The Rowdies come into this Open Cup game off the back of one their worst starts to a season in recent memory. The Green and Gold drew their first two matches of the year 1-1, before dropping their second two by a combined score of 5-0. The team is certainly on a skid and will be looking to turn things around.

Coming into their Open Cup game on Tuesday, the return of Lewis Hilton will bolster the Rowdies. He is a tough competitor who has been the heart of the midfield for the last several years now. Hilton playing against Nona FC is very likely, as he’ll still need to up his game-time fitness.

Tampa Bay needs a win in 2023 and will look to get that against a USL League 2 club two divisions beneath them. Orlando-based Nona FC are likely to have some talent that can create dangerous chances, a former Pittsburgh Riverhound and a former USF Bull in William Eyang and Gabrielle Privitera, respectively, and will try to trouble a back line of professionals. Nona FC kicked off their opening season in USL-2 with a 12-1-1 record and running away with the Southeast Division title. They would suffer an upset in their first playoff game, As the top-seed, they were upset 2-1 by the No. 8 seed West Virginia United.

Nona FC began their inaugural cup run playing against another Orlando-based club as they edged Club de Lyon, 1-0. William Eyang scored the lone goal in the opening minute and they managed to hang on for the win despite playing the final 26 minutes down a man after Jeferson Junior received his second yellow card.

Neil Collins will be hoping his lineup can use this game to improve their sharpness and cut out the silly mistakes that have plagued it so far. With team talisman Leo Fernandes missing the whole season through injury, Cal Jennings and JJ Williams will want to get their names on the scoresheet for the first time this year. Look to the Rowdies fullbacks to be heavily involved, whipping in crosses for them to head home. Also look to the aforementioned Hilton to be spraying passes out wide from where the attacks are likely to be initiated.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

Nona FC (USL-2)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A

Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C)
11th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 8-10-0
Home: 5-1-0
vs. Amateurs: 5-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2013, 2016)

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Savannah Clovers FC (NISA) at Charleston Battery (USL-C)
Patriots Point Soccer Stadium – Mount Pleasant, SC
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: NONE

By Forrest Wimberly @soccer_forrest

A new Lowcountry rivalry will be born as NISA expansion Savannah Clovers pay a visit to USL Championship Charleston Battery in the second round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The contrast between the two sides could not be any greater as it matches the new kids on the block versus one of the most successful lower-division professional franchises in the country with a rich history in the tournament.

The Battery has enjoyed over 20 years of US Open Cup success and have claimed several major “cupsets” in front of huge Palmetto state home crowds since their tournament debut in 1999.  Highlights for the Battery include wins over DC United (1999), Metrostars (2001), and San Jose Earthquakes (2013) over this stretch.  Recent results, however, have gone against the Battery as the weather has not cooperated with the hosts forcing delays and rescheduled matches versus South Georgia Tormenta (2022) and Atlanta United (2019) where the Battery were bounced from the Cup.

New head coach Ben Pirmann leads the Battery in 2023 and the reigning USL Coach of the Year has built a potent roster of strong returners along with some proven newcomers to entertain the crowds inside Patriots Point stadium.  Leading scorer Augustine Williams from 2022 as well as veteran defenders Leland Archer and AJ Patterson anchor the core of returning players while Trey Muse, Chris Allan, Emilio Ycaza, and Nick Markanich will look to add their mark to the 2023 campaign.  Teenager Fidel Barajas is another player to watch as the 16-year-old bagged his first professional goal versus Tampa Bay to push the Battery’s record to 2-0-1 after three games played.

The Clovers in their previous amateur seasons in the UPSL never qualified for the US Open Cup before making the jump to the professional ranks this spring in the NISA.  Clovers’ Head Coach David Proctor has been busy this spring building a roster of players from around the globe and a couple of players with previous ties to the Battery made the team in Savannah.

Goalkeeper Jack Pondy and forward Joel Bunting were the first two signings for the Clovers and they will make their return to the Patriots Point pitch this time wearing the visitor’s kit.  Other notable signings include Ahdan Tait (former Michigan Stars), Alex Ierides (former Jacksonville Armada U-23), and Yakov Pomozov (former Sochi FC, Russia).  Adding to this core group will be recently graduated collegiate soccer players from all levels of the US system to build this inaugural Clovers’ roster.  The Clovers made their NISA professional debut hosting the Michigan Stars on April 1st looking to put all the individual pieces together. That game would finish in a 1-1 draw.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

Savannah Clovers FC (NISA)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A

Charleston Battery (USL-C)
22nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 34-18-7 (4-3 PK)
Home: 26-7-5 (2-3 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 5-2-0
Best finish: Runner-Up (2008)

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Club de Lyon (NISA) at San Antonio FC (USL-C)
Toyota Stadium – San Antonio, TX
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube

By Jordan Beech

Two teams setting off on their 2023 Open Cup journey will take the field Tuesday night in San Antonio, Texas. While San Antonio FC are well acquainted with Open Cup play, Club de Lyon of NISA will be making their debut in the storied Cup competition.

Club de Lyon, out of Orlando, Florida, enjoyed an incredibly successful year in 2022, winning the Florida Region championship in the NISA Nation league while also going undefeated in the UPSL. Lyon are still working to get their legs under them this season, with a 1-0 loss to LA Force last Friday marking their first action of the year. The challenge for Club de Lyon is that the club qualified out of the tournament’s Open Division Local qualifying tournament. This cup tied their roster to the CDL’s amateur roster in NISA Nation. Then once the team announced that they were joining NISA, many of the players that would likely have moved up to join the professional roster, were already cup tied to the amateur team. So it will be interesting to see what kind of roster Club de Lyon is able to put together. Their amateur side lost their opening round game to Nona FC, 1-0.

On the other side of the pitch, San Antonio FC will be making their sixth Open Cup appearance. The reigning USL Championship champions have been excellent on their home turf in Cup play, posting a 4-1-1 record. Last season, the club matched their best performance in the tournament, advancing to the Fourth Round for the third time in club history. This run was highlighted by the club’s first-ever win over a MLS team, as they defeated Austin FC 2-1 in extra time.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

Club de Lyon (NISA)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A

San Antonio FC (USL-C)
6th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 7-4-2 (1-1 PK)
Home: 4-1-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 0-0-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2016, 2018, 2022)

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UDA Soccer (UPSL) at New Mexico United (USL-C)
Rio Rancho High School – Rio Rancho, NM
Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: YouTube

By Andrew Mosier

For the first time in Open Cup history, two teams from New Mexico will face off in the tournament proper when New Mexico United (USL Championship) face Open Cup debutants, UDA Soccer at New Mexico State University (USPL) in the second round in Albuquerque.

New Mexico United are 3-2-2 in two appearances in Open Cup play. In 2019, the club’s inaugural year, the club advanced to the Quarterfinals. The first-year club played all five Open Cup matches on the road, beating fellow USL Championship sides Phoenix Rising in penalty kicks, and Colorado Springs Switchbacks 2-1 in extra time, followed by shocking wins over MLS sides Colorado Rapids in penalties, and FC Dallas 2-1 before falling in the quarters at Minnesota United, 6-1. In 2022, United walked past amateurs Las Vegas Legends (NPSL) 5-0 before falling to Phoenix Rising in the Third Round, 2-1.

United are 1-1-0 in the USL Championship league play this year, opening the season with a 1-0 win at Miami FC before falling by the same score at Oakland Roots. Justin Portillo scored the club’s only goal in the early season from the penalty spot in the win over Miami.

UDA Soccer at New Mexico State University (UPSL) are the second team affiliated with a college or university to qualify for the tournament proper in the modern era of the Open Cup (BYU 2006, 2007, 2015), and the only affiliated club to advance to the second round. UDA advanced to round two with a 1-0 over USL League Two side Park City Red Wolves. Jose Puente scored in the 78th minute from the penalty spot to put UDA through.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

UDA Soccer (UPSL)
1st US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
Best finish: N/A

New Mexico United (USL-C)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 3-2-2 (2-0 PK)
Home: 1-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 1-0-0
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2019)

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El Farolito (NPSL) at Oakland Roots (USL-C)
CSUEB Pioneer Stadium – Hayward, CA
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
BROADCAST: Bleacher Report

By Abel Anguiano

“El Faro” is back in the US Open Cup. They have made a couple of appearances in the last six years, but they are most remembered for their championship run in 1993, when they won the Cup under then-name CD Mexico. This week, they face a Bay Area powerhouse in Oakland Roots.

El Farolito advanced from the first round after taking down International San Francisco by a score of 3-0. After going 0-0 for the first 90 minutes, El Faro went into extra time hot, scoring two goals in the first nine minutes. Cesar Benitez sealed the deal in minute 113 to make it three over the SFSFL debutants.

The Roots, on the other hand, will be making their 2023 Cup debut. After uncertainty regarding whether they can play on their home field, they settled for CSU East Bay’s Pioneer Stadium, which is where they played their first “home” game in this season’s USL.

For Bay Area soccer fans, a treat is in store Tuesday and Thursday.

US OPEN CUP HISTORY

El Farolito (NPSL)
3rd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 2-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 1-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-0
Best finish: 1993 US Open Cup champion (as CD Mexico)
Best finish (Modern Era): Second Round (2022)

Oakland Roots (USL-C)
2nd US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 0-1-0
Home: 0-0-0
vs. Amateurs: 0-0-0
Best finish: Second Round (2022)