US Open Cup

A date with a Major League Soccer team was the prize for 16 lower division teams in the Second Round of the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Tuesday night schedule saw a pair of lower division teams pull off cupsets with the Charlotte Independence knocking off the Charleston Battery in extra time and Union Omaha edging Indy Eleven 2-1.

A 9-man One Knoxville team (USL League One) avoided a disaster with a penalty kick win over USL League Two side Asheville City SC. The remaining three games saw the favorites take care of business with shutout wins.

The Richmond Kickers of USL League One were the lone cupset of the 10 games on Wednesday night. The 1995 US Open Cup champions scored a late goal to beat Loudoun United of the USL Championship 1-0.

Of the remaining nine games, six of them were shutout wins, and two of them went to penalty kicks. One of those shutout wins was a renewal of a Michigan rivalry with Detroit City FC edging the Flint City Bucks 1-0. Amateur side Vermont Green of USL League Two attracted another sell-out crowd but they would fall in a PK shootout to Westchester SC (USL League One).

Below you will find a brief summary of all of the Second Round games with links to the full match report as they become available.

TUESDAY, MARCH 31

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C)
2:0 
Virginia Dream FC (UPSL)
Highmark Stadium – Pittsburgh, PA

By Colby Bangasser

Despite the first half ending 0-0, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC displayed their dominance against the visitors, Virginia Dream FC. By the end of the first 45 minutes, Pittsburgh maintained possession 65% of the time, and outshot Virginia 9-1 (20-3, overall). Goalkeeper Héctor Guerrero did his part for Virginia to keep it scoreless, recording 3 saves.

The Riverhounds came out in the second half on the front foot. Virginia’s backline had been strong in the first half, but it only took 6 minutes for Pittsburgh to break the deadlock. Robbie Mertz whipped in a cross from a free kick to find his captain, Danny Griffin, running at the back post. Griffin slotted it into the net for his 4th career Open Cup goal, tying the record for goals by a Hound in Open Cup history.

Eliot Goldthorp had been a handful for Virginia all night. His hard work was finally rewarded after winning a penalty and converting it in the 59th minute. Héctor Guerrero guessed the right way, but couldn’t get a hand to Goldthorp’s shot. Goldthorp nearly had himself a brace after his cross caught Guerrero off his line, but just hit the inside of the post.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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Asheville City SC (USL-2)
1:1
One Knoxville SC (USL-1)
Greenwood Field (UNC Asheville) – Asheville, NC
One Knoxville advances 3-2 on penalty kicks

By Timothy Belin

One Knoxville SC had their goalkeeper to thank after surviving a two-man deficit to advance on penalties against Asheville City SC in North Carolina.

The Tennessee side traveled to Asheville City and looked fairly comfortable against the amateur side after taking the lead in the 33rd minute off a Braudilio Rodrigues goal. But the game turned on its head in the 50th minute. Asheville’s Ryan Holmes cleared the ball off the line to stave off the 2-0, and One Knox’s Stavros Zarokostas got sent off in the immediate aftermath after he shoved an Asheville substitute while looking to restart play quickly.

Asheville took the ascendency with the numerical advantage and eventually leveled things in the 66th when Simon Carlson wrong-footed Jonathan Burke from the spot. The hosts could not press the advantage further, however, even after One Knox’s Teddy Baker also received his marching orders for a second yellow-card offense in the 90th minute.

Despite playing 30 minutes of extra time with nine men, One Knox saw the game to penalties, notably thanks to 12 saves by Burke in goal. The shotstopper then proved the hero in the shootout, saving three of Asheville’s four attempts to send USL League One’s reigning champions through to Round 3.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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FC Naples (USL-1)
3:0 
FC America CFL Spurs (UPSL)
Paradise Coast Sports Complex – Naples, FL

By Clement Williams

An early 1st minute penalty set the tone for USL League One’s FC Naples’ comfortable 3-0 win over FC America CFL Spurs.

At home, Naples always looked like the likely winner following their early spotkick, but were nevertheless met with a determined performance from their UPSL opponent. FC America’s difficult hill to climb was further exacerbated by a questionable straight red card to their #10 Pedro Espindola just before the stroke of halftime.

Ultimately, down to 10 men against a higher division opponent, FCA and their busy goalkeeper João Kastrup did themselves credit by only conceding two second half goals. 

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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Indy Eleven (USL-C)
1:2 
Union Omaha (USL-1)
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN

By Tim Abbott

With both teams showing possibilities but no edge, the game turned on a 58th minute red card for Indy keeper Reice Charles-Cook for sliding out and denying a goalscoring opportunity, bringing down an Omaha attacker. The visitors from Nebraska would then go ahead through Samuel Owusu with a bullet of a header from a Diego Gutierrez cross in the 75th minute.

Nine minutes later, Kempes Tekiela (Assisted by Adrian Billhardt) made it 2-0. That second goal would prove to be the game-winner because Indy’s Jack Blake would cut the lead in half with a goal in the third minute of stoppage time. With the win, it was Union Omaha’s sixth time eliminating a team from a higher division. 

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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Charlotte Independence (USL-1)
3:2
Charleston Battery (USL-C)
Mecklenburg County Sportsplex – Matthews, NC
After Extra Time

By Michael Battista

After giving up a two goal lead in the second half, Charlotte Independence were still able to pull off a cupset victory over Charleston Battery, 3-2 in extra time. A goal in the depths of extra time by a ghost of Battery’s past pushed Charlotte to a date with a Major League Soccer team.

The home side was able to take a lead into halftime thanks to Souaibou Marou in the 37th minute. The forward was fed by midfielder Luis Álvarez, who sliced through the Charleston defense to find the former Cameroon national team player on the right side for the opener. In the 58th, Luis Álvarez netted himself a goal when an Enzo Martínez fast break set him up outside the box.

The visiting USL Championship side wasn’t ready to go down yet though. Nanan Houssou and Maalique Foster combined for goals in the 70th and 77th minutes to tie the game at 2-2. That score led until the end of regulation, but not before Battery’s Jeremy Kelly was shown a second yellow in stoppage time to bring his team down to 10 men.

After a quiet first half of extra time, penalty kicks looked imminent. However Viggo Ortiz, assisted by Javen Romero, answered in the 118th minute with a right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. The game-winner coming from a player who spent the last two years between the Battery academy and the first team.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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Valley 559 FC (UPSL)
0:4 
Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C) 
Clovis East High School – Clovis, CA

By Jake Sillick

It was a romp for the Sacramento Republic as they took an early lead and built upon that for a 4-0 win tonight in Clovis, Calif. The captain, Lee Desmond, started early for the visitors in the 11th minute with a header on a nice floating cross by Dominik Wanner. Wanner would then score from an unbelievable individual effort in the 36th minute, beating a couple defenders before finishing with his left foot.

Just two minutes later, the Republic were back on the attack and Brandon Cambridge would find Kyle Edwards for the third goal on all three shots in goal in the first half for Sacramento.

Valley 559 had their share of chances, even hitting one off the post in the first half, but they couldn’t convert any all night and Kyle Edwards would find his second goal of the night in the 64th minute. He would finish with two goals and an assist for the match, with Wanner scoring one and assisting on two others. Desmond also had to clear one off the line in the first half to keep the clean sheet for Sacramento.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1

Chattanooga FC  (MLSNP)
1:0 
Tennessee Tempo FC (UPSL)
Finley Stadium – Chattanooga, TN

By Michael Battista

The lone MLS NEXT Pro side left in the competition advanced to play a team from their parent league. Chattanooga FC beat amateurs and 2025 UPSL Spring champion Tennessee Tempo FC, 1-0, in front of just under 3,000 fans at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga FC.

Nathan Koehler scored his team’s only goal, his fourth since joining CFC last March. A corner kick in the 44th minute by Daniel Mangarov found the head of the Georgia native. Koehler redirected the ball past an out of position Tempo goalkeeper, François Djiba. The amateurs tried to push for an equalizer, with former MLS and Open Cup hero Kwadwo Poku starting in the midfield for Tempo, but a solid defensive performance saw the pro side through.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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Richmond Kickers (USL-1)
1:0 
Loudoun United FC (USL-C)
City Stadium – Richmond, VA

By Sam Brummitt

Loudoun United FC (USL-C) traveled down Interstate 95 to face off against the Richmond Kickers (USL-1) in a Second Round match at City Stadium in Richmond, VA. The last time these two teams faced each other in the Open Cup was in the Third Round of the tournament in April of 2024, when Loudoun advanced on penalties after a scoreless game. On Wednesday night, it was the Richmond Kickers that came out on top with a 1-0 win. 

After a first half that only saw one shot on goal between the two teams, Loudoun United used several substitutions early in the second half to try to shake up their attack.

It seemed that neither side could create any good chances in open play and that the opening goal would come from a set piece. A long throw by Richmond in the 64th minute led to a shot by Mujeeb Murana that went just over the crossbar. Loudoun’s first shot on target came in the 92nd minute when a free kick from the top of Richmond’s box went into the wall and landed at the feet of Arquímides Ordóñez who kicked the ball towards the center of the goal. Richmond’s goalkeeper saw just enough of the ball to make a diving save. In the 95th minute, Richmond’s Sam Layton got his head on the ball in front of goal off of a corner kick but couldn’t direct it on target. 

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Richmond pushed the ball to Loudoun’s goal line and squared the ball to Lucca Dourado who scored with one touch on his right foot. Stoppage time extended for another six tense minutes before the final whistle blew and the Richmond players celebrated their upset of a USL Championship side with the home crowd.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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Rhode Island FC (USL-C)
2:0
Hartford Athletic (USL-C)
Centreville Bank Stadium – Pawtucket, RI

by Connor Bunnell

In a rain-soaked clash between the USL Championship’s two New England sides, reigning Eastern Conference runners-up Rhode Island FC knocked out last year’s USL Cup kings Hartford Athletic with a 2-0 win to claim all-time El Clamico bragging rights.

The first half was all about setpieces, opportunities, and Rhode Island striker Jerome “J.J.” Williams. The first big breakthrough came in the 12th minute, when, in the scramble after an RIFC corner, Williams dished with his head to left back Aldair Sanchez, who scored off a left-footer to get the Anchormen on the board first. Eighteen minutes later, shortly after Hartford’s best chance to that point, another setpiece brought similar results, as Williams headed home his strike partner Agustín Rodriguez’s corner kick to double the score.

Despite the scoreline going into halftime, Hartford had actually enjoyed a slight edge in possession in the opening 45, and as Rhode Island turtled up to try and close it out on sheer defensive guile, the visitors got the chance to see a lot more of the ball in the second half. However, no matter what they did, Athletic just couldn’t crack RIFC open. La Liga alum Koke made two crucial saves, and substitute Logan Dorsey managed to block a shot right at the line while facing the wrong way. Thus, Rhode Island preserved its scoreline and will face an MLS side in the Round of 32 for the second consecutive year.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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Vermont Green FC (USL-2)
0:0
Westchester SC (USL-1)
Westchester advances, 4-3 on penalty kicks
Virtue Field – Burlington, VT

By Michael Battista

The defending USL League Two champion and defending USL League One wooden spoon winner battled it out in front of a sold out Virtue Field in Burlington, Vermont. In the end, the home side’s missed chances caught up to them. Westchester SC advanced past Vermont Green FC 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout, after a scoreless draw and will now take on a Major League Soccer team for the first time in the next round.

It really was Vermont’s game to lose as the amateurs outshot Westchester 5-1 in the first half and 11-5 overall in regulation. The visitors only had one shot on target in the 90 minutes as well. The issues didn’t end for Westchester as head coach George Gjokaj was shown a straight red for abusive language in the 75th minute, though his team began to connect more passes and pushes as time went on.

After two scoreless extra time halves, both teams stepped up to the spot for penalty kicks. Westchester took the lead after round one when Vermont’s Andrew Millar had his chance saved by Westchester keeper Matías Molina. Though the home side rebounded, sinking three straight while Westchester went two for four on attempts. With a win on the line, Vermont’s Mitch Baker skied his attempt to force sudden death. Westchester’s Bryan Vásquez converted and Molina saved the next Green attempt to send Westchester into the next round.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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Lexington Sporting Club (USL-C)
0:2 
Louisville City FC (USL-C)
Lexington SC Stadium – Lexington, KY

By Craig Tower

On a beautiful night for soccer, Louisville City FC showed up in Lexington determined to move on in the Open Cup and showed their intent through scrappy goals on both sides of halftime. 

The significant investment of Tower Sports Group in Lexington SC – including over $80 million for the soccer-specific stadium and investments in players such as Aaron Molloy and Arturo Ordoñez – has left the team still wondering what it must be like to grasp the Commonwealth Cup, the rivalry cup disputed between the two teams.

After 20 minutes of back-and-forth action, Louisville’s Jansen Wilson whipped a free kick near the left corner to the back post in the 24th minute. Babacar Niang towered over the defender on the post and pinged his header off the underside of the crossbar, then after it bounced further wide of the goal, Tola Showunmi drove the ball off the post. The ball pinged back through the defender’s feet before it found Niang again. Niang more than atoned for his initial miss by driving home the rebound to put Louisville in the driver’s seat.

After the half, Louisville continued to work and found gold again in the 54th minute from open play when Wilson drove down the left wing and launched a peppery effort from the edge of the box that was blocked by Lexington keeper Oliver Semmle. The deflection fell kindly to Mukwelle Akale at the right side of the goal, and he dragged the ball back before firing a shot that was deflected by Showunmi past the flailing Semmle. 

Lexington showed no more motivation to score after the second goal by Louisville, and without controversy, injury, or conflict to add much time, the referee ended the game after 3 minutes of injury time.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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Flint City Bucks (USL-2)
0:1 
Detroit City FC (USL-C)
Don Batchelor Stadium – Grand Blanc, MI

By Josh Hakala

A lot has changed since Detroit City FC and the Flint City Bucks last met in the US Open Cup. In 2018, the Bucks were known as Michigan Bucks and represented Metro Detroit (Pontiac, Mich.) and were one of the best amateur clubs in the country and the US Open Cup’s most accomplished giant killer (a record 11 pro team upsets). That year, Detroit City FC was only a few years old and had already developed a rabid following as an amateur team in the NPSL.

Fast forward to 2026 and Detroit City FC’s fanbase remains one of the strongest in the country, but is now a pro team in the USL Championship. The Bucks are still one of the best amateur teams, but have moved about an hour north to the city of Flint, Mich.

All three of the previous meetings between the clubs were when they were both amateur teams. But on Wednesday night, in the fourth meeting, DCFC earned their first regulation win over the Bucks in Open Cup play. A blunt showing by both teams saw the game’s only goal scored on a bobbling blast by Detroit City’s Alex Dalou at the top of the penalty area after a mazy dribble in from the left wing in the 40th minute.

The Bucks won the first meeting at home in 2015 3-0, and Detroit City won penalty kick shootouts in 2016 and 2018. With Wednesday’s win, Detroit advances to play an MLS team for the fifth year in a row in the Round of 32.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C)
1:1 
Spokane Velocity FC (USL-1)
Colorado Springs advances, 4-2 on penalty kicks
Weidner Field – Colorado Springs, CO

By Jim Coppock

The Colorado Springs Switchbacks hosted League One side, Spokane Velocity, on a damp and chilly night. Both sides were looking for a shot at the Third Round. Spokane came in lacking much of their firepower. Most prominently, Luis Gil and Shavon John-Brown, who were injured and on international duty, respectively. Colorado Springs outshot Spokane all evening. The final tally was 29-3; 11 of those coming in extra time. It was a very physical game with 40 total fouls – Spokane with 21 of them.

Colorado Springs would open the scoring first on the cusp of halftime through Talen Maples, who left-footed an Adrien Perez free kick to the back post. Colorado Springs had all of the shots in the first half of the game. Spokane’s first shot (and shot on goal) did not happen until the clock struck 60 minutes gone. It was on Spokane’s third shot that they were able to level the score. Andrew Booth, who was signed to the team just six hours before kickoff, headed home a free kick from Joe Gallardo in the 87th minute to force the extra 30 minutes.

Extra time was controlled by the Switchbacks. Despite outshooting Spokane 11-0, they were unable to find a second goal.

The penalty shootout also belonged to the Switchbacks. Christian Herrera saved the first two penalties he faced. Talen Maples had the chance to potentially end it after three rounds, but his attempt hit the foot of the post and bounced away. Spokane converted their next two, making the tally 3-2, but Sadam Masereka converted his fifth round chance for the 4-2 shootout win.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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San Antonio FC (USL-C) 
0:1
FC Tulsa (USL-C)
After Extra Time
Toyota Field – San Antonio, TX

By Jordan Beech

All it takes is one moment of magic, and that’s all there was as Remi Cabral took advantage of an errant back pass to send FC Tulsa into the Round of 32, 1-0, over San Antonio FC.

San Antonio was playing down a man after Akeem Ward received a second yellow card for a hard foul in the first extra time period. It was a rough outing that saw 59 fouls called and 14 cards handed out, San Antonio and Tulsa tied for the second-most fouls in a single Open Cup match in the Modern Era (1995-present). The Western Mass Pioneers and Danbury United also had 59 fouls in a First Round match in 2007.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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New Mexico United (USL-C)
0:4
El Paso Locomotive (USL-C)
UNM Soccer Stadium – Albuquerque, NM

By Ashle Lynn Paige

New Mexico United and El Paso Locomotive, the Derby Del Camino Real and a battle for a spot in the Open Cup Third Round. It was the first meeting between the clubs who’ve had opposite starts to 2026. Coming into the match El Paso had won three of four on the season while New Mexico had lost two of four. The Locos dominated their rivals to the north almost from the word go, ending in a 4-0 victory over United.

The first half was a relatively even affair until Álvaro Quezada late first half goal that saw him slip in a shot from the six following a cheeky through ball sent in. But everything changed in the second half following Ousman Jabang’s second yellow and sending off in the 59th minute. From there El Paso took the train into overdrive mode, smashing New Mexico as often and hard as possible.

Just minutes after the sending off Alex Méndez sent an absolute screamer of a free kick directly into goal from well over thirty yards out. Rubio Rubin scored six minutes after, hammering the nail in the coffin with 20 minutes left. Eric Calvillo added a fourth tally with just minutes to play on a beautiful shot off the volley to really slam home El Paso’s first regulation win in New Mexico since 2023.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

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Orange County SC (USL-C)
1:2
Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)
After Extra Time
Championship Soccer Stadium – Irvine, CA

By Ashle Lynn Paige

Three goals, 43 fouls, and 15 yellow cards was the story of the match although it could have been very different if not for an awful first half mistake from Orange County. It ended up being another extremely chippy match that took extra time to decide, with Phoenix ultimately coming out the victors.

Phoenix Rising’s first goal was explicitly the result of a terrible mistake from Orange County goalkeeper Alexander Rando. Rando attempted to clear the ball and whiffed on the attempt, sending it back and to the side leaving a loose ball and wide open goal. Gunnar Studenhofft made a dash to the ball, snagged it, and then walked it into the unprotected goal to give Rising a late first half lead.

From there the clash ended up in a stalemate becoming more and more aggressive as the clock ticked closer to 90 minutes. With four minutes and stoppage time remaining in regulation Ourmane Sylla slipped a low roller of a shot into the goal to keep Orange County alive. Unfortunately for OCSC the draw did not last very long once extra time started. Six minutes into the extra session Aleksander Vukovic popped in a header from a set piece on what ended up being the match winner.

[+] FULL MATCH REPORT (with video highlights)

The 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup resumes this week with 16 Second Round games on the schedule. There is a lot on the line on Tuesday and Wednesday night as each winner will earn a date with a Major League Soccer team in the Third Round (April 14-15).

Seven amateur teams are still alive with four teams from the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) and a trio from USL League Two (USL-2). Out of the 32 teams, 17 of them are from USL Championship, while Division 3 clubs are represented by seven from USL League One and one from MLS NEXT Pro (Chattanooga FC).

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 five 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, MARCH 31

Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-C)
vs. 
Virginia Dream FC (UPSL)
Highmark Stadium – Pittsburgh, PA
Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

The last team to win in the First Round are one of the first to kickoff the Second Round as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds host the USASA’s Virginia Dream FC.

Pushed back a week due to inclement weather, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the clear favorites entering the game, perhaps “played 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

For the second year in a row, Virginia Dream pulled off an upset, this time beating Carolina Core of MLS NEXT Pro, 2-1. After a scoreless opening half Carolina took a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute. Zoumana Diarra (58’) and Akingbolahan Akinkoye (78’) responded for Virginia to secure the upset.

Once before in 2014 the Riverhounds played back to back amateur opponents in the Open Cup. In the Second Round they defeated New York Red Bulls U23s 3-1, then in the following round needed extra time to beat Chicago’s RWB Adria 3-2.

Qualifying in their debut last year, Virginia Dream FC went on to upset the Richmond Kickers from USL League One 3-1 in the tournament proper. Virginia Dream finished 8-0-2 in the UPSL DMV South-A division and had a 7-3-0 in the Fall season. Virginia also fielded a team in the NPSL, finishing 9-1-0. Dream recently won the Fall Championship of the Virginia Super Soccer League.

After falling behind 1-0 in the 2nd minute, Virginia Dream came back on goals from Williams Yami in each half to defeat Doradus FC 2-1.

In the Third Round, the Dream made easy work of Guerrilla FC with a 6-1 victory. Dream jumped out to a 5-0 halftime lead paced by Diarra Zoumana who had a hat-trick.

To qualify for the 2026 Open Cup, Virginia needed extra time to get past MSI Pro 2-0. Zoumana Diarra (105’) and Williams Yami (113’) scored for Virginia in extra time.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
USL Championship | Pittsburgh, PA
22nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1999
Manager: Rob Vincent
Overall: 20-19-3 (1-2 PK)
Home: 14-6-1 (1-0 PK) 
vs. Amateur: 0-5-2 (1-1 PK)
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 1942-1956 Western Pennsylvania teams reached the Final eight times.

Virginia Dream FC
UPSL | Falls Church, VA
2nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: defeated MSI Pro 2-0 (aet) in final round of Open Division qualifying
Founded: 2022
Manager: CJ Taylor
Overall: 2-1-0
Away: 2-1-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-0
Best finish: Second Round (2025)

Virginia has been represented in the Open Cup by 14 amateur clubs in the Modern Era, dating back to 1995 when Spartans SC of Fairfax, Va. lost to the Richmond Kickers, who were an amateur club themselves at the time. The Kickers were the last amateur team to win the Open Cup.

Asheville City SC (USL-2)
vs. 
One Knoxville SC (USL-1)
Greenwood Field (UNC Asheville) – Asheville, NC
Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+ / CBS Sports Network

A rematch from the 2024 First Round brings USL League One’s One Knoxville SC to visit the “Land of the Sky” as they take on USL League Two’s Asheville SC in another round of the Smoky Mountain Series.

Asheville and Knoxville have been on-again, off-again rivals since Knoxville started in USL League Two in 2022. In the one season the clubs shared a league, the Smoky Mountain Series started, with the winner gaining possession of the Smoky Mountain Series Trophy, a gold hiking boot. Knoxville leads the series 2-1, splitting USL-2 games in 2022 (3-1 Asheville, 2-1 Knoxville). Since each club fields a team in the USL W-League, those teams took up the rivalry in 2025, with Asheville winning both games. The teams are scheduled to meet two times in the 2026 W-League season.

When Knoxville moved up to USL League One in 2023, the men’s side of the rivalry has been confined to meetings in the US Open Cup, and the third match of the series took place in the 2024 First Round. Knoxville jumped out to a 2-0 halftime lead on goals from Rodolfo Castro Jr. (13’) and Callum Johnson (45’+4). Ashville played the final 30 minutes a man down after Jalen Crisler received his second yellow card, and Knoxville was able to hold off an attempted comeback from their rivals 2-0.

In the opening round, Ashville upset Knoxville’s USL-1 rivals Greenville Triumph 3-1, gaining revenge on Grenville eliminating Asheville from the 2024 Open Cup via penalties. Evan Southern put Asheville in front 1-0 after 13 minutes, then Ashton Bilow scored the eventual winning goal with eight minutes left. Deep in stoppage time Ben Fall, seemingly sitting on the turf stretching a cramp, jumped to his feet to steal the ball from defender and easily icescored the clinching goal. For his performance, Fall was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.

One Knoxville SC traveled to Garfield, New Jersey 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’).

Asheville City SC
USL League Two | Asheville, NC
3rd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Finished 10-2-0 in the 2025 USL-2 season
Founded: 2016
Manager: Scott Wells
Overall: 1-1-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 1-1-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 3 :1-1-1 (0-0 PK)
Best finish: First Round (2024, 2025)

Asheville City SC got its start in 2016 as a member of the NPSL. After three seasons the team switched to USL League Two. Finishing second in the South Central division in 2022, Asheville City followed their 10-1-1 2023 season with a 10-0-2 mark in 2024 and a run to the USL-2 National Semifinals.

Asheville continued their success in USL League Two, posting a 10-0-2 record while only allowing three goals in those 12 games, enabling them to qualify for the Open Cup for a third straight time. Their season ended in the opening round of the playoffs with a 3-2 upset loss to Louisiana Krewe FC.

One Knoxville SC
USL League One | Knoxville, TN
4th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2021
Manager: Ian Fuller
Overall: 4-3-0
Away: 3-2-0
vs. Amateur: 3-0-0
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 a 11-1-2 record and reaching the League Two Quarterfinals in the 2022 season, One Knoxville made the move to League One for the 2023 campaign 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

FC Naples (USL-1)
vs. 
FC America CFL Spurs (UPSL)
Paradise Coast Sports Complex – Naples, FL
Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

Despite advancing to the Second Round, FC America CFL Spurs are still looking for their first Open Cup win. They travel to Naples, Fla. to face FC Naples of USL League One in search of that win.

FC America CFL Spurs reached the Second Round and earned their first “win” with a forfeit victory over South Georgia Tormenta FC of USL League One. On February 23, 2026, USL League One’s South Georgia Tormenta FC announced it would not compete during the 2026 season. This is the first forfeit of a US Open Cup game since the NISA’s Georgia Lions forfeited their 2024 First Round match to Apotheos FC of the NPSL  

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.

In their journey through Open Division qualifying, America needed extra time to knock off Pinellas County United Pelicans SC 3-1 in their opening game. Kwesi Caesar gave America a 1-0 lead in the second half, and Mikkel Fodstad and Henri Tophoven scored in extra time. FC America had a much easier time in the Third Round, smashing Emerald FC Orlando 7-0. Alexandre Teixeira registered a hat-trick, and Jorge Lamerias added two goals.

In their final qualifying game, Spurs needed penalty kicks after a 1-1 extra time draw to qualify over UPSL rivals Harbor City FC. Harbor City prevented Spurs from making 2026 their third straight Open Cup appearance, eliminating them in the final round of 2025 qualifying via penalties after a 0-0 draw. 

FC Naples
USL League One | Naples, FL
2nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2024
Manager: Matt Poland
Overall: 2-0-1 (0-1 (PK)
Home: 1-0-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Amateur: 2-0-0
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 Oner 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. We are missing some historical information about that club if any of our readers know anyone associated with that club, please contact us HERE. . 

FC America CFL Spurs 
UPSL | Winter Park, FL 
2nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Won penalty shootout 5-4 after 1-1 draw with Harbor City FC in final round of Open Division qualifying
Founded: 1991
Manager: Luiz Dantas
Overall: 1-1-0
Away: 1-1-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-1-0
Best finish: First Round (2024)

Founded as CFL GOSA Spurs 1991, the club changed their name to FC America CFL Spurs shortly before the opening of Open Division Local qualifying for the 2024 Open Cup. America began as a youth club in 1991, and their most famous alumni is former Sporting Kansas City and US Men’s National Team winger (and three-time US Open Cup champion) Graham Zusi. Spurs finished 6-3-1 in the 2025 UPSL Spring season, and 10-0-2 in the 2025 Fall campaign, reaching the UPSL Round of 32 both times. 

Indy Eleven (USL-C)
vs. 
Union Omaha (USL-1)
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN.
Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

After playing their opening game indoors at the Grand Parks Events Center in nearby Westfield, Ind., Indy Eleven return home to Michael A. Carroll Stadium to host Union Omaha of USL League One to try and extend their home Open Cup winning streak.

With their First Round win, Indy now has won their last five home Open Cup games, a run dating back to 2023 when they defeated NISA’s Michigan Stars 3-1 in extra time. Omaha will try to keep their record against Division 2 foes unbeaten, as they are 2-0-1 with the tie resulting in a PK win over El Paso Locomotive in 2024.

Indy and Omaha will face each other once again in group play of the USL Cup on April 25.

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 ln two other goals in his half hour of game time. Samuel Owusu also scored twice in Omaha’s largest ever Open Cup win.

Indy’s win in the First Round wasn’t nearly as big as they handled the Des Moines Menace of USL League Two 3-0. The Menace, who had recruited former MLS players to their “amateur” roster in recent years, entered the game without any ringers and Indy took care of business. New signings Loïc Mesanvi (31’), Noble Okello (60’) and Charlie Sharp (75’) handled the scoring in the win. 

Indy Eleven 
USL Championship | Indianapolis, IN
11th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2013
Manager: Sean McAuley
Overall: 10-8-2 (0-2)
Home: 8-2-0
Vs. Div. 3: 5-2-0
Best finish: Semifinals (2024)

After a Semifinal appearance in the 2024 Open Cup, and a 4th place finish in the 2024 USL Championship, Indy Eleven came crashing back to earth, missing the USL Championship playoffs with a 10-15-5 record. Indy’s 2025 Open Cup run was stopped short as well by the Philadelphia Union in the Fourth Round via penalties after a 1-1 draw. Indy Eleven has faced amateur opposition just twice in the Open Cup, both ending in defeat. In 2017 Indy fell to the Michigan Bucks (now Flint City Bucks) 1-0 in the Second Round. The following year, Indy were stopped by Mississippi Brilla 1-0 in the Second Round

Indy Eleven got their start in 2014 in the NASL, with a 2016 championship appearance as their only success in that league. When the NASL suspended operations after the 2017 season, Indy joined the USL where it has continued to struggle as a mid-table team, reaching the playoffs just three times in six seasons before breaking out in 2024 with a 4th place finish and a spot in the Open Cup Semifinals.

Open Cup success has been elusive for Indy Eleven, in ten previous appearances the club has lost in their opening game four times and was eliminated in their second game the five other times. The lone bright spot was their 2024 run to the Semifinals, upsetting Atlanta United 2-1 in the Quarterfinals before falling to Sporting Kansas City 2-0 in the Semis.

Indianapolis first had a team in Open Cup play in the 1933 edition, when Indianapolis SC lost to the Cincinnati Kickers 3-2 in the Second Round of the Ohio qualifying tournament. Indianapolis SC tried again in the 1935 tournament, losing to the Kickers once again, 4-2.

Indianapolis has hosted four different Open Cup Finals as a neutral venue. First in 1990 when Chicago’s AAC Eagles defeated the Brooklyn Italians 2-1. In 1992 and 1993 Indy was the Finals host when the San Jose Oaks defeated Vasco da Gama (CT) 2-1 and CD Mexico (now El Farolito) bested United German Hungarians (Philadelphia area) 5-0. Finally in 1997 when the Dallas Burn (FC Dallas) won the Cup over D.C. United on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

Union Omaha
USL League One | Omaha, NE
5th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2019
Manager: Vincenzo Candela
Overall: 10-4-2 (2-0)
Away: 5-3-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 2-0-1 (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 did finish with 51 goals, second-best in USL League One. Omaha is a perfect 5-0-0 against amateur clubs in the Open Cup, with three of those games coming against the Des Moines Menace (2022, 2024, 2025)

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.

Charlotte Independence (USL-1)
vs. 
Charleston Battery (USL-C)
Mecklenburg County Sportsplex – Matthews, NC
Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

A battle of North and South Carolina kicked off in the Second Round as the USL Championship Charleston Battery travel to face the Charlotte Independence of USL League One.

The lone Open Cup meeting between these clubs came in the 2023 Third Round at the Battery’s home of the Patriots Point Soccer Stadium in Mount Pleasant, S.C. The game went to extra time tied 0-0, and Nick Markanich won it for the Battery in the 112th minute.

Charleston and Charlotte close out group play in the USL Cup on July 11.

The last USOC loss for Charleston against a Division 3 opponent came in the 2022 Second Round, a 1-0 defeat to South Georgia Tormenta FC. The game was unusual in that it kicked off at 11am in an empty Patriots Point Soccer Stadium, having been postponed from the night before due to extreme weather.

Charlotte’s only win over a Division 2 foe in six tries came as a 1-0 win over the Carolina RailHawks of the NASL in the 2015 Third Round. Since then, they’ve been 0-4-1 with a PK win over Rhode Island FC in 2024 after a 4-4 draw.

Charleston narrowly escaped an upset in the First Round, beating the Florida Badgers FC of the UPSL 2-1. Despite outshooting their opponents 24-2, and taking 16 corner kicks, the Battery were held to a 1-1 draw in the dying minutes of the second half. In the 12th minute of stoppage time Colton Swan headed in his second goal of the game to rescue the Battery. New Russian signee Kirill Pakhomov was credited with assists on both goals. 

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 Ristozi 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.

Charlotte Independence
USL League One | Charlotte, NC
9th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Mike Jeffries
Overall: 10-8-3 (2-1 PK)
Home: 4-3-3 (2-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 1-4-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2015)

Charlotte has the second longest Open Cup history of all the USL League One teams with 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.

Charleston Battery
USL Championship | Charleston, SC
25th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1993
Manager: Ben Pirmann
Overall: 39-20-8 (4-4 PK)
Away: 8-12-2 (2-0 PK)
vs. Div. 3: 9-2-0 
Best finish: Final (2008)

Charleston has the most experience in the Open Cup among USL Championship clubs, having been founded in 1993 and making 24 previous Open Cup appearances. The Battery’s former home of Blackbaud Stadium/MUSC Health Stadium still holds the Modern Era mark for most Open Cup games hosted with 36, although that mark will be surpassed this year by Richmond’s City Stadium.

The early years are where Charleston had the most success in the Open Cup. Between 1999-2009 the Battery reached the Quarterfinals three times (1999, 2004, 2007, 2008) the Semifinals twice (1999, 2008), and the Final in 2008. From 2010-2016, when they dropped to Division 3 status, they only advanced beyond a third game in the tournament once (2010). 

In 2025, Charleston maintained their spot as one of the top USL Championship teams with a 19-6-5 record, second-best in the league. They also had the best offense in the league with 62 goals scored. However, it all came crashing down when they were eliminated by Rhode Island FC via penalties after a 0-0 draw in the opening round of the playoffs.

Valley 559 FC (UPSL)
vs. 
Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
Fresno State Soccer Stadium – Fresno, CA
Kickoff: 10:00 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+ / CBS Sports Golazo Network

After earning their first ever Open Cup win in their first ever Open Cup match, Valley 559 FC now hosts their first Open Cup game, as they welcome Sacramento Republic FC to Fresno State Soccer Stadium in Fresno, Calif.

Valley 559 FC returned to qualifying after falling at the final hurdle last year. In their first appearance in 2024 they reached the Third Round where they lost 5-3 to eventual 2024 qualifiers FC Folsom. Last year they reached the final round, losing to Inter San Francisco in a 5-4 extra time barnburner. Valley finished 6-2-2 in the UPSL NorCal South Division Spring season and reached the UPSL Spring season Round of 16. Valley finished 4-4-0 in the UPSL Fall Season. Valley 559 have been one of the more consistent teams in the UPSL, finishing either first or second in the NoCal South Division every Spring and Fall season since starting in 2023.

Valley had to stage a comeback to win their opening qualifying game over Real San Jose. After RSJ took a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute, Jose Luis Cuevas and 10-year MLS veteran Quincy Amarikwa scored on either side of halftime for the 2-1 win.

After being tied 2-2 with FC Folsom through 54 minutes, Valley eventually pulled away for a 5-2 win, with former Chattanooga Red Wolves winger Ernesto Espinoza scoring twice. In the final round Espinoza scored on an 87th minute free kick to get past 2024 and 2025 qualifiers Ballard FC 1-0.

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 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.

Led by MLS veteran Quincy Amarikwa, Valley 559 pulled off an upset in their Open Cup debut, knocking off AV ALTA 1-0 (USL League One). In the first half, ALTA’s Alfredo Ortiz saw his penalty kick hit the post to keep the game scoreless at halftime. Amarikwa, who played for six different MLS teams between 2009-2019, met Michael Gonzalez’s cross with a diving header in the 65th minute for his fifth all-time Open Cup goal. The lone goal would hold up for the remaining 25 minutes for a landmark 1-0 win. 

Republic have lost just once to amateur opposition in 12 Open Cup games, with the lone blemish way back in the 2016 Third Round with a 3-1 loss to the PDL’s (USL-2) Kitsap Pumas. Sacramento holds a remarkable 21-3-1 (1-1 PK) record in home Open Cup games, including a 14-game unbeaten streak stretching from 2017-2023.

This will be just the fourth Open Cup game Sacramento has played on the road in the last five tournaments, a span that covers 16 games.

Valley 559 FC
UPSL | Fresno, CA
1st US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Defeated Ballard FC 1-0 in final round of Open Division qualifying
Founded: 2021
Manager: Milton Blanco
Overall: 1-0-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 1-0-0
Best finish: N/A

Valley are the sixth team from Fresno to appear in the Open Cup during the Modern Era. The first was Mexico SC, a USASA club who qualified for the Open Cup from 1999-2002. The Fresno Fuego of the PDL (now USL-2) made four appearances in 2003, 2012, 2014 and 2017. The Fuego upset two professional clubs, El Paso Patriots 5-2 in 2003, and Orange County Blues 2-0 in 2012. In 2013, the Fresno Fuego Future from US Club Soccer appeared in a single game, losing in the preliminary round 5-3 to FC Hasental. Pro side Fresno FC appeared in 2018 and 2019, reaching the Fourth Round in 2018 where they faced Los Angeles FC and lost 2-0. Finally, from 2022-2024 the Central Valley Fuego represented USL League One in the Open Cup but never made it past a second game.

Sacramento Republic FC
USL Championship | Sacramento, CA
11th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2012
Manager: Neill Collins
Overall: 24-9-2 (1-1 PK)
Home: 22-3-1 (1-0 PK)
vs. Amateur: 11-1-0
Best finish: Final (2022)

Sacramento has been the most consistent USL Championship club in recent years, having advanced to a third game in all but one of their eight previous appearances. They are also the last non-MLS club to reach the Final, having done so in 2022. The 2022 Final run earned club legend Rodrigo Lopez TheCup.us Player of the Tournament 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) 

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 Jägermeister Cup, where they lost to Hartford Athletic 1-0.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1

Chattanooga FC (MLSNP)
vs. 
Tennessee Tempo FC (UPSL)
Finley Stadium – Chattanooga, TN
Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

2025 UPSL Spring champions Tennessee Tempo will be looking for their second straight upset when they travel to face Chattanooga FC.

In Round 1, Chattanooga recovered from an early 1-0 deficit to overcome 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 of 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.

With the game pushed back 75 minutes due to Chattanooga Red Wolves’ transportation problems, Tennessee Tempo was given an advantage that they took advantage of scoring in the 34th minute on Geofrey Oyirwoth’s goal that was assisted by MLS veteran and longtime Tempo member Kwadwo Poku. The goal held up and Tennessee advanced to Round 2.  

Last year in the Second Round, the Chattanooga FC-Chattanooga Red Wolves encounter drew 12,131 fans to Finley Stadium, just shy of a Modern Era attendance record for the round. The Red Wolves won the long-awaited showdown via penalties after a 1-1 draw. Chattanooga had a successful 2025 season in MLS NEXT Pro, finishing 13-6 with a 5-4 shootout record, the fifth-best record in all of MLSNP.

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. Their only loss to amateur side came in the 2024 First Round to Miami United FC (1-0).

The Tempo brought a championship trophy back to Tennessee about two months before Nashville SC won the U.S. Open Cup in October. On Aug. 10, 2025, the Tempo defeated LA10 FC 1-0 in the UPSL Spring championship. Former MLS veteran Dominic Oduro’s 85th minute blast from the top of the box gave Tennessee the UPSL Spring crown and an automatic spot in this year’s Open Cup. The Tempo went 10-1-0 in the 2025 Spring season and followed up with an 8-1-1 mark in the Fall campaign. Tennessee was denied a double title when fellow Open Cup qualifier Kalonji Pro-Profile defeated them on penalties in the UPSL Fall Round of 32 playoffs.

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

Chattanooga FC started out 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.

Tennessee Tempo FC 
UPSL | Murfreesboro, TN
2nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: 2025 UPSL Spring Champion 
Founded: 2021 (as Beaman United)
Manager: Gift Ndam
Overall: 1-1-0
Away: 0-0-0
vs. Div. 3: 1-0-0
Best finish: First Round (2023 as Beaman United FC)

Tennessee Tempo got their start in 2021 as Beaman United, founded by Gift Ndam and former New York City FC midfielder Kwadwo Poku, who also played with the club. In their debut UPSL season Beaman reached the Spring championship and also won the Region III National Amateur Cup but were later disqualified when it was discovered that several players retained professional status. Beaman would also qualify for the 2023 Open Cup, losing to the Des Moines Menace 3-0. The team would change its name to Tennessee Tempo in June 2023.

Inter Nashville FC are the only other amateur club from Middle Tennessee to participate in the Open Cup in the Modern Era. Inter represented the NPSL in 2018, defeating the USL-2 Charlotte Eagles 6-1 in the First Round before falling 2-0 to Nashville SC, who were still in the USL before joining Major League Soccer. Nashville United from the USASA/Middle Tennessee Soccer Alliance qualified for the cancelled 2020 Open Cup.

Richmond Kickers (USL-1)
vs. 
Loudoun United FC (USL-C)
City Stadium – Richmond, VA
Kickoff: 6:30 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

The Richmond Kickers will be looking for revenge for their elimination from the 2024 US Open Cup when they host Loudoun United in the Second Round.

The one time these clubs met in the Open Cup was in the 2024 Third Round, when Loudoun and Richmond played to a 0-0 draw, and Loudoun advanced on penalty kicks 5-4. 

The teams face off again on June 6 in the USL Cup.

Richmond is 5-3-2 (0-2 PK) against Division 2 teams in the Open Cup, and their last win over a team from that level was in the 2018 Third Round when they defeated Penn FC 3-2.

In all three of their previous Open Cup appearances, Loudoun have made it to a third game all three times.

This game will mark the 37th Open Cup contest played at Richmond’s City Stadium, eclipsing the Modern Era high of 36 held by MUSC Heath/Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C., which has since closed. The Kickers surpassed D.C. United and Sporting Kansas City with 37 Open Cup wins in the Modern Era (1995-present), 7th best overall

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.

Loudoun United found themselves under an upset watch, but managed to get past West Chester United 2-1. Marcos Dias (3’) and Elvis Amoh (21’) scored Loudoun’s goals in the first half, with each player assisting the other. West Chester hung on, outshooting Loudoun 20-14, then scoring in the 85th minute to add some drama that Loudoun was able to withstand.

Richmond Kickers
USL League One | Richmond, VA
26th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 1993
Manager: Darren Sawatzky
Overall: 36-22-5 (2-3 PK)
Home: 29-9-2 (0-2 PK)
vs. Amateur: 17-3-1 (1-0 PK
Best finish: Champions (1995)

Richmond, which was founded in 1993, will make its 21st 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.

Loudoun United FC
USL Championship | Leesburg, VA
4th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Anthony Limbrick
Overall: 5-3-1 (1-0)
Away: 2-2-1 (1-0)
Amateur: 2-0-0
Best finish: Fifth Round (2024)

Loudoun United have played in the USL Championship since 2019 but only became eligible for the Open Cup in 2024 once their status as D.C. United’s reserve club ended. Loudoun have lived at the bottom of the USL championship table each of their first six seasons, only hitting double digits in wins once (11 in 2019). 

After six seasons of struggling at the wrong end of the USL Championship table, Loudoun finally broke through to reach the playoffs, posting a 12-12-6 record, though they fell in the opening round of the playoffs to North Carolina FC 1-0.

Rhode Island FC (USL-C)
vs. 
Hartford Athletic (USL-C)
Centreville Bank Stadium – Pawtucket, RI
Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

USL Championship Eastern Conference rivals clash as Hartford Athletic makes a trip to historic Pawtucket, RI to face Rhode Island FC.

Rhode Island have never played a Division 2 team in the Open Cup, and Hartford have played just one Open Cup game against a Division 2 opponent, a 4-0 loss to Memphis 901 FC in the 2019 Third Round. Hartford have also never won a road Open Cup game, going 0-2-1 (0-1 PK)

Despite being outshot 11-6 by their amateur opponents, Hartford Athletic managed to avoid an upset, beating FC Motown 2-0. TJ Presthus opened the scoring in the 33rd minute on an Andrés Hernández assist, then Hernández added an unassisted goal in the 51st minute.

Rhode Island FC had no trouble with CD Faialense of the Bay State Soccer League, winning 4-0. 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.

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)
Home:  0-1-0
Vs. Div. 2: 0-0-0
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, who reached the Open Cup Semifinals in 1923, 1926 and 1928. After an ownership change, the team was renamed the Pawtucket Rangers and reached the Semifinals again in 1933, and made the Final in 1934 and 1935, losing both times to St. Louis powerhouse Stix, Baer & Fuller / Central Breweries.

A new team, Pawtucket SC, found success in 1941, winning the Open Cup Final over Detroit’s Chrysler SC 6-5 over two games. Pawtucket reached the Final again the following year but lost to Gallatin (Western Pennsylvania) 6-3 over two games.

While Rhode Island fell short of matching its 2024 appearance in the USL Championship Final, they 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.

Hartford Athletic
USL Championship | Hartford, CT
6th Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Brendan Burke
Overall: 4-4-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 0-2-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2:4-0-0
Best finish: Third Round (2019, 2022-2024)

Participation in the Open Cup by teams from Hartford began in 1920, when the S.K.F. Club were eliminated in the opening round by New Haven FC. Hartford would remain quiet up until the Italian American Stars rose to prominence in the late 1950s and early 1960s, reaching the Eastern Quarterfinals in 1959, 1960 and 1961. They also reached the the 1961 National Amateur Cup Final. Hartford’s Trinity Health Stadium (previously known as Dillon Stadium) has hosted Open Cup matches since Nov. 16, 1958, when the I-A Stars defeated Hartford’s KS Ogniwo 2-0 in the opening round of qualifying for the 1959 US Open Cup.

After years of being anchored in the bottom half of the USL Championship standing, Hartford finally had a breakout year in 2025. Not only did Hartford finish with a 12-7-15 record, finishing as the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, they also won the second edition of the USL Jägermeister Cup, defeating Sacramento Republic 1-0 in the Final. 

Vermont Green FC (USL-2) 
vs. 
Westchester SC (USL-1)
Virtue Field – Burlington, VT
Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

Vermont Green will try to keep their upset string running as they host USL League One’s Westchester SC in the Second Round.

In Westchester’s short Open Cup history, their only wins have come against amateur opponents. Similarly, Vermont’s only Open Cup wins have been against professional opponents,

Vermont Green opened their 2026 Open Cup as they did in 2024, upsetting a USL League One club at home. This time it was Portland Hearts of Pine by a 1-0 score. David Ismail from the University of Vermont found himself in front of goal when a blocked shot found his feet, leading to an easy goal in the 40th minute. Vermont survived the rest of the way for the 1-0 win.

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.

Vermont Green FC 
USL League Two | Burlington, VT
2nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2021
Manager: Chris Taylor
Overall: 2-1-0
Home: 2-1-0
Div. 3: 2-1-0
Best finish: Second Round (2024)

In 2024, Vermont Green became the second team from The Green Mountain State to appear in the US Open Cup proper, the first being the Vermont Voltage in 2014, and their First Round game with Lexington was the first Open Cup game on record to be played in Vermont. The club was recognized as the USL League Two Organization of the Year in 2023. The club is also a member of One Percent for the Planet, donating 1% of the club’s annual revenues to environmental partners.

In their 2024 debut, Vermont made waves by jumping out to a 4-1 lead over USL League One’s Lexington Sporting Club in their First Round game, holding on for a 4-3 upset. The fairytale ended in the Second Round with a 2-1 loss to MLS NEXT Pro’s Carolina Core.

Vermont just missed the cut for one of USL League Two’s qualifying berths in 2025, and made up for it by winning the 2025 USL League Two championship with a dramatic 2-1 win over Ballard FC with Max Kissel scored the winning goal in second-half stoppage time. Kissel also scored the winning goal in extra time in the University of Vermont’s 2-1 win over Marshall in the 2024 NCAA championship game.

Westchester SC 
USL League One | Westchester County, NY
2nd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2024
Manager: George Gjokaj
Overall: 3-1-0
Away: 1-1-0
vs. Amateur: 3-0-0
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 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 new USL Championship side Brooklyn FC.

Lexington SC (USL-C)
vs. 
Louisville City FC (USL-C)
Lexington SC Stadium – Lexington, KY
Kickoff: 7:00 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

The first Open Cup edition of The Commonwealth Cup takes place when Louisville City FC visits Lexington Sporting Club.

Louisville has taken all four editions of The Commonwealth Cup, both USL Championship games last year (2-1, 2-1), the first league meeting this season (2-1 HIGHLIGHTS), and the very first clash that came in the 2023 US Open Cup, in which Sean Totsch scored the winner for Louisville in the 69th minute (HIGHLIGHTS). The clubs have at least one more game waiting later this season on July 11, which doubles as a USL Cup game.

Louisville are just 3-6-2 in Open Cup road games, with their last road win coming in the 2017 Second Round when they traveled to Pittsburgh to beat amateurs Tartan Oak Avalon 9-0.

Lexington made history in the First Round by posting the largest victory in club history with a 9-0 thrashing of Flower City Union. The scoring didn’t start until the 32nd minute but when it finished eight different players were on the score sheet. Lexington was one goal shy from tying the Modern Era record of 10-0, set by the Atlanta Silverbacks in a 2007 First Round win over Azzurri.

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. Louisville outshot Southern Indiana 21-4 as the returning Showunmi, who was previously with Louisville in 2014,  provided the scoring.

Lexington Sporting Club
USL Championship | Lexington, KY
3rd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2021
Manager: Masaki Hemmi
Overall: 2-3-0
Home: 2-0-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-0
Best finish: Second Round (2023, 2025)

Lexington started in 2023 in USL League One, with a plan to move to USL Championship in 2025. In both years in USL-1, LSC missed the playoffs.

Lexington’s first two appearances in the Open Cup resulted in one and done exits. In 2023 they fell to Louisville City 1-0, and in 2024 they traveled to Vermont and were upset by the Vermont Green of USL League Two in a wild 4-3 shootout.

Louisville City FC
USL Championship | Louisville, KY
10th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Danny Cruz
Overall: 14-8-4 (3-1 PK)
Away: 3-6-2 (1-1 PK) 

vs. Div. 2: 5-2-1 (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. After beating Loudoun United 2-1 in the Third Round, LCFC fell to Minnesota United 1-0.

Flint City Bucks (USL-2)
vs. 
Detroit City FC (USL-C)
Don Batchelor Stadium – Grand Blanc, MI
Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+ / CBS Sports Golazo Network

The giant killers Flint City Bucks have returned and will be looking for another victory over a pro team when Detroit City visits to resume their Open Cup rivalry.

The Flint City Bucks and Detroit City FC have met three times in the Open Cup, all when DCFC was still an amateur club in the NPSL and the Bucks were the Michigan Bucks. The first meeting came in the 2015 First Round, the Bucks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals from David Goldsmith (7’) and Peri Marosevic (9’), and Brad Ruhaak added a third in the 30th minute. 

The second meeting came a year later, again in the First Round. The teams played to a 0-0 draw after extra time, and Detroit prevailed in the penalty shootout 4-3.

The final encounter was in the 2018 First Round. After a scoreless first half Shawn Lawson gave Detroit a 1-0 lead in the 57th minute, but Pinheiro Neto tied the game with a penalty kick with six minutes left. Detroit would win the PK tiebreaker, 6-5.

Since entering the Open Cup as a professional team, Detroit City has never faced an amateur opponent. The Bucks have defeated two professional opponents in the same tournament three times. The first time was in 1999 when they defeated the USL D3 Pro Austin Lone Stars 3-2 and the A-League’s Minnesota Thunder 2-1. The Bucks repeated the feat in 2006 by knocking off the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (2-0) and Cincinnati Kings (2-1) from the USL Second Division. The last time came in 2012 when they once again beat the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (1-0), then upset the Chicago Fire 3-2 in extra time. The Bucks last win over a pro team came in the 2017 Second Round, defeating Indy Eleven, then with the NASL, 1-0.

The Flint City Bucks added yet another professional victim to its list of Open Cup upsets, shocking the USL League One Forward Madison FC 2-0. An own goal in the 13th minute got things going, then Jordy Lopez blasted a shot in the 67th minute to put the Bucks up 2-0 where they would stay.

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 make it 5-1.

Flint City Bucks 
USL League Two | Flint, MI
16th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Finished 9-3-0 in 2025 USL League Two season
Founded: 1996 (as Mid-Michigan Bucks)
Manager: Paul Doroh
Overall: 15-12-3 (0-3)
Home: 11-9-2 (0-2)
vs. Div. 3: 4-4-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2012)

Since their first Open Cup in 1997, the Bucks are 11-10-1 (0-1 PK) against professional opponents, including two upsets of MLS teams. The Bucks are the only amateur team in the Modern Era to upset multiple MLS teams. They knocked off the New England Revolution 1-0 at Foxboro Stadium back in 2000 when they were based in Saginaw, Mich. under the name the “Mid-Michigan Bucks”. In 2012, they stunned the soccer world with a 3-2 extra time win over the Chicago Fire at the Bucks’ indoor home in Pontiac, MI.  Their last win over a Division Three team was in the 2012 Second Round when they topped the Pittsburgh Riverhounds 1-0. No amateur team in the Modern Era has more tournament wins (16), pro team upsets (11), and games against MLS opposition (7, 2-4-1 record, 0-1 in PKs). 

After missing the last five Open Cup tournaments, the Flint City Bucks are returning to the Open Cup for the first time since 2018. Their absence isn’t because they wern’t good enough to claim one of the USL League Two spots. Four times the Bucks have been good enough to take one of those spots, but for one reason or another they’ve turned them down. After winning the USL-2 crown in 2019, the Bucks have reached the National Semifinals in 2022, 2023 and 2025. In fact, the last time the Bucks played in the Open Cup (May 9, 2018), the official announcement of Forward Madison coming into existence had yet to take place (May 17, 2018).

In 2025, the Bucks had one of their normal seasons, finishing atop their division with an 9-3-0 record, and then advancing to the USL League Two Semifinals where they were stopped by Ballard FC 2-1. The Bucks are 4-time USL League Two champions (2006, 2014, 2016, 2019), and have failed to finish in the top two of their division just four times in 29 seasons.

Detroit City FC 
USL Championship | Hamtramck, MI
9th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2012
Manager: Danny Dichio
Overall: 5-5-6 (3-3)
Home: 5-1-3 (1-2)
Open Division: 0-1-3 (2-1)
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).

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C)
vs. 
Spokane Velocity FC (USL-1)
Weidner Field – Colorado Springs, CO
Kickoff: 8:00 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+ / CBS Sports Network

Two USL clubs who have never crossed paths meet in the Second Round when the USL Championship’s Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC host Spokane Velocity FC of USL League One.

The Switchbacks are just 3-3 against Division 3 opponents in the Open Cup, with all three losses coming consecutively in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile in its short Open Cup history, Spokane has just one game against a Division 2, a 2-1 extra time loss to Las Vegas Lights in 2024.

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. 

Spokane needed an 89th minute penalty to get past USL League Two’s Ventura County Fusion 2-1 in the First Round. Anuar Pelaez opened the scoring for Spokane in the 20th minute, but Ventura County tied it with 11 minutes left on a penalty kick of their own. In the 88th minute, Ventura goalkeeper Nicholas McCune fouled Neco Brett as he went up for a header, and a minute later Joe Gallardo converted the spot kick to give Spokane the win. 

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. Div. 3: 3-3-0
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.

Spokane Velocity FC
USL League One | Spokane, WA
3rd US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2021
Manager: Leigh Veidman
Overall: 4-2-0
Away: 3-2-0
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-0
Best finish: Third Round (2024)

Spokane’s Open Cup debut in 2024 went three games deep. First, they knocked off this year’s opening round opponents, Ballard FC, 1-0 on a goal from Andre Lewis deep into second half stoppage time. In the Second Round, Spokane got more late game heroics, this time in the 85th minute as Luis Gil scored the winner in the 1-0 triumph over NISA’s Los Angeles Force. Round 3 brought more late game heroics, as Lewis struck in second half stoppage time again to tie Las Vegas Lights 1–1 to force extra time. The USL Championship side would prevail 2-1 in the extra session.  

In 2025 they topped themselves by beating Ballard 1-0 in extra time stoppage time, as Anuar Pelaez knocked in a Nico Brett assist one minute past the 120th.

In just two years of existence Spokane has positioned itself as one of the top teams in USL League One. In their debut in 2024, Spokane reached the USL League One championship despite a 7-9-6 record, then again in 2025 with an improved 14-7-9 mark. Both times Spokane has lost in the Final but have proved they are a team to beat in USL-1.

San Antonio FC (USL-C)
vs. 
FC Tulsa (USL-C)
Toyota Field – San Antonio, TX
Kickoff: 8:30 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

San Antonio FC and FC Tulsa, rivals from the USL Championship Western Conference with past Open Cup history and more recent league history, meet in the Second Round at San Antonio’s Toyota Field.

The one previous meeting between the two clubs happened way back in 2017, when FC Tulsa, still known as the Tulsa Roughnecks, held San Antonio to a 0-0 draw then prevailed 7-6 in the penalty shootout. Kosuke Kimura, the current head coach of the USL Super League’s Lexington Sporting Club, appeared in that game for Tulsa. More recently the clubs met on March 14 in USL Championship play, also finishing with a 0-0 draw. 

Neither team has a very successful Open Cup record against Division 2 teams. Tulsa is 1-1-2, with the lone outright win coming against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in 2024. San Antonio is 0-2-2 against Division 2 squads and the only time they advanced past a team from that level was via penalties over the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the 2018 Third Round.

San Antonio had an easy time in the First Round, overwhelming ASC New Stars of the USASA 6-0. Christian Sorto led the way with a pair of goals and Alexis Souahy, Curt Calov, Dmitrii Erofeev and Emmanuel Johnson filled out the rest of the scoresheet. It was San Antonio’s largest Open Cup win since beating Midland Odessa FC 4-0 in 2018.

FC Tulsa had a bit of a fight with 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.

San Antonio FC
USL Championship | San Antonio, TX
9th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2016
Manager: Carlos Llamosa
Overall: 9-7-2 (1-1)
Home: 6-1-1 (1-0)
vs. Div. 2: 0-2-2 (1-1 PK)
Best finish: Fourth Round (2016, 2022)

San Antonio got their start in 2016 and is owned by Spurs Sports and Entertainment, which also owns the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. After a bumpy first four years San Antonio settled into being one of the better teams in the USL Championship winning the league title in 2022 after posting a franchise best 24-5-5 record. San Antonio followed the title win in 2023 by finishing fourth in the Western Conference and leading the league in goal scoring with 63.

After missing the playoffs in 2024, San Antonio qualified in the Western Conference as the #6 seed with a 11-12-7 record. They also reached the final eight of the USL Jägermeister Cup

FC Tulsa
USL Championship | Tulsa, OK
10th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2013
Manager: Luke Spencer
Overall: 8-8-2 (1-1 PK)
Away: 4-7-0
vs. Div. 2: 1-1-2 (1-1 PK)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2024)

FC Tulsa started out as the Tulsa Roughnecks in 2014, paying homage to the NASL team that played from 1978-1984. After the team changed ownership in late 2019, the team was re-named FC Tulsa for the 2020 season. Tulsa has struggled in the bottom half of the standings for its nine seasons, only reaching the playoffs three times.

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.

New Mexico United (USL-C)
vs. 
El Paso Locomotive (USL-C)
UNM Soccer Stadium – Albuquerque, NM
Kickoff: 9:30 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+

For the second straight year, Derby Del Camino Real will feature another Open Cup chapter, as New Mexico United hosts El Paso Locomotive in a bid to avenge their elimination by El Pad in the 2025 Open Cup.

The 2025 Third Round encounter between these rivals ended in a 2-2 stalemate after 120 minutes and El Paso would prevail on penalties, continuing their most successful Open Cup appearance after four one-and-done efforts. After Daniel Carter (21’ El Paso) and Marlon Vargas (39’ NMU) traded goals in the opening half. Jaylin Lindsey scored in the 72nd minute to put New Mexico up 2-1. Just as New Mexico seemed headed to the Fourth Round, Wilmer Cabrera found the net in a goalmouth scramble deep into stoppage time. El Paso would convert all four of their penalty attempts while NMU would miss one and see another stopped. 

El Paso found themselves with a challenge in USL League Two’s Laredo Heat. Coming 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. 

New Mexico United had a much tougher fight with Cruizers FC of the NPSL. After spotting NMU a 1-0 lead through an early own goal, Cruizers would pull level four minutes later. Grady Gilchrist gave New Mexico a 2-1 lead in the 38th minute, only to see Cruizers tie the score at 2-2 just before halftime. Finally, in the 90th minute Cristian Nava, who has returned to New Mexico United after missing two full seasons due to a second ACL injury, scored from a Greg Hurst header to avoid the upset.

New Mexico United
USL Championship | Albuquerque, NM
6th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2018
Manager: Dennis Sanchez
Overall: 9-4-3 (2-1 PK)
Home: 6-0-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 2-1-2 (1-1 PK)
Best finish: Quarterfinals (2019, 2024)

New Mexico’s best Open Cup performance came in their first-ever appearance in 2019, reaching the Quarterfinals by knocking off USL championship rivals Phoenix Rising and Colorado Springs Switchbacks, then upsetting the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas before falling to Minnesota United in the Quarterfinals.  NMU repeated their Quarterfinal run in 2024. After defeating the NPSL’s Lubbock Matadors 3-1, New Mexico hosted and defeated Real Salt Lake 4-2. A 3-0 win over New York City FC II followed, putting NMU in the Quarterfinals where they fell to Los Angeles FC 3-1.

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: 3-4-2 (1-1)
Away: 2-3-2 (1-1)
vs. Div. 2: 1-0-1 (1-0 PK)
Best finish: Fourth Round (2025)

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 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.

Orange County SC (USL-C)
vs. 
Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)
Championship Soccer Stadium – Irvine, CA
Kickoff: 10:00 PM ET
LIVE VIDEO: Paramount+ / CBS Sports Golazo Network

USL Championship rivals Orange County SC and Phoenix Rising FC meet in a rematch of their USL Championship encounter from just a few weeks ago.

Phoenix and Orange County have met already in Week 2 of the USL Championship season. Phoenix took a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute on a Ihsan Sacko goal and held on to that lead through second half stoppage time despite playing most of the second half with 10 men after Juan Carvajal picked up his second yellow card in the 45th minute. With five minutes left, OC’s Garrison Tubbs was sent off after his second yellow, but in the third minute of stoppage time Nico Benalcázar gave Orange County the tie.

In their 13 previous Open Cup appearances, Orange County has faced just one team from Division 2 level, a 2-1 loss to Loudoun United in the 2024 Fourth Round. Meanwhile Phoenix had had seven games against Division 2 opposition but have only won twice, a 2-1 win over New Mexico United in the 2022 Third Round, and a 2-1 extra time victory over North Carolina FC in the 2024 Fourth Round.

Orange County opened their 2026 Open Cup with an easy 3-0 win over Laguna United of the UPSL. Outshooting their amateur opponents 26-2, Stephen Kelly (25’) and Ryan Doghman (29’) opened the scoring in the first half, and Christopher Hegardt (75’) finished things off in the second.

Phoenix also 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).

Orange County SC
USL Championship | Irvine, CA
14th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2010
Manager: Danny Stone
Overall: 8-10-3 (0-3)
Home: 5-4-1 (0-1)
vs. Div. 2: 0-1-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2017, 2024)

Orange County SC has been around since 2011 and is on their third name, having played as Los Angeles Blues (2011-2013) and Orange County Blues (2014-2016). OCSC’s Open Cup resume is pretty thin, having gone three games deep only twice in 11 attempts (2011 & 2017), both of which were ended by the LA Galaxy (MLS). 

Phoenix Rising FC
USL Championship | Phoenix, AZ
11th US Open Cup appearance
How they qualified: Automatic Bid
Founded: 2014
Manager: Pa-Modou Kah
Overall: 9-8-3 (1-2 PK)
Away: 4-3-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 2-3-2 (1-1 PK)
Best finish: Fifth Round (2024)

Phoenix Rising began in 2014 as Arizona United, and in 2017 new ownership changed the club’s name to Phoenix Rising. In 2017, Côte d’Ivoire legend Didier Drogba signed on with Phoenix as a player-owner, holding a minority stake in the club. Phoenix won the USL Championship in 2023, finished runners-up in 2018 and won the Players’ Shield in 2019. Phoenix has missed the playoffs just once since 2016.

Despite its success in league play, Phoenix has largely struggled in the Open Cup. Only twice have they advanced to a third game (2014, 2022). Last year, 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.