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Commish here, I asked the Lord of the Spreadsheets to write about the US Open Cup because of its wild nature, glorious history and its general unpredictability. It really seems like the Sickos Committee should be all over something as awesome as this. So enjoy the read and take it away, Kevin!

The 110th edition of the oldest American soccer tournament kicked off March 18th and 19th, with the second round being played last week. I would typically include all the background of the tournament in the first round recap, but I forgot to do one of those this year. So for anyone new to the Open Cup, here’s a quick overview. The final rounds of the tournament are comprised of professional teams from all 3 tiers of US soccer, as well as amateur “open division” teams that can qualify through local tournaments. This year’s cup is made up of 64 pro teams and 32 open division clubs. One major change this year is in the prize purse. The winning team of the tournament takes home $600,000, while the highest finishers from Division II, Division III, and the Open Division each take home $50,000, twice as much as in previous Cups. Additionally, MLS teams are back in the tournament after the league withdrew last year, with MLS organizations now required to enter their senior teams unless they are also playing in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

The 32 Open Division teams, as well as 32 pro teams from the Divisions II and III, played in the first round on March 18 and 19. The winners of the first round played in the second this past week. Only five Open Division teams made it out of the first round of play.

The fourth round of the US Open Cup will kick off the night this preview comes out, because much like many of the teams that won in the third round I left this until the very last minute.

Notable Round 3 Results Roundup

Round 3 saw late Cupsets by AV Alta FC (4-2 over Orange County SC after penalty kicks), Tacoma Defiance (2-1 over Oakland Roots SC in extra time), and in the game of the round, the Tampa Bay Rowdies advanced after a 9-8 penalty kick marathon that nearly made it down the roster to the keepers taking shots. Several favorites left it late as well. Detroit City FC sent Westchester SC out of the tournament with a 3-1 victory, with all four goals coming after the 70th minute. Indy Eleven needed extra time to break a 0-0 deadlock with Miami FC, and the Colorado Springs Switchbacks went to extra time against One Knoxville SC. FC Tulsa went to penalty kicks against Phoenix Rising, likewise El Paso Locomotive FC against New Mexico United and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC against Las Vegas Lights FC.

The Fourth Round will feature the sixteen winners from the Third Round, as well as sixteen MLS teams, the final teams entering the tournament. Four Division III teams (Union Omaha, AV Alta FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, and Tacoma Defiance) remain alive in the Cup, competing for the second of three $50,000 prizes for being the last team in the division standing.

Round Four Matchups, all times eastern:

Round Four Matchups, all times eastern:

Charleston Battery (USL-C, Division II) @ D.C. United (MLS), 7 pm

Charleston will look to ride the hot hand (foot?) of striker MD Myers, who scored a hat trick in their Round 3 victory over South Georgia Tormenta. DC United know all about deep cup runs, having won the tournament three times, but are struggling early in the MLS season, with only three wins in their first eleven games.

Charlotte FC (MLS) @ North Carolina FC (USL-C, Division II), 7 pm

Charlotte FC are making their return to the Cup and hoping to match their Round of 16 performance from their first two Cups. North Carolina FC have already matched their deepest Cup run but will be significant underdogs against a Charlotte team having a strong start to their MLS season.

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL-1, Division III) @ Nashville SC (MLS), 8 pm

Nashville should be the heavy favorites in this all-Tennessee matchup, but the Red Wolves are no strangers to tense games in the Cup. All of their victories so far this year have come in penalty shootouts.

New York Red Bulls (MLS) @ Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL-C, Division II), 9:30 pm

The longest travel day of the round belongs to the Red Bulls, who will look to use cup success to build momentum after a slow start to their MLS campaign. Colorado Springs found success hosting a team from the Eastern Time Zone last round, but New York will likely be a tougher opponent than USL-1 side One Knoxville.

Portland Timbers (MLS) @ Tacoma Defiance (MLS Next Pro, Division III), 10 pm

The Timbers travel north to the Next Pro development team of their archrivals, the Seattle Sounders. Tacoma Defiance have already matched their best ever cup run by reaching the fourth round, and will not go quietly. They’ve scored the most goals in MLS Next Pro play this season.

MAY 7TH GAMES

New York City FC (MLS) @ Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL-C, Division II), 7 pm

NYCFC has never made it past the quarterfinals of the Open Cup. They’ve got a few rounds to reach that mark, but Pittsburgh is the first team standing in the way.

New England Revolution (MLS) @ Rhode Island FC (USL-C, Division II), 7:30 pm

The last two New England-based teams in the Cup will square off in what is likely to be a defensive struggle. Both teams are averaging less than a goal scored per game in league play so far.

Minnesota United FC (MLS) @ Louisville City FC (USL-C, Division II), 7:30 pm

Louisville City was able to ride an early goal to victory against their Round 3 opponents, Loudoun United, but Minnesota will be a tougher test, having kept a clean sheet in two of their last three games.

Indy Eleven (USL-C, Division II) @ Philadelphia Union (MLS), 7:30 pm May 7

Indy Eleven squeezed by Miami FC last round and now heads east to face off against the second-place team in the MLS Eastern Conference.

Orlando City SC (MLS) @ Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C, Division II), 7:30 pm May 7

The 2022 Open Cup Champions head southwest to take on a Tampa Bay side that they’ve beaten five times in a row.

Detroit City FC (USL-C, Division II) @ Chicago Fire (MLS), 8 pm

Detroit City are looking to match their best-ever Cup finish with a win but have to go through four-time champions Chicago Fire to get there. Chicago is rebuilding after being one of the worst teams in the MLS last season, but should be up to Detroit’s challenge.

Union Omaha (USL-1, Division III) @ St. Louis City FC (MLS), 8 pm

Union Omaha’s annual Cup run comes up against the newest team in MLS in what could be a favorable matchup for them. St. Louis City is struggling in MLS play, with only two wins and eight goals in their first eleven games.

AV ALTA FC (USL-1, Division III) @ FC Dallas (MLS), 8pm

A lack of California MLS teams in the Cup this year has AV Alta heading to Texas to play FC Dallas, who are currently mid-table in the Western Conference. AV Alta kicks off simultaneously with one of the few remaining Division III teams and could walk away with $50,000 with a win and a few other results going their way.

El Paso Locomotive FC (USL-C, Division II) @ Austin FC (MLS), 8:30 pm

Our all-Texan matchup sees the underdog El Paso team seeking to keep their deepest Cup run ever on track with a win at Austin. Austin FC has not had the Cup success you’d expect of an MLS team, even a new one; their best finish is a Round of 16 in 2023. They’ll look to match that with a win on Wednesday.

Houston Dynamo (MLS) @ Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C, Division II), 10 pm

The Dynamo is the most recent Cup winners participating in this year’s tournament, having lifted the trophy in 2023 and in 2018. They’ll launch their quest for a third against a Phoenix team that won its third round matchup against FC Tulsa despite playing down a man for the final 45 minutes (including extra time).

Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C, Division II) @ San Jose Earthquakes (MLS), 10:30 pm

Sacramento Republic is fresh off knocking out Open Division Cinderella story El Farolito and now faces the team with the most goals in the young MLS season, San Jose. The bright side for the underdogs is that the Earthquakes have allowed almost as many goals as they’ve scored, so Open Cup After Dark could get pointsy.

The winners of these games will advance to the Round of 16, scheduled for May 20th and 21st

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