The U.S. Open Cup field of 40 is a game away from being set, but the pairings for the first two rounds of the tournament have been released.
The first round is slated for June 14, when 32 teams will being their battle for the right to face eight MLS sides in the Round of 16, which is scheduled for June 28.
Amateur teams and clubs from the lower divisions of U.S. Soccer — except NASL — will compete in the opening rounds before they get their chance to spring an upset over an MLS power.
Here are the pairings for the opening round of the U.S. Open Cup:
U.S. OPEN CUP FIRST ROUND (all times ET)
Western Mass. Pioneers (PDL) at FC New York (USL PRO)
7 p.m., Adelphi University; Garden City, N.Y.
Reading United AC (PDL) at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO)
7 p.m., Skyline Sports Complex; Harrisburg, Pa.
Chattanooga FC (NPSL) at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL PRO)
7 p.m., Chartiers Valley Stadium; Bridgeville, Pa.
Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO)
7 p.m., Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Va.
Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at Carolina Dynamo (PDL)
7 p.m., Macpherson Stadium; Browns Summit, N.C.
Brooklyn Italians (NPSL) at N.Y. Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA – East NY)
7:30 p.m., Belson Stadium, St. John's University; Queens, N.Y.
Central Florida Kraze (PDL) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO)
7:30 p.m., Legion Stadium; Wilmington, N.C.
ASC New Stars (USASA-South TX) at Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO)
7:30 p.m., Rollins College; Winter Park, Fla.
Regals FC (USASA-South TX) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
7:30 p.m., Blackbaud Stadium; Charleston, S.C.
Phoenix SC (USASA-East PA) at Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO)
7:35 p.m., Sahlen’s Stadium; Rochester, N.Y.
AAC Eagles (USASA-IL) at Madison 56ers (NPSL)
8 p.m., Breese Stevens Field; Madison, Wis.
Chicago Fire Premier (PDL) at Iowa Menace (USASA-IA)
8:30 p.m., Valley Stadium; West Des Moines, Iowa
Hollywood United (NPSL) at Los Angeles Blues (USL PRO)
8:30 p.m., Riverside Community College; Riverside, Calif.
DV8 Defenders (USASA-No. CA) at Real Colorado Foxes (PDL)
9 p.m., Shea Stadium; Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Kitsap Pumas (PDL) or Portland Timbers U-23s (PDL) at Chivas El Paso Patriots (PDL)
10 p.m., Patriots Stadium; El Paso, Texas
Doxa Italia (USASA-So. CA) at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
10:05 p.m., Ventura College; Ventura, Calif.
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Which lower-division or amateur teams do you think can make some noise in the U.S. Open Cup?
Share your thoughts below.
Aha! The truth finally comes out.
I like to think it’s a terrible draw for Pittsburgh. A USL club should draw a more protected seed than the top premiere club in the country.
“only entry going to be determined by a winner takes all match”
Wow, you need to get out more. Half of the NPSL seeds were determined by regional tournaments. Yeah. Bettcha didn’t know that, did you?
Very tough draw for Chattanooga FC. But if anyone can do it, they can. Go CFC!
Or better yet, THE most intelligent.
This is ther most intelligent comment I have read so far.
Chattanooga fc all the way baby!
Chivas El Paso Patriots (PDL) looks good in-person; they’re lucky to be playing at home in the 1st Round
Both.
Sizeable, in my mind was in the 4 figure range.
Isn’t it the LA Blues? Or, the Orange County Blue Stars?
Regardless of how hard they promote it, there will be limits to how many people you can get to show up on a Friday at 11am. I definitely don’t expect anywhere near the 4k that showed up for the reserve match on Monday.
Orange County Blues!!!
Go 56ers!
I agree, should have been open to all teams
This Friday’s match between the Timbers U-23 and Kitsap is the only entry going to be determined by a winner takes all match. They tied in their head to head match, 0-0, same goals for and against. Was going to be a coin toss, but the teams successfully were granted a chance to use the already scheduled match as a “playoff.”
Timbers are really pimping the game on FB so I expect there may be a sizable crowd this Friday.
Hollywood United has destroyed the competition in its league. Would be fun to see them advance.
The Closed Cup. Awesome!
Get rid of this
The US open cup has become a joke. NASL and all MLS teams should be included, no silly play ins. It should be a proper tournament for everyone.
Shame NASL isnt in it, Railhawks wouldve won.
Richmond could beat many mls sides in this tourney