2026 U.S. Open Cup

2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Tournament details
Country	United States
Dates	March 17 – October 21
Teams	80
	← 2025

The 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the 111th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, the knockout domestic cup competition of American soccer, organized by the United States Soccer Federation. It involved 80 teams, including 48 from all three professional tiers of the United States soccer league system, and 32 in the "Open Division". The competition began on March 17 and culminates in the final on October 21.^[1]

CountryUnited States

DatesMarch 17 – October 21

Teams80

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The full format was announced on January 27, 2025. U.S. Soccer changed several elements of the contest, such as reducing the number of rounds by one, altering the qualifying requirements to ensure the highest-level professional team enters the tournament, as well as removing the National League qualifying track. Participation is limited to teams that played a league season in 2025.^[1]

Of the 27 American clubs in Major League Soccer, 16 will participate, with teams that did not qualify for either the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup or 2026 Leagues Cup.^[2] Being the only Division 1 league, all eligible MLS teams will enter in the round of 32 (third round). Depending on Supporter's Shield standings, one half of the MLS first team entrants will host their first matches, while the rest will begin with an away game. Because of the rule changes, only two MLS Next Pro teams will appear in the competition (Carolina Core FC and Chattanooga FC). The USL Championship will send 17 of its teams, which includes all teams entered in the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs plus the next team outside of playoff consideration. These teams will enter the competition in the first round. USL League One will send their 13 eligible teams. Championship, League One, and Next Pro, along with the 32 Open Division teams, will enter in the first round.^[1]

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[2]

Round	Draw date	Match day	Entrants	Teams entered to date
First Round	January 27	March 17–19	6 local qualifiers 1 National Amateur Cup champion 1 UPSL Spring Champion 1 2025 John Motta Trophy winner 8 United Premier Soccer League teams 5 National Premier Soccer League teams 10 USL League Two teams 13 USL League One teams 2 MLS Next Pro teams 17 USL Championship teams	64 teams
Second Round	March 20	March 31 – April 1	32 winners from First Round	64 teams
Round of 32	April 2	April 14–15	16 winners from Second Round 16 Major League Soccer teams	80 teams
Round of 16	April 2	April 28–29	16 winners from round of 32
Quarterfinals		May 19–20	8 winners from round of 16
Semifinals		September 15–16	4 winners from quarterfinals
Final		October 21	2 winners from semifinals

Enter in First Round				Enter in Round of 32
Open Division^[1]		Division III	Division II	Division I
USASA/USSSA 17 teams	NPSL/USL2 15 teams	MLS Next Pro/USL1 15 teams	USL Championship 17 teams	MLS 16 teams
National Amateur Cup West Chester United SC (USLP)^[3] UPSL Spring Champions Tennessee Tempo FC^[4] Local Qualifiers ASC New Stars (HFA) Azteca FC (CPL) Badgers FC (UPSL) BOHFS St. Louis (MPL) CD Faialense (BSSL) FC America CFL Spurs (UPSL) Kalonji Pro-Profile (UPSL) Laguna United FC (UPSL) NY Renegades FC (UPSL) Red Force (PFL) San Ramon FC (LFC) SC Vistula Garfield (APSL) Southern Indiana FC (UPSL) Valley 559 FC (UPSL) Virginia Dream FC (UPSL)	John Motta Trophy Winner El Farolito NPSL Flower City Union ~~Hickory FC~~ ^[a] Cruizers FC ^[a] Michigan Rangers Ristozi FC USL2 Asheville City SC $ Des Moines Menace FC Motown Flint City Bucks Laredo Heat SC Little Rock Rangers North Virginia FC Steel City FC Ventura County Fusion Vermont Green FC	MLS Next Pro Carolina Core FC Chattanooga FC USL1 AV Alta FC Charlotte Independence Chattanooga Red Wolves SC FC Naples Forward Madison FC Greenville Triumph SC One Knoxville SC $ Portland Hearts of Pine Richmond Kickers ~~South Georgia Tormenta FC~~ ^[b] Spokane Velocity FC Union Omaha Westchester SC	Charleston Battery Detroit City FC Hartford Athletic Indy Eleven Loudoun United FC Louisville City FC Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC Rhode Island FC Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC El Paso Locomotive FC FC Tulsa Lexington SC New Mexico United Orange County SC Phoenix Rising FC Sacramento Republic FC San Antonio FC	Atlanta United FC Austin FC Charlotte FC Chicago Fire FC Colorado Rapids Columbus Crew D.C. United Houston Dynamo FC Minnesota United FC New England Revolution New York City FC New York Red Bulls Orlando City SC San Jose Earthquakes St. Louis City SC Sporting Kansas City

States	Number	Teams
California	10	AV Alta FC, Cruizers FC, El Farolito SC, Laguna United FC, Orange County SC, Sacramento Republic FC, San Jose Earthquakes, San Ramon FC, Ventura County Fusion, Valley 559 FC
Texas	6	ASC New Stars, Austin FC, El Paso Locomotive FC, Houston Dynamo FC, Laredo Heat SC, San Antonio FC
Florida	5	Orlando City SC, FC Naples, Badgers FC, Red Force, FC America CFL Spurs
North Carolina	4	Asheville City SC, Carolina Core FC, Charlotte FC, Charlotte Independence, ~~Hickory FC~~
New York	New York City FC, Westchester SC, NY Renegades FC, Flower City Union
Tennessee	One Knoxville SC, Tennessee Tempo FC, Chattanooga FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
Virginia	Loudoun United FC, Virginia Dream FC, Northern Virginia FC, Richmond Kickers
Colorado	3	Colorado Rapids, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Azteca FC
Georgia	Atlanta United FC, ~~South Georgia Tormenta FC~~, Kalonji Pro-Profile
Kentucky	Louisville City FC, Lexington SC, Southern Indiana FC
Michigan	Detroit City FC, Flint City Bucks, Michigan Rangers
New Jersey	New York Red Bulls, FC Motown, SC Vistula Garfield
Pennsylvania	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Steel City FC, West Chester United SC
Indiana	2	Indy Eleven, Southern Indiana FC
Massachusetts		New England Revolution, CD Faialense
Missouri		St. Louis City SC, BOHFS St. Louis
South Carolina		Charleston Battery, Greenville Triumph SC
Arizona	1	Phoenix Rising FC
Arkansas		Little Rock Rangers
Connecticut		Hartford Athletic
Illinois		Chicago Fire
Iowa		Des Moines Menace
Kansas		Sporting Kansas City
Maine		Portland Hearts of Pine
Maryland		Ristozi FC
Minnesota		Minnesota United FC
Nebraska		Union Omaha
New Mexico		New Mexico United
Ohio		Columbus Crew
Oklahoma		FC Tulsa
Rhode Island		Rhode Island FC
Vermont		Vermont Green FC
Washington		Spokane Velocity FC
Washington D.C.		DC United
Wisconsin		Forward Madison FC


First round March 17–19; March 25			Second round March 31 – April 1


USLC	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	2

USL2	Steel City FC	1	USLC	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC	2

MLSNP	Carolina Core FC	1	UPSL	Virginia Dream FC	0

UPSL	Virginia Dream FC	2


USL2	Asheville City SC	3

USL1	Greenville Triumph SC	1	USL2	Asheville City SC	1 (2)

APSL	SC Vistula Garfield	1	USL1	One Knoxville SC (p)	1 (3)

USL1	One Knoxville SC	3


USL1	FC Naples	3

NPSL	Red Force FC	0	USL1	FC Naples	3

USL1	~~South Georgia Tormenta FC~~		UPSL	FC America CFL Spurs	0

UPSL	FC America CFL Spurs	w/o


USLC	Indy Eleven	3

USL2	Des Moines Menace	0	USLC	Indy Eleven	1

MPL	BOHFS St. Louis	0	USL1	Union Omaha	2

USL1	Union Omaha	8


USL1	Charlotte Independence	4

NPSL	Ristozi FC	1	USL1	Charlotte Independence	3

USLC	Charleston Battery	2	USLC	Charleston Battery	2

UPSL	Badgers FC	1


USL1	AV Alta FC	0

UPSL	Valley 559 FC	1	UPSL	Valley 559 FC	0

USLC	Sacramento Republic FC (a.e.t.)	2	USLC	Sacramento Republic FC	4

NPSL	El Farolito	0


MLSNP	Chattanooga FC	2

UPSL	Kalonji Pro-Profile	1	MLSNP	Chattanooga FC	1

UPSL	Tennessee Tempo FC	1	UPSL	Tennessee Tempo FC	0

USL1	Chattanooga Red Wolves SC	0


USL1	Richmond Kickers	2

USL2	Northern Virginia FC	0	USL1	Richmond Kickers	1

USLP	West Chester United SC	1	USLC	Loudoun United FC	0

USLC	Loudoun United FC	2


USLC	Rhode Island FC	4

BSSL	CD Faialense	0	USLC	Rhode Island FC	2

NPSL	FC Motown	0	USLC	Hartford Athletic	0

USLC	Hartford Athletic	2


USL2	Vermont Green FC	1

USL1	Portland Hearts of Pine	0	USL2	Vermont Green FC	0 (3)

USL1	Westchester SC	2	USL1	Westchester SC (p)	0 (4)

UPSL	NY Renegades FC	0


USLC	Lexington SC	9

NPSL	Flower City Union	0	USLC	Lexington SC	0

USLC	Louisville City FC	2	USLC	Louisville City FC	2

UPSL	Southern Indiana FC	0


USL2	Flint City Bucks	2

USL1	Forward Madison FC	0	USL2	Flint City Bucks	0

USLC	Detroit City FC	5	USLC	Detroit City FC	1

NPSL	Michigan Rangers	1


USLC	Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC	3

UPSL	Azteca FC	0	USLC	Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (p)	1 (4)

USL2	Ventura County Fusion	1	USL1	Spokane Velocity FC	1 (2)

USL1	Spokane Velocity FC	2


USLC	San Antonio FC	6

HFA	ASC New Stars	0	USLC	San Antonio FC	0

USL2	Little Rock Rangers	2	USLC	FC Tulsa (a.e.t.)	1

USLC	FC Tulsa	4


USLC	New Mexico United	3

NPSL	Cruizers FC	2	USLC	New Mexico United	0

USL2	Laredo Heat	0	USLC	El Paso Locomotive FC	4

USLC	El Paso Locomotive FC	2


USLC	Orange County SC	3

UPSL	Laguna United FC	0	USLC	Orange County SC	1

USLC	Phoenix Rising FC	4	USLC	Phoenix Rising FC (a.e.t.)	2

LFC	San Ramon FC	0

March 17	South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL1)	0–1 (walkover)	FC America CFL Spurs (UPSL)	Statesboro, Georgia
				Stadium: Tormenta Stadium

2026 U.S. Open Cup

Schedule

Teams

Table

Map

Number of teams by state

Open Cup debuts

Early rounds

First round

Second round

Round of 32 and 16

Bracket

Round of 32

Teams

Round of 16

Broadcasting

Top goalscorers

References

External links

Related Articles

March 17	Richmond Kickers (USL1)	2–0	Northern Virginia FC (USL2)	Richmond, Virginia
6:30 p.m. ET	Kirkland 31' Dourado 89'	Report		Stadium: City Stadium Referee: Chuck Roberts

March 17	Rhode Island FC (USLC)	4–0	CD Faialense (BSSL)	Pawtucket, Rhode Island
7:00 p.m. ET	Rovira 13' Williams 26' Scardina 78' Willis 80' (o.g.)	Report		Stadium: Centreville Bank Stadium Attendance: 1,156 Referee: Joseph Poremba

March 17	Vermont Green FC (USL2)	1–0	Portland Hearts of Pine (USL1)	Burlington, Vermont
7:00 p.m. ET	Ismail 40'	Report		Stadium: Virtue Field Attendance: 2,500 Referee: Gurhan Dolgun

March 17	Detroit City FC (USLC)	5–1	Michigan Rangers (NPSL)	Brighton, Michigan
7:30 p.m. ET	Tabortetaka 22', 86' Rodriguez 56' Dalou 65' Diouf 81'	Report	Barone 6'	Stadium: Legacy Center Attendance: 675 Referee: Ryan Homik

March 17	West Chester United SC (USLP)	1–2	Loudoun United FC (USLC)	Wayne, Pennsylvania
7:30 p.m. ET	Martin 84'	Report	Dias 3' Amoh 21'	Stadium: YSC Sports Referee: Stephen Foster

March 17	Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USLC)	3–0	Azteca FC (UPSL)	Colorado Springs, Colorado
8:00 p.m. ET	Fjellberg 6' Masereka 82' Bennett 86'	Report		Stadium: Weidner Field Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Adam Rice

March 17	Indy Eleven (USLC)	3–0	Des Moines Menace (USL2)	Westfield, Indiana
8:00 p.m. ET	Mesanvi 31' Okello 60' Sharp 75'	Report		Stadium: Grand Park Sports Campus Attendance: 3,073 Referee: Alex Beehler

March 17	Phoenix Rising FC (USLC)	4–0	San Ramon FC (LFC)	Phoenix, Arizona
10:00 p.m. ET	Avayevu 15' Carvajal 45+2' Vukovic 90' Hernandez 90+4'	Report		Stadium: Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium Attendance: 2,274 Referee: Edgar Sanchez Beltran

March 18	Chattanooga FC (MLSNP)	2–1	Kalonji Pro Profile (UPSL)	Chattanooga, Tennessee
6:00 p.m. ET	Ortiz 45+1' Mohand 46'		Kalonji 13'	Stadium: Finley Stadium Attendance: 2,139 Referee: Amin Hadzic

March 18	Asheville City SC (USL2)	3–1	Greenville Triumph SC (USL1)	Asheville, North Carolina
6:30 p.m. ET	Southern 13' Bilow 82' Fall 90+9'	Report	Boyce 19'	Stadium: Greenwood Soccer Field Attendance: 500 Referee: Kevin Broadley

March 18	Little Rock Rangers (USL2)	2–4	FC Tulsa (USLC)	Little Rock, Arkansas
8:00 p.m. ET	Kistmann 51' Turner 85'	Report	St Clair 19' Webber 32' Batista 70' Pierre 85'	Stadium: Episcopal Collegiate School Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Carson Alston

March 18	San Antonio FC (USLC)	6–0	ASC New Stars (HFA)	San Antonio, Texas
8:30 p.m. ET	Souahy 15' Calov 37' Sorto 59' (pen.), 68' Erofeev 64' Johnson 73'			Stadium: Toyota Field Attendance: 1,766 Referee: Edgar García

March 19	Charlotte Independence (USL1)	4–1	Ristozi FC (NPSL)	Matthews, North Carolina
6:30 p.m. ET	Dimick 4' Martinez 69' Ngah 87' Jaime 89'	Report	Ono 38'	Stadium: Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews Attendance: 682 Referee: MJ Tehini

March 19	Lexington SC (USLC)	9–0	Flower City Union (NPSL)	Lexington, Kentucky
7:00 p.m. ET	Firmino 30', 48' Molloy 36' Epps 40' Zengue 53' Goodrum 61' Ferri 68' Henry-Scott 76' Scott 83' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Lexington SC Stadium Attendance: 1,894 Referee: Promise Adebayo-Ige

March 18	Charleston Battery (USLC)	2–1	Florida Badgers FC (UPSL)	Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
6:30 p.m. ET	Swan 21', 90+12'	Report	Altidor 66'	Stadium: Patriots Point Soccer Complex Attendance: 500 Referee: Tiago Don Santos

March 18	FC Motown (NPSL)	0–2	Hartford Athletic (USLC)	Newark, New Jersey
7:00 p.m. ET		Report	Presthus 33' Hernández 51'	Stadium: Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium Attendance: 206 Referee: Devin Dragon

March 18	FC Naples (USL1)	3–0	Red Force FC (NPSL)	Naples, Florida
7:00 p.m. ET	Torrellas 23' Gay 30' Gray 90+2'			Stadium: Paradise Coast Sports Complex Attendance: 2,283 Referee: Jorge Escobar

March 18	Louisville City FC (USLC)	2–0	Southern Indiana FC (UPSL)	Louisville, Kentucky
7:00 p.m. ET	Showunmi 20', 30'	Report		Stadium: Lynn Family Stadium Attendance: 1,780 Referee: Salvador Flores

March 18	SC Vistula Garfield (APSL)	1–3	One Knoxville SC (USL1)	Garfield, New Jersey
7:30 p.m. ET	Gorczowski 1'	Report	Diene 13' Gill 21' Gøling 76'	Stadium: Garfield High School Stadium Attendance: 250 Referee: Danielle Cornetta

March 18	BOHFS St. Louis (MPL)	0–8	Union Omaha (USL1)	St. Louis, Missouri
8:00 p.m. ET		Report	Cabral 11' Guediri 21' Borczak 34' Owusu 49', 90' Ors 72', 74' Botello-Faz 81'	Stadium: Harlen C. Hunter Stadium Attendance: 2,100

March 18	New Mexico United (USLC)	3–2	Cruizers FC (NPSL)	Albuquerque, New Mexico
9:30 p.m. ET	Flores 12' (o.g.) Gilchrist 38' Nava 90'	Report	Mbumba 16', 45+3'	Stadium: UNM Soccer Complex Attendance: 857

March 18	Sacramento Republic FC (USLC)	2–0 (a.e.t.)	El Farolito (NPSL)	Sacramento, California
10:00 p.m. ET	Ajago 95', 120+2'	Report		Stadium: Heart Health Park Attendance: 2,430 Referee: Steven Cardozo

March 18	AV Alta FC (USL1)	0–1	Valley 559 FC (UPSL)	Lancaster, California
10:30 p.m. ET		Report	Amarikwa 65'	Stadium: Lancaster Municipal Stadium Attendance: 1,518 Referee: Rafael Bonilla

March 18	Ventura County Fusion (USL2)	1–2	Spokane Velocity (USL1)	Ventura, California
10:30 p.m. ET	Fofanah 79' (pen.)	Report	Peláez 20' Gallardo 89' (pen.)	Stadium: Ventura College Sportsplex Attendance: 300 Referee: Felix Granados

March 18	Orange County SC (USLC)	3–0	Laguna United FC (UPSL)	Irvine, California
10:30 p.m. ET	Kelly 25' Doghman 29' Hegardt 75'	Report		Stadium: Championship Soccer Stadium Attendance: 1,521 Referee: Juma Abdu-Razzaq

March 19	Carolina Core FC (MLSNP)	1–2	Virginia Dream FC (UPSL)	High Point, North Carolina
6:00 p.m. ET	Zeegers 52'	Report	Diarra 58' Akinkoye 78'	Stadium: Truist Point Attendance: 1,091 Referee: Yannick Rothfuss

March 19	Flint City Bucks (USL2)	2–0	Forward Madison FC (USL1)	Grand Blanc, Michigan
6:30 p.m. ET	Gyamfi 13' (o.g.) Lopez 67'	Report		Stadium: Don Batchelor Field Attendance: 3,027 Referee: Quinton Mcfarlen

March 19	Westchester SC (USL1)	2–0	NY Renegades FC (UPSL)	Mount Vernon, New York
7:30 p.m. ET	Burko 34' (pen.), 83'	Report		Stadium: The Stadium at Memorial Field Attendance: 100 Referee: Leonel Brito

March 19	Tennessee Tempo FC (UPSL)	1–0	Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL1)	Murfreesboro, Tennessee
8:15 p.m. ET	Oyirwoth 34'	Report		Stadium: Richard Siegel Soccer Complex Attendance: 125 Referee: Donovan Eubank

March 19	Laredo Heat SC (USL2)	0–2	El Paso Locomotive FC (USLC)	Laredo, Texas
8:30 p.m. ET		Report	Abitia 51' Rubín 89'	Stadium: PEG Energy Stadium Attendance: 450 Referee: Edgar García

March 25	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC)	2–1	Steel City FC (USL2)	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7:00 p.m. ET	Griffin 6' Ahl 66'	Report	Graeca 76' (pen.)	Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 4,287 Referee: Samuel Reynolds

March 31	Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USLC)	2–0	Virginia Dream FC (UPSL)	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7:00 p.m. ET	Griffin 51' Goldthorp 59' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Highmark Stadium Attendance: 1,817 Referee: Shevket Dzhaparov

March 31	Asheville City SC (USL2)	1–1 (a.e.t.) (2–3 p)	One Knoxville SC (USL1)	Asheville, North Carolina
7:00 p.m. ET	Carlson 67' (pen.)	Report	Braudílio Rodrigues 33'	Stadium: Greenwood Soccer Field Referee: Joe Surgan
	Penalties
	Carlson Flood Bilow Pinto Holmes		Gøling Skelton Conway Cordova

March 31	Indy Eleven (USLC)	1–2	Union Omaha (USL1)	Indianapolis, Indiana
7:00 p.m. ET	Blake 90+3'	Report	Owusu 75' Tekiela 83'	Stadium: Michael A. Carroll Stadium Referee: John Griggs