Today, the US Open Cup Round 3 matchups were drawn and the hits keep coming. Round 3 of this year’s competition is where USL Championship gets involved. Rules of the draw preclude any USL-C clubs from matching with any other clubs from the same league. Dates and times are still to be finalized, but we know which clubs are hosting and who they will be playing.

This year’s competition has certainly felt more exciting than year’s previous and some of the matches have really caught fire on social media. How that will feed into the growth and health of the Open Cup is hard to say at this point. Round 2 saw three amateur teams, Miami United FC, El Farolito, and Lubbock Matadors, advance, as well as two NISA clubs, Michigan Stars and Irvine Zeta FC. The rest of the Round 3 matchups are a mix of MLSNP, USL League One, and USL Championship clubs.

Of the matchups in the third round, the one that will draw the most eyes will be Detroit City hosting Michigan Stars. The bad blood between these clubs is well documented across multiple leagues. The last time these teams met in the Open Cup was in 2022. DCFC won that year 3-0. With Michigan Stars looking strong against Minnesota United in Round 2, it should be a battle of two clubs in form. Both teams are already posting about the matchup and every fan in the know is excited.

Here’s a complete list of the matchups and we’ll be sure to do some previews of them as we near the April 16th and 17th window for Round 3.

Birmingham Legion FC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

Charlotte Independence vs. Rhode Island FC

Chicago Fire FC II vs. Indy Eleven

Detroit City FC vs. Michigan Stars FC

Hartford Athletic vs. New York City FC II

Las Vegas Lights FC vs. Spokane Velocity FC

Louisville City FC vs. Greenville Triumph SC

Memphis 901 FC vs. Miami United FC

Miami FC vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC

Monterey Bay F.C. vs. Irvine Zeta FC

New Mexico United vs. Lubbock Matadors

North Carolina FC vs. Carolina Core FC

Oakland Roots SC vs. El Farolito FC

Union Omaha vs. El Paso Locomotive FC

Richmond Kickers vs. Loudoun United FC

FC Tulsa vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC

- Dan Vaughn