Circle the Date: 2026 US Open Cup - Round One Proper
We’re so grateful for the volunteer previews of matches in First Round Proper of the 2026 US Open Cup - we’ll start our coverage with a pair of Tuesday games then add to it as the week progresses.
by Dan Vaughn
Vermont Green vs Portland Hearts of Pine
Tuesday, 03/17, 7pm ET at Virtue Field in Burlington, VT
There’s so much to love about this matchup of two of the hottest brands in lower league soccer. Both have tapped into their local markets in ways that are showing the path forward for every other team in the country. Vermont added on-field success last year, winning the USL2 title, while Hearts of Pine is still early in their build towards playoff glory. This is a layered matchup between professional and amateur teams, but I wouldn’t count out Vermont just yet.
by Dan Vaughn
Detroit City FC vs Michigan Rangers
Tuesday, 03/17, 7:30pm ET at Legacy Center in Brighton, MI
Indoor soccer, here we come! When this news broke, I will admit I was excited about the Open Cup under a roof and asked thecup.us how many times an official USOC match took place indoors. According to the experts, that number is eleven. Love it! As far as the match, amateur vs division two feels like an easy prediction, especially with DCFC coming off a season-opening win.
by Brett Mullenix
Indy Eleven vs Des Moines Menace
Tuesday, 03/17, 8pm ET at Grand Park Events Center in Westchester, IN
Indy Eleven did not start off the season well. Going on the road to expansion side Brooklyn FC, expectations were a win. The squad was without important players - like Jack Black, and Pat Hogan. Maybe an extra few days rest leading up to their Open Cup match could benefit the squad. Missing Blake did hurt, but as coach McAuley put it “disappointed we didn’t convert our chances”. Something fans from 2025 got very accustomed to hearing.
Des Moines comes into their 2026 Open Cup match without all the flair of years past - no big or flashy signings, just the Menace from the 2025 USL League Two season. Where the Menace took care of the Great Plains Division, going 10-1-1 with a +28 GD. Even after losing in the first round of the playoffs, this Menace team had one of the best regular seasons. The Eleven look vulnerable to start 2026, Des Moines will cause some problems on Tuesday Night.
by Tom Franklin
BOHFS St Louis vs Union Omaha
Wednesday, 03/18, 8pm ET at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO (on Paramount+ CBS Golazo)
St. Louis' first amateur Open Cup qualifier in quite some time battles the Buhos of Union Omaha, who are more than familiar with St. Louis during their recent Open Cup journeys. In 2023 and 2025, Union Omaha's Open Cup dreams ended in St. Louis, losing at Energizer Park both times to St. Louis CITY SC of MLS. For BOHFS, this is a true Cinderella run for this group of veterans, who only came together to join the Midwest Premier League barely a year ago. They finished runners-up in the MWPL Gateway East behind Ehtar Belleville FC. BOHFS had to travel to Kansas City (Woodland FC) and Omaha (Omaha Street) before beating fellow MWPL foe Chicago House at home to make it to the Open Cup proper. Run by Bosnian-American owner Alen Bradaric, BOHFS literally means "good friends" or "homies" in Bosnian.
by Dan Vaughn
Chattanooga FC vs Kalonji Pro-Profile
Wednesday, 03/18, 6:30pm ET at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, TN
Since moving to MLSNP some years ago, I’ve lost track of this club that I loved to follow for so many years in the NPSL and NISA. Regardless of my attention, the Blues have thrived and continue to grow in their community. Kalonji Pro-Profile had grown in a powerhouse in the UPSL over the last few years, making it to the national semifinals in the UPSL Fall season. Regardless, a division two team should have no problem against even the best amateur team.
by Brett Mullenix
Louisville City FC vs Southern Indiana FC
Wednesday, 03/18, 7pm ET at Lynn Family Stadium in Louisville, KY (on YouTube)
Louisville City is always one of the best teams in the USL. However since 2019 every USOC match they have participated in (except in ‘24 vs Greenville), either went to PKs or won by one goal. That is where Southern Indiana FC come in.
In their second consecutive US Open Cup appearance, the Teal Army relies on their stout defense. If this stays close, Southern Indiana has the fire power and defensive prowess to make any team struggle. During qualifications, they won 23-2 including winning 2-0 in the final round vs Briar United. Keep an eye on this matchup.
by James Knowles
FC Naples vs Red Force
Wednesday, 03/18, 7pm ET at Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples, FL
Two teams from south Florida will compete in the first round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Red Force, an amateur side from the larger Miami area, earned a spot here with a win in late 2025 to take part in their fifth Open Cup campaign. Naples, meanwhile, are in their second year as a professional side, competing in USL League 1. Last year, Naples knocked out then-amateur Sarasota Paradise to move on to the second round, so they will have a good idea of what’s needed. Meanwhile, Red Force will be looking to make headlines with a good cupset!
by Del Shaffer (The Leagues: World Soccer Podcast)
Charleston Battery vs Badgers FC
Wednesday, 03/18, 6:30pm ET at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, SC
The Charleston Battery will welcome the Florida Badgers to Patriots Point on Wednesday night after a strong first game beating the champion Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The Battery are coming off a disappointing end to last season. Coach Pirmann has brought in some solid replacements. Florida Badgers of the UPSL South are making a long trek north with games 3 days before and after this. They will be tired while Charleston have no game this weekend. Florida have a good team with 22 of their 34 players of Haitian descent. They are strong up front but weak in the back. I’m looking forward to seeing who starts for the home team.
by Dan Vaughn
FC Motown vs Hartford Athletic
Wednesday, 03/18, 7pm ET at Lubetkin Field (NJIT) in Newark, NJ
There’s few teams in the amateur leagues that can claim the kind of pedigree that FC Motown has. From last year’s NPSL championship match against El Farolito to their newfound competition in the USL League Two, FC Motown has produced so much talent since its founding in 2012. Hartford, on the other hand, has been a mediocre participant in the Championship since joining the league. Granted, last year they qualified for the playoffs, which for this team was a massive step forward. I feel like this is a potential upset match. Eyes on Newark!
by Dennis Pope
AV ALTA FC vs Valley 559 FC
Wednesday, 03/18, 7:30 pm PT at Lancaster Municipal Stadium, Lancaster, CA
One of last year’s tournament darlings after reaching the Round of 32 in its debut, AV ALTA FC is hoping its tournament experience will lead to more success. The club struggled in its first season in USL League One, but midfielder Jerry Desdunes continues to rank as one of the top playmakers in the professional third division. Valley 559 FC is making its first appearance in the Open Cup proper on the heels of winning the UPSL’s NorCal South Division title and advancing deep into the league’s Fall playoffs. Two players rostered by Valley 559 FC for the tournament - Aaron Huerta and Elijah Martin - played for AV ALTA FC last year.
by Tim Howerton (Ranting Blue Penguin)
Asheville City SC vs Greenville Triumph
Wednesday, 03/18, 6:30 pm ET at Greenwood Soccer Field, Asheville, NC
Familiar foes meet again in the first round. Asheville again plays host to Greenville exactly one year after pushing the perennial USL 1 powerhouse to penalties before bowing out of the tournament. The two sides’ fortunes diverged greatly after that match. Scott Wells’ Blues side went on to an unbeaten 10-0-2 USL 2 season and a third consecutive South Central Division championship.
Asheville also saw 11 of their players win collegiate season honors, and 6 were picked up in the MLS Super Draft. Greenville, on the other hand, struggled through their season finishing 11th and missing the playoffs for the first time in their history. Triumph are also working through a rebuild with significant roster turnover and a new head coach in Dave Dixon. They also welcome a new sporting director in Zach Prince. This transition in Greenville against a well-coached Blues side could produce the Carolina Cupset so narrowly avoided last year.
by Joshua Duder
Sacramento Republic FC vs El Farolito FC
Wednesday, 03/18, 7pm PT at Heart Health Park in Sacramento, CA
The 1993 Winners and recent darlings of the US Open Cup, dubbed by some as “The Burrito Team” because of its ownership and relationship with the El Farolito Taqueria in San Francisco, take on 2022 runners-up, Sacramento Republic. The Republic were the last non-MLS team to make a Cup Final and will be on the hunt to get there again.
El Farolito aren’t just known for their affiliation with a good burrito, they have done a great job in the opening rounds of the cup for the last few years - getting as far as Round Three in 2024 and 2025. It was at that point last year that they got knocked out of the tournament by this Sacramento Republic team. El Farolito will be looking for revenge and travelling an hour and a half up I-80 on Wednesday to get it.
by Dan Vaughn
Laredo Heat SC vs El Paso Locomotive FC
Thursday, 03/19, 7:30pm CT at PEG Energy Stadium in Laredo, TX
While on paper, this seems obvious, there’s plenty of wrinkles to make this interesting. Laredo has probably the best amateur stadium setup in the state, maybe in the country, and is always hyper competitive. Limited by geography, Heat has always been under-manned in comparison to clubs from larger markets. El Paso is obviously a Championship side and just getting their 2026 season rolling. Should be a fun match between border teams, but the pro side should win this easily.
by Michael Battista
Westchester SC vs NY Renegades FC
Thursday, 03/19, 7:30pm at Mount Vernon Memorial Field in Mount Vernon, NY
The defending United Premier Soccer League Fall National Champions take on one of the worst performing teams in USL League One from last season. The Renegades (who may or may not still hate me for reporting on an incident involving a ref during USOC qualifying a few years back) are on a huge upswing. After getting crushed by Columbus Crew 2 in their US Open Cup debut last year, the team went on to find success in UPSL play, ending with a Northeast American (North) Conference title and eventually the team’s first ever natty when it beat Miami United and Provo Utah FC in the national finals. Former Gold Star Detroit and national amateur cup champion Junior Rosero scored five goals during qualifying, at least one in each of the team’s four games. Meanwhile Westchester is an enigma.
After firing all of their coaching staff after an inaugural season that saw the team finish bottom of the table, the team isn’t totally understood. The leading scorer from both the team and league last season is gone, with Juan Carlos “JC” Obregón now with Brooklyn FC in USL Championship (where he scored the men’s team first-ever goal). Should they be able to handle a UPSL team? Sure. But this match seems like prime cupset material.
by Eboni Christmas
Carolina Core FC vs Virginia Dream FC
Thursday, 03/19, 6pm ET at Truist Point in High Point, NC
Carolina Core is coming into their 3rd season in MLSNXTPRO. Eddie Pope, CSD, has high expectations for the team, and the acquisition of 2 solid keepers helps. This will be their bounce back game after a tough 2-1 loss to ATLUTD II. UPSL squad Virginia Dream have to make the most of this tournament, especially with so few games during their spring season. They’ve had some success against teams above them in leagues, most recently against Kickers. Can they continue that success?
The Flint City Bucks, formerly Mid-Michigan Bucks, or even just the Michigan Bucks, are low key one of the longest running amateur sides in modern soccer; having started play in 1996, their pedigree continue to this day. They have qualified for 18 tournaments, played in 15 of those, and have earn their way as far as the 4th Round Proper back in 2012. In 2019, they were the USL League 2 Champions but both the Cup and the League schedules were cancelled due to covid in 2020 - the Cup was also cancelled in 2021 due to the pandemic.
In 2019, Forward Madison began play in the USL League 1 and made it to the Third Round in the Cup in their inaugural season. When the Cup returned in 2022, the Bucks had not qualified, but the Mingos made it to the Third Round again. For the past three seasons, Forward Madison has not been able to get past the Second Round. While there is no games played in anger between the two clubs, the Bucks at home will put up a fight and may draw a pretty good crowd despite the forecast of snow and an expected high of just 48. Forward Madison won’t be scared of the cold, but the weather may be an equalizer when it comes to the squads - this should be great matchup between two northern teams… if it isn’t postponed.
Thank you to all of our contributors - we can’t do it without you!
Edited by Joshua Duder