If you like the US Open Cup Proper for its opening rounds when we get to see teams we’ve never heard of before from cities we might not have ever been to, then you you’re gonna love the qualifying rounds. Over the last decade we’ve been introduced to these amateur teams, their fans, and their operators - we’ve made some of our very best friends through amateur soccer teams showing up and giving it their all

While all professional teams in men’s US-based club soccer get automatic berths, only select clubs get to represent their respective leagues in the tournament proper. The Qualifying Rounds are for those who did not earn a spot through their league play, to roll the dice of destiny and qualify through four intense rounds of play.

The First Qualifying Round was held on September 13th and 14th, and while not all of the teams start at that stage, there were 44 teams who entered and only 22 who moved on. 96 more teams will enter in this round to give us a total of 118 teams participating over 59 matches. While we might not be able to preview all of them, we picked out a few which stand out to us.

On Saturday, October 11th

Vereinigung Erzgebirge vs Colonial SC at Vereinigung Clubhouse, 2:30pm ET

Oktoberfest may have passed, but the VE boys from Bucks County will be looking for another reason to celebrate as they take on a familiar foe in Colonial SC. This is a clash of USLof PA rivals, rich and chocolatey. For Colonial SC, this is their first appearance in the 2nd round of Open Cup qualifying having beaten Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals 3-0 to advance. - John Howard-Fusco

Tulsa Athletic vs. Denton Diablos at Athletic Community Field, 7pm CT

Its really great to see these two teams to play in meaningful competition with each other again - this is a rematch of the 2021 NPSL Final in which the Diablos beat Athletic 5-2 at home. Since that time, both of these model amateur clubs have moved on to new leagues; Denton Diablos to USL League Two and Tulsa Athletic to The League for Clubs. 2025 was the first season for each in their respective new league for each and while both have had appearances in the First Round Proper of the Open Cup, one of our favorite clubs will have to beat the other in order to continue the fight for the way back. - Josh Duder

FC Monmouth vs. Bulldogs SC at Count Basie Park, 7pm ET

FC Monmouth is Qualifying for the first time after having its best season to date in its inaugural season in The League For Clubs. Will be without its normal head coach and some players due to college. Bulldogs SC is a Garden State Soccer League side turned UPSL outfit, formerly known for finishing third behind the big boys. The up-and-comers are looking for a breakout. - Michael Battista

Napa Valley 1839 FC vs. FC Folsom at Justin Siena High School, 7pm PT

Napa and Folsom run in similar soccer circles in NorCal - just last year they faced each other in the UPSL NorCal North Semi-Finals. Also just last year, both were knocked out of Open Cup qualifying at this exact stage. It was Napa Valley 1839’s first foray into the competition and as a growing club, who has set the bar high, they intend to try again and again. Meanwhile, FC Folsom made a fantastic run through qualifying in 2024 and blazed a path all the way to the First Round Proper and they hope to replicate that starting this weekend. - Joshua Duder

On Sunday, October 12th

Oaklyn United FC vs. Scots-American Athletic Club at Rowan University Soccer Stadium, 6pm ET

This is yet another clash in the storied rivalry between North and South - Jersey, that is. The lads from Kearny are coming down to Glassboro to meet Oaklyn United, who received a bye to get to the second round. Meanwhile, Scots-American prevailed in their first round matchup with Real Central NJ 3-1 last month in the not-as-storied rivalry between North and Central Jersey. - John Howard-Fusco

Sharktopus Football Club vs. Bellevue Athletic FC at Jefferson Playfield, 6:30pm PT

These are two of only three clubs from the Pacific Northwest who have entered the qualifying rounds, and it saddens me that one has to go. Both have been through this process before and both will give 100% when they face each other. Last year, Bellevue Athletic were knocked out in the First Qualifying Round and Sharktopus were knocked out in the Second Qualifying Round. Interestingly, they have played one another a couple times; Bellevue and Sharktopus finished 1st and 2nd in the UPSL’s Washington Conference, Bellevue went on to beat Sharktopus in the Conference Final to advance to the UPSL National Finals. - Joshua Duder

A Listing of the Rest of the USOC Second Qualifying Round Fixtures

Friday, October 10th
- Western Mass Pioneers vs Atletico Boston at Lusitano Stadium, 7pm ET

Saturday, October 11th

Mint Hill FC vs SCU Heat at Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park, 3pm ET
Christos FC vs. Baltimore City FC at North County High School, 3pm ET
O'Shea's FC vs. FC Florida at Gaines Park, 4pm ET
Parkland Travel Soccer Club vs. Florida Futbol Club at Terramar Park, 5pm ET
CD Faialense vs. Project Football at Miller Field, 6pm ET
ASC New Stars vs. SVD Beaumont at Bayland Park, 7pm ET
Briar United FC vs. Greenville United Football Club at Pleasant Park, 7pm
Capital City Islanders vs. MoCo 1776 FC at Skyline Sports Complex, 7pm ET
SC Vistula Garfield vs. Ironbound SCP at Garfield High School, 7pm ET
Bold City SC vs. Stetson FA at Fort Family Park, 7:30pm ET
Fort Myers City FC vs. Badgers FC at Babcock Ranch, 7pm CT
StrikerZ DFW Soccer Club vs. Dallas Atletico at Ron Poe Stadium, 7pm CT
Woodland Football Club vs. BOHFS St.Louis at Shawnee Mission District Stadium, 7pm CT
Deportivo Lake Mary FC vs. Emerald FC Orlando at Lake Mary High School, 8pm ET
MSI Pro vs. Arlington SA Pro at Blair High School, 8:30pm ET
FC Kanks vs. Harbor City FC at XL Soccer World, 8:45pm ET
United SC vs. Edgewater Castle FC at Lions For Hope Sports Complex, 8:30pm CT
Next Level Soccer vs. Olympians FC at Highley High School, 7pm MT
Valley 559 FC vs. Real San Jose at Keith Tice Park, 7pm PT

Sunday, October 12th

Steel City FC vs. FCY New York at Founders Field, 3pm ET
Cleveland SC vs. Akron City FC at North Olmsted Stadium Complex, 4pm ET
Majestic SC vs. Atletico Buford FC at Ebster Park Soccer Field, 4pm ET
Boulder United FC vs. Harpos FC at Broomfield Commons, 4:30pm ET
Croatia Cleveland vs. Detroit Metro FC at Mentor High School, 5pm ET
Southern Indiana FC vs. Bootleggers AC at Green Valley Soccer Complex, 5pm ET
Doradus FC vs. Virginia Dream FC at West Springfield High School, 6pm ET
FC Lonestar Gpse vs. FC Omens at Veterans Memorial Stadium, 6pm ET
Guerrilla FC vs. DMV Elite FC at The Fields at RFK, 6pm ET
Miami Soccer Academy vs. River Miami FC at Gibson Park, 6pm ET
Omaha Street FC vs. Iowa Demon Hawks at Blackburn High School, 5pm CT
Pinellas County United Pelicans SC vs. FC America CFL Spurs at Walter Fuller Park, 6pm ET
Miami United FC vs. Boca Jrs Miami FCs at Milander Park, 6pm ET
Kalonji Pro-Profile vs. Limeno Georgia at Shiloh High School, 7pm ET
Metropolitan Oval Academy vs. Central Park Rangers FC at Metropolitan Oval, 7pm ET
North Georgia United vs. Potros FC at Riverbend Park, 7pm ET
Zum Schneider FC vs. Osner's FC at Jack McManus Field, 7pm ET
Peak Eleven FC vs. Azteca FC at Pinnacle Athletic Complex, 5pm MT
FC Balboa vs. San Diego Internacional at Logan Memorial Education Campus, 4:30pm PT
The Olympic Club vs. Albion SC Silicon Valley at Negoesco Stadium, 5pm PT
Hurricane FC vs. Palm Beach Flames SC at Seacrest Soccer Complex, 7:30pm ET
Chicago House AC vs. Wisloka Chicago at Benedictine University, 7pm CT
Tennessee United Soccer Club vs. Eagles Sports Southaven FC at Station Camp HS Soccer Field, 7pm CT
DOXA SC vs. Lansdowne Yonkers FC at Flowers Park, 8pm
New York Greek American SC vs. NY Renegades FC at Hofstra Stadium, 8pm ET
210 FC vs. Master Joga at STAR Soccer Complex, 7:30pm CT
Atletico Miami Internacional FC vs. Red Force at Kendall Soccer Park, 8:30pm ET
City SC San Diego vs. Rebels SC at Aviara Community Park, 6pm PT
International San Francisco vs. CF San Rafael at James P. Lang Soccer Field, 7pm PT
Irvine FC vs. Apple Valley Storm at Lake Forest Sports Park, 7pm PT
Ariana FC vs. Bay Area United FC at Cayetano Park, 7:15pm PT
San Ramon FC vs. Dublin Celtic FC at Tiffany Roberts Field, 7:30pm PT
Grove United vs. Alexandria Reds - TBC

Teams with Second Qualifying Round byes (5): Ballard FC, Brockton FC United, City Soccer FC, Laguna United FC, UDA Soccer

- by Josh Duder