The US Open Cup, which dates back to 1914, is the oldest and most storied trophy in American soccer history. It pits David against Goliath, and every year, without fail, David wins in what has come to be referred to as a "Cupset." MLS, all the way down to the amateur level, is welcome as the nation celebrates the sport with an embrace of the local game. The smaller, the better. 

Today, the tournament kicks off in earnest with 11 games from Connecticut to California, with a further 21 matches on Wednesday and Thursday. Yes, it can be slightly overwhelming to follow, but find your local club and embrace this chaotic, fantastic tournament. The competition is organized geographically to keep participation affordable while also allowing local rivalries to grow and flourish. 

Below is the full slate of games from the first round, with those involving teams within 50 Miles of a Soccer Post location in bold. 

Tuesday, March 18th

Hartford Athletic (USLC) vs. New York Shockers (NPSL)
6:30 p.m. ET at Trinity Health Stadium; Hartford, Conn.

Sarasota Paradise (USLL2) vs. FC Naples (USLL1)
7 p.m. ET at Premier Sports Campus; Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Miami FC (USLC) vs. Naples United FC (NPSL)
7 p.m. ET at FIU Soccer Stadium; Miami, Fla.

New Jersey Alliance (UPSL / N.J.) vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USLL1)

Amateur side New Jersey Alliance is making its first appearance in the Open Cup first round this year. They'll face the visiting Chattanooga Red Wolves of USL League 1, who made it all the way to the third round in last year's competition.

7 p.m. ET at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium (NJIT); Newark, N.J.

Visit Soccer Post Kearny to Support Local Soccer!

FC Motown (NPSL) vs. Westchester SC (USLL1) 

FC Motown hopes to repeat the success of their 2022 run, which saw them advance to the Third Round. They'll need to get by Westchester SC, who are just one game into their inaugural season and are still looking for the first competitive win in club history.

7:30 p.m. ET at MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field; Montclair, N.J.

Visit Soccer Post Kearny to Support Local Soccer!

Asheville City SC (USLL2) vs. Greenville Triumph SC (USLL1)
7:30 p.m. ET at Greenwood Field; Asheville, N.C.

West Chester United SC (USASA / USLPA / Pa.) vs. Loudoun United FC (USLC)

Loudoun United made waves in 2024, advancing to the round of 16 before being eliminated by LAFC. They’ll open their cup campaign on the road against amateur side West Chester United SC, who last made the tournament in 2022.

7:30 p.m. ET at YSC Sports; Wayne, Pa.

Visit Soccer Post Berwyn, Leesburg, and Arlington to Support Local Soccer!

Texoma FC (USLL1) vs. FORO SC (UPSL / Texas)

Texoma FC will play its first official home match in club history on Tuesday night, hoping for a strong start. They'll welcome FORO SC, who took down MLS Next Pro side Austin FC II in the first round of last year’s Open Cup. 

7 p.m. CT at Bearcat Stadium; Sherman, Texas

Visit Soccer Post Keller to Support Local Soccer!

Tulsa Athletic (UPSL / Okla.) vs. FC Tulsa (USLC)
7:30 p.m. CT at Athletic Community Stadium; Tulsa, Okla.

AV ALTA FC (USLL1) vs. Ventura County Fusion (USLL2)
7:30 p.m. PT at Lancaster Municipal Stadium; Lancaster, Calif.

Ventura County FC (NP) vs. Laguna United (UPSL, Calif.)
7:30 p.m. PT at Dignity Health Sports Park Track & Field Stadium; Carson, Calif.

Wednesday, March 19th

Columbus Crew 2 (NP) vs. NY Renegades (UPSL / N.Y.)

UPSL side NY Renegades will make their US Open Cup debut this season after advancing on penalty kicks in the fourth qualification round last fall. Their opponent will be Columbus Crew 2, who are also making their Open Cup debut in place of their MLS affiliate, the Columbus Crew. 

6 p.m. ET at Lower.com Field; Columbus, Ohio

Visit Soccer Post Long Island to Support Local Soccer!

Chattanooga Football Club (NP) vs. Corpus Christi FC (USLL2)
6:30 p.m. ET at Finley Stadium; Chattanooga, Tenn.

Appalachian FC (NPSL) vs. One Knoxville SC (USLL1)
7 p.m. ET at Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex; Boone, N.C.

Richmond Kickers (USLL1) vs. Virginia Dream (USASA / VSSL / Va. )

Amateur side Virginia Dream will make its US Open Cup debut against one of the most storied teams in American soccer. The Richmond Kickers won the 1995 Open Cup and advanced to the semi-finals in 2011 but haven't made it past round four since then. 

7 p.m. ET at City Stadium; Richmond, Va.

Visit Soccer Post Glen Allen, Midlothian, Arlington, Leesburg, Crofton, Annapolis, and Towson to Support Local Soccer!

Inter Miami CF II (NP) vs. Miami United FC (UPSL / Fla.)
7 p.m. ET at Chase Stadium; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Sporting KC II (NP) vs. Des Moines Menace (USLL2)
6:30 p.m. CT at Swope Soccer Village; Kansas City, Mo.

Lexington Sporting Club (USLC) vs. Southern Indiana FC (UPSL / Indiana)

This season, Lexington SC embarks on its first season in the USL Championship after two years in USL League 1. They'll face Southern Indiana FC, an amateur side making its first appearance in the Open Cup after winning all four of their qualification matches last fall.

7:30 p.m. ET at Lexington SC Stadium; Lexington, Ky.

Visit Soccer Post Clarksville to Support Local Soccer!

Little Rock Rangers (USLL2) vs. Birmingham Legion FC (USLC)

Birmingham Legion made headlines when they upset Charlotte FC in the 2023 Open Cup round of 16. This season, they'll start their campaign a bit earlier against the Little Rock Rangers, who previously made the tournament back in 2019.

7 p.m. CT at Episcopal Collegiate School Wildcat Stadium; Little Rock, Ark.

Visit Soccer Post Little Rock to Support Local Soccer!

El Paso Locomotive (USLC) vs. Harpos FC (USSSA-S / CPL / Colo.)
7 p.m. MT at Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas

Real Monarchs (NP) vs. El Farolito (NPSL): 7:30 p.m. MT at Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah

Last season, El Farolito charmed the American Soccer world as the 1993 Open Cup Champions advanced to the competition's third round. This year, they'll travel to face Real Monarchs, the MLS Next Pro Affiliate of Real Salt Lake, who have not competed in the tournament since 2015.

7:30 p.m. MT at Zions Bank Stadium; Herriman, Utah

Visit Soccer Post West Jordan, Pleasant Grove, Alameda, El Cerrito, Lafayette, San Carlos, Pleasant Hill, Dublin, and San Jose to Support Local Soccer!

Monterey Bay (USLC) vs. International San Francisco (USASA / SFSFL / Calif.)

In each of the past three seasons, Monterey Bay has progressed further through the competition, with last year's side qualifying for the round of 16. This year, they'll need to win four games to beat that standard, and their first test is International San Francisco, who scored 18 goals in their four qualification games.

7 p.m. PT at Cardinale Stadium; Seaside, Calif.

Visit Soccer Post Alameda, El Cerrito, Lafayette, San Carlos, Pleasant Hill, Dublin, and San Jose to Support Local Soccer!

Ballard FC (USLL2) vs. Spokane Velocity FC (USLL1)

Spokane Velocity's inaugural season culminated with a Cinderella run to the USL League 1 championship. That knockout competition experience will be invaluable, especially in the early rounds. Up first is a rematch against Ballard FC, who they beat 1-0 in the first round last year. 

7:30 p.m. PT at Interbay Stadium; Seattle, Wash.

Visit Soccer Post Seattle and Everett to Support Local Soccer!

LAFC 2 (NP) vs. FC Arizona (NPSL)

NPSL Side Arizona FC will travel to face Open Cup debutants LAFC 2 on Wednesday. Arizona is making its first appearance in the tournament since 2018, and the team is still looking to win its first Open Cup game.

7:30 p.m. PT at Titan Stadium; Fullerton, Calif.

Visit Soccer Post Arrowhead to Support Local Soccer!

Thursday, March 20th

Portland Hearts of Pine (USLL1) vs. CD Faialense (USASA / BSSL / Mass.)

This week, Portland Hearts of Pine's eagerly awaited competition debut will come against fellow Open Cup debutants CD Faialense, an amateur side competing in the Bay State Soccer League. The aura on display will be electric as Maine embraces its new professional soccer team.

6:30 p.m. ET at Franklin Athletic Complex; Lewiston, Me.

Visit Soccer Post Portland to Support Local Soccer!

Long Island Rough Riders (USLL2) vs. Charlotte Independence (USLL1)

Long Island's rich Open Cup history dates back to a quarter-final appearance in 1997 after dispatching MLS side New England Revolution. Since then, they've never made it further than the second round and haven't qualified since 2018. Conversely, Charlotte advanced to the round of 32 last season and will hope to repeat that success this year.

7 p.m. ET at Mitchel Athletic Complex; Uniondale, N.Y.

Visit Soccer Post Long Island to Support Local Soccer!

Forward Madison FC (USLL1) vs. Duluth FC (NPSL): 6 p.m. CT at Breese Stevens Field: Madison, Wisc.

These two teams played last season as well, with Madison winning 2-0 at home. The Mingos have struggled in the Open Cup, never making it past the third round. This time around, Duluth FC will hope to upset the hosts as they attempt to equal their best-ever Open Cup run with a second-round appearance. 

6 p.m. CT at Breese Stevens Field: Madison, Wisc.

Visit Soccer Post Madison to Support Local Soccer!

South Georgia Tormenta FC (USLL1) vs. Harbor City FC (UPSL / Florida) 
7 p.m. ET at Tormenta Stadium; Statesboro, Ga.

Carolina Core FC (NP) vs. Soda City FC (UPSL / S.C.)
7:30 p.m. ET at Truist Point; High Point, N.C.

FC Cincinnati 2 (NP) vs. NY Pancyprian Freedoms (USASA / EPSL / N.Y.)

NY Pancyprian Freedoms are three-time Open Cup winners, with triumphs in 1980, 1982, and 1983. They earned qualification for this year's competition by winning the 2024 US National Amateur Cup 6-0 against the Milwaukee Torrent. Their reward: a date with Open Cup debutants Cincinnati FC 2.

7:30 p.m. ET at NKU Soccer Stadium; Highland Heights, Ky.

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Flatirons FC (USLL2) vs. Union Omaha (USLL1)
7 p.m. MT at Stermole Soccer Stadium; Golden, Colo.

Tacoma Defiance (NP) vs. Washington Athletic Club (USASA / SRATS / Wash.)

The Seattle Sounders' MLS Next Pro Affiliate, Tacoma Defiance, will make their second appearance in the Open Cup and first since 2015 against Washington Athletic Club, which is a real athletic club based in Seattle. How can you not be romantic about lower-league soccer?

7 p.m. PT at Starfire Sports Complex; Tukwila, Wash.

Visit Soccer Post Seattle and Everett to Support Local Soccer!

This fascinating tournament will continue through the American soccer season, so make sure to keep up with your local teams after round one and visit your local Soccer Post store to continue supporting local soccer!