MLS sides will enter the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup during the round of 32, and now we know who they'll face as the draw has taken place through the round of 16. Split into eight regional groups, it will be a bracket-style advancement with teams having hosting priority set for the next two rounds.
The round of 32 will kick off on May 6-7, and it's a chance for the Chicago Fire to look to make history. Gregg Berhalter's team will host Detroit City FC in the round of 32 in search of their fifth Open Cup title in their history. If the Fire are able to win this tournament, they'll become the only active side to have won the tournament five times, alongside Bethlehem Steel and Maccabee Los Angeles. Another former U.S. men's national team coach, Bruce Arena, will see his San Jose Earthquakes take on Sacramento Republic.
There are still four teams below the second division remaining in the tournament, including USL League One side Union Omaha. They defeated a USL Championship side, San Antonio FC, to get to this stage, but they're no strangers to success in this tournament, defeating the Chicago Fire and Minnesota United in the 2022 edition of the tournament. They're joined by AV Alta FC and the Chattanooga Red Wolves from League One, while the Tacoma Defiance are the final MLS Next Pro side remaining.
The Defiance will have quite a match hosting the Portland Timbers in the round of 32 in a Cascadia clash and they'll also have hosting priority if they make it to the round of 16. Louisville City FC and the Charleston Battery are also USL sides with great chances to advance after being the class of the second division over the past few seasons.
Here are the round of 32 matchups:
Kasey Keller group
Paul Caligiuri group
Carlos Bocanegra group
DaMarcus Beasley group
Jeff Agoos group
Clint Dempsey group
Landon Donovan group
Cobi Jones group
There are some banner matchups in the round of 32 with a Cascadia clash as the Tacoma Defiance hosts the Portland Timbers. Colorado Springs will host the Red Bulls, Louisville City FC will have a great chance to advance and so much more. These are very balanced regional groups as the path to the last eight of the tournament is now clear.
The Tacoma Defiance will have hosting priority, followed by Sacramento, San Jose, and Portland.
This is where random draws brought teams out of the regions, as the Red Bulls will travel to Colorado.
El Paso didn't apply to host in the round of 32 so Phoenix Rising will have hosting priority if they defeat the Houston Dynamo. Austin FC will have the second hosting priority, followed by the Dynamo.
The winner of Minnesota United vs. Louisville City FC will host the round of 16 matchup.
Chattanooga can't host in the next round due to not having a suitable venue. The winner of Orlando vs. Tampa Bay will host the round of 16 matchup.
Quite a regional matchup with North Carolina FC facing Charlotte FC. North Carolina has hosting priority in the round of 16 followed by the Charleston Battery.
The Union will have first hosting priority for the round of 16, but if Pittsburgh wins and the Union lose, they'll have second in hosting priority, followed by NYCFC and Indy Eleven.
The Groups are named after the eight most capped USMNT players with Open Cup winners medals.
The winner of Rhode Island vs. New England will host the round of 16 matchup.
Gregg Berhalter's team has already shown significant improvement with their start to the season. Coming off a draw with Inter Miami, they'll now enter the Open Cup hosting their round of 32 fixture. If the Fire are able to win this tournament, they'll become the only active side to have won the tournament five times, alongside Bethlehem Steel and Maccabee Los Angeles.
For the second consecutive season, the NPSL side has been the furthest advancing amateur side in the tournament to secure the prize for that, while also getting more exposure for their historic brand.
It's time to get set for the round of 32 draw in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, while some cinderella stories have come to an end there are still four teams remaining who are outside of the top two tiers of American soccer. AV Alta FC, the Tacoma Defiance, Union Omaha, and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC remain as MLS teams get set to enter the fray. Union Omaha has a history of taking down MLS teams in the competition, while the Defiance will have quite a journey ahead, entering as an MLS Next Pro side. With the draws being set for the round of 32 and 16, paths will begin to come clear to the final for participants.
