US Open Cup 2025 schedule is set; Riverhounds to join tournament in 3rd Round

U.S. Soccer announced on Friday the format and participants for the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, with every club in the USL Championship and League One and nine clubs from USL League Two set to compete in the 110th edition of the historic tournament.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will enter the fray in the tournament’s third round (April 15-16), as one of 16 clubs from the USL Championship who begin play in the third round.

Though they were in line to qualify based on their results in the NPSL in 2024, Steel City FC will not be back in the proper tournament this season due to switching leagues, as the club will be moving to compete in USL League Two beginning in 2025.

Ninety-six teams will compete in the 2025 Open Cup overall, including 16 clubs from Major League Soccer, with the First Round set for the week of March 18-20. Eight teams from the USL Championship and all 14 teams from League One will compete in the First Round alongside League Two’s representatives, with the remaining 16 clubs from the Championship entering in the Third Round.

“The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a crucial connection point for all levels of soccer in the United States,” said U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson ahead of the tournament, first contested in 1913.

“U.S. Soccer exists in service to soccer and this historic tournament allows us to lift up the people who are leading the charge to support soccer in their communities. We’re pleased to continue working with and collaborating with all U.S. Soccer members to maximize the tournament’s impact on soccer at all levels in this country.”

Nine clubs from USL League One and League Two will enter the tournament for the first time. League One expansion clubs AV ALTA FC, FC Naples, Portland Hearts of Pine, Texoma FC and Westchester SC will be joined by first-time League Two participants Corpus Christi FC, Flatirons FC, Little Rock Rangers and Sarasota Paradise.

All 47 teams from the USL ecosystem will be aiming to make their presence felt, with the past three years having seen Sacramento Republic FC reach the Final in 2022, Indy Eleven advance to the Semifinals in 2024, and seven clubs overall from the Championship and League One advance to the Quarterfinals.

2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Format

The First Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will consist of 32 games with 32 clubs from the Open Division going up against 32 professional teams. The winners of the First Round will play each other in a Second Round consisting of 16 games.

The 16 Second Round winners will then be matched up against the 16 highest-ranked professional teams from the USL Championship in the Third Round. USL Championship Teams were seeded by conference, with the top eight returning clubs in the Eastern and Western Conference based off the 2024 regular season standings entering in the Third Round.

Eight clubs from the USL Championship entering in the Third Round have been awarded seeds based on the 2024 season, giving those clubs the right to host their contest.  The Hounds still may be able to host their contest, but that will depend on their opponent and ability to host the match.

For a more detailed explanation of the tournament format, please check out this excellent report as outlined by our friends with TheCup.us. 

Third Round-winners will square off against the 16 teams of Major League Soccer (MLS), eight of which have been awarded seeds and will host games in the Round of 32.

The tournament will conclude on Wednesday, October 1 with the Final.

2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Participants

First Round

USL Championship (8 teams) – Birmingham Legion FC, El Paso Locomotive FC, Hartford Athletic, Lexington SC, Loudoun United FC, Miami FC, Monterey Bay FC, FC Tulsa

USL League One (14 teams) – AV ALTA FC, Charlotte Independence, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, Forward Madison FC, Greenville Triumph SC, FC Naples, One Knoxville SC, Portland Hearts of Pine, Richmond Kickers, South Georgia Tormenta FC, Spokane Velocity FC, Texoma FC, Union Omaha, Westchester SC

USL League Two (9 teams) – Asheville City SC, Ballard FC, Corpus Christi FC, Des Moines Menace, Flatirons FC, Little Rock Rangers, Long Island Rough Riders, Sarasota Paradise, Ventura County Fusion

MLS NEXT Pro (10 teams) – Carolina Core FC, Chattanooga FC, Columbus Crew 2, FC Cincinnati 2, LAFC 2, Inter Miami CF II, Real Monarchs, Sporting KC II, Tacoma Defiance, Ventura County FC

NPSL (7 teams) Appalachian FC, Duluth FC, El Farolito, FC Arizona, FC Motown, Naples United FC, New York Shockers

Open Division (16 teams) – NY Pancyprian Freedoms, Soda City FC, CD Faialense, FORO SC, Harbor City FC, Harpos FC, International San Francisco, Laguna United FC, Miami United FC, Tulsa Athletic, West Chester United SC, Virginia Dream, Southern Indiana FC, NY Renegades, New Jersey Alliance, Washington Athletic Club

Third Round

USL Championship (16 teams) – Charleston Battery +, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC +, Detroit City FC +, Indy Eleven +, Las Vegas Lights FC +, Louisville City FC +, New Mexico United +, North Carolina FC, Oakland Roots SC, Orange County SC, Phoenix Rising FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Rhode Island FC, Sacramento Republic FC +, San Antonio FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies

+ – Seeded to host in Third Round

Round of 32

Major League Soccer (16 teams) – Austin FC +, Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire FC +, D.C. United +, FC Dallas +, Houston Dynamo FC, Minnesota United FC, Nashville SC +, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City, Philadelphia Union +, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes +, St. Louis CITY SC +

+ – Seeded to host in Round of 32

2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule

First Round – March 18-20
Second Round – April 1-2
Third Round – April 15-16
Round of 32 – May 6-7
Round of 16 – May 20-21
Quarterfinals – July 8-9
Semifinals – Sept. 16-17
Final – Oct. 1