US Open Cup Round of 32 Draw: Riverhounds to host NYCFC in early May

Following its Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Third Round 1-0 victory against Columbus Crew 2, on Tuesday evening, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds learned early on Thursday during US Soccer’s Draw for the Round of 32 that their next opponent will be Major League Soccer’s New York City FC, in a match that will be played either May 6 or May 7.

We will HOST @newyorkcityfc in the US Open Cup Round of 32! 💥 Date and time are TBD, stay tuned! ✅ pic.twitter.com/7Lv91jhsWE

— Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (@RiverhoundsSC) April 17, 2025

Stay tuned more information as the official date and time of the match will be announced soon — as early as Thursday afternoon. The Riverhounds organization said that they will be making tickets available beginning Tuesday, April 22.

This will be the first-ever match between the Riverhounds and NYCFC, which have been in existance since 2015.   NYCFC are currently 3w-2L-3d — good for 10th in MLS’s Eastern Conference.

Hounds HOSTING a team that plays in a baseball stadium.

LFG!!

— Steel Army (@SteelArmy) April 17, 2025

The winner of the Round of 32 match will advance to face the winner between the Philadelphia Union and Indy Eleven. The Union would host that match, while the Hounds would host if they advanced to face Indy.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is U.S. Soccer’s Club Championship and has crowned a champion annually since 1914 (with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19). The historic tournament is conducted on a single-game, knockout basis and open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer and is the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States and the world’s third-longest continuously run national cup tournament.

Fun Hounds’ Open Cup Factoids

• In the Highmark Stadium era (since 2013), the Hounds have posted an 14-10 overall record in the Open Cup. (this includes its 2nd round forfeit win vs Rochester NY FC).
• All-time, the Hounds are 19-19 overall in the Open Cup.
• The club the Hounds have faced the most in Open Cup?  None other than former Old Guard Shield rival Rochester (losses in 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010).  The forfeit win in 2023 technically was its first ever against Rochester in the competition.
• Other clubs the Hounds have faced more than once in the Open Cup
  • Chicago Fire (2001 & 2014)
  • DC United (2003 & 2015)
  • Michigan Bucks (2006 & 2012)
  • RWB Adria (2013 & 2014)
  • FC Cincinnati (2018, 2022, 2023)
  • Maryland Bobcats (2022 & 2023)
• In seven matches vs MLS opponents, the Hounds have posted a 3-7 record
  • The Hounds’ wins vs MLS foes came vs Colorado Rapids (2-0) on June 27, 2001, at Bethel Park Stadium and vs New England Revolution, 1-0, on May 9, 2023, at Gillette Stadium. Then, keeping its run going in 2023, the Hounds defeated Columbus, 1-0, at Highmark Stadium in the Round of 16.
  • Three of their losses came in matches that went to Extra Time (3-2 loss vs Chicago in 2001, 3-1 loss vs DC United in 2015 and 2-1 loss at FC Cincinnati in 2022)
• Against lower division teams, the Hounds have mixed success with an overall record of 11-7
  • After losing to Fourth Division Chicago FC United in 2017 and amateurs’ Landsdowne Bhoys in 2016, the Hounds have rebounded in the Bob Lilley era with wins against the Erie Commodores (2018) and Dayton Dutch Lions (2019), Maryland Bobcats (2022 and 2023).
  • In the Bob Lilley era, the Hounds are 9-5 in the Open Cup, with losses coming to FC Cincinnati (in 3rd Round in 2018, 3rd Round in 2022, Quarterfinal Round in 2023) and Columbus Crew (in 4th Round in 2019). Wins have come versus Erie, Dayton, Indy Eleven (2019), Maryland Bobcats (2022 & 2023), Rochester (2023),  New England (2023), Coulmbus (2023) and Columbus Crew 2 (2024).