Stakes Getting Higher: Mapping the Riverhounds’ potential path in Thursday’s US Open Cup Draw

The amateur portion of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup schedule is officially in the rearview mirror for the Riverhounds after a business-like 2-0 win over Virginia Dream FC on Tuesday night

The Hounds have punched their ticket to the Round of 32. 

Riverhounds defeat Virginia Dream FC 2-0 to advance in US Open Cup

Now, the stakes get significantly higher.

On Thursday, April 2, at 9:00 a.m. ET, the balls will roll on the CBS Sports Golazo Network to determine who the Hounds will face when 16 Major League Soccer (MLS) giants enter the fray. Based on U.S. Soccer’s geographic pairing logic and the 2025 Supporters’ Shield standings, we can already start to see the pods taking shape.  Also keep in mind, that there are 10 more matches yet to be played on Wednesday evening.

The Road Ahead: Round of 32 Scenarios

U.S. Soccer is set to organize the Round of 32 into eight four-team geographic pods. Each pod will contain two MLS teams and two lower-division survivors.

One of the biggest challenges for the draw committee this year is the Northeast.

With three teams in the New York/New England corridor (NYCFC, NY Red Bulls, and NE Revolution) and only two slots per pod, one of those teams will move their way into a Mid-Atlantic pod.  This was the case last year, when NYCFC moved into the Hounds’ pod — making way for their Fourth Round match-up last May (which the Hounds won, 1-0, thanks to a Beto Ydrach header in the dying moments of regulation).  

That shift would likely impact Pittsburgh place in the draw.

Here are the two most likely scenarios for the Hounds:

Scenario 1: The I-95 Clash (Most Likely)

• MLS Teams: D.C. United & New York Red Bulls

• Lower-Div Teams:  Riverhounds SC & Richmond Kickers/Loudoun United winner

• The Vibe: This is the most logical geographic overflow. If the Red Bulls are pushed out of the New England pod, they land in a Mid-Atlantic group with D.C. United and the Hounds.

Scenario 2: The Rust Belt Derby

• MLS Teams: Columbus Crew & D.C. United

• Lower-Div Teams: Riverhounds SC & Detroit City FC (if they win Wednesday night)

• The Vibe: This would be ideal local fans. It keeps the Hounds within a 4-hour radius of every team in the pod, setting up a potential rematch with the Crew.

Will Highmark Host? The Home/Away Seeding

Now the question is — the Hounds have already played twice at home, but they could also be home for a third straight Open Cup match, as the 16 MLS teams are split into eight Home and eight Away seeds based on last year’s performance.

This designation is crucial for determining where the matches will be played on April 14 or 15. See below for MLS home and away designations.

 

The MLS “Big 16”

Home seeds:

Charlotte FC

Colorado Rapids

DC United

Houston Dynamo

New England Revolution

Red Bull New York

San Jose Earthquakes

St. Louis City FC

Away seeds:

Austin FC

Atlanta United

Chicago Fire

Columbus Crew

Orlando City

Minnesota United

New York City FC

Sporting Kansas City