U.S. Open Cup Round 2 – Wednesday’s Fixtures | OneFootball

There are ten remaining matches to close out Round 2. Let’s jump right in.

Chattanooga FC (MLS NEXT Pro) vs. Tennessee Tempo FC (UPSL)

Kickoff: 6:00pm ET/3:00pm PTFinley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee Stream on Paramount+

First a clarification: Chattanooga FC is NOT the same as Chattanooga Red Wolves, who Tennessee defeated in March to advance into the Round 2.

Chattanooga FC ply their trade in the MLS NEXT Pro division, and advanced after just squeaking past Kalonji Pro-Profile 2-1. That match was notable for midfielder Braiden Kalonji, who at 14 years old (not a typo) became the youngest player to score a goal in the competition’s history.

Do you believe in omens? Tennessee Tempo probably does. Before their first round match, the Red Wolves suffered a tire blowout on the I-24. This pushed back the kickoff over an hour. Tennessee was unfazed and pulled off a gritty 1-0 win. Tempo might be amateurs, but they have a tradition of winning, lifting regional conference trophies six of their last eight seasons. Tennessee Tempo will be thinking “why can’t our lightning strike twice?” And they have a point. Unless their bus catches a flat.

Richmond Kickers (USL-1) vs. Loudoun United FC (USL-C)

Kickoff: 6:30pm ET/3:30pm PTCity Stadium, Richmond, Virginia Stream on Paramount+

The stench of upset is all over this fixture. Loudoun barely escaped losing to West Chester United two weeks ago before a crowd of 200 spectators. As one of the USL Championship sides with the lowest average attendance, they don’t need fans to play. But they will have to play here tonight.

Richmond Kickers are Open Cup royalty. They won the trophy back in 1995, and the last non-MLS side to have won it (Rochester Rhinos won in 1999 but no longer exist). They dispatched Northern Virginia FC 2-0 in Round 1.

Lexington (USL-C) vs. Louisville City FC (USL-C)

Kickoff: 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PTFinley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee Stream on Paramount+

If this looks familiar, it’s because these two already played this exact fixture back in the USL Championship season opener.  It’s also the first of five all USL Championship head-to-head ties in Round 2 to be played. To borrow from horse racing parlance: Lexington jumped out to an early lead, but couldn’t hold in the final stretch, and LouCity won by two lengths. Expect less of a contest this time around, I fear, even though Lexington thrashed Flower Union 9-0 in the last round.

Rhode Island FC (USL-C) vs. Hartford Athletic (USL-C)

Kickoff: 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PTFinley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee Stream on Paramount+

Yummy yum yum. These two teams positively hate each other. Fixtures between them are always spicy. It’s also the first all USL Championship head-to-head tie in Round 2 to be played (the other three involve Western Conference teams). Neither side had a particularly challenging time in advancing here; they will not start youngsters or academy kids for a fixture of this magnitude.

Vermont Green (USL-2) vs. Westchester SC (USL-1)

Kickoff: 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PTFinley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee Stream on Paramount+

Vermont Green was the feel-good #cupset story of Round 1, taking down their Northeastern rival Portland Hearts of Pine by a single goal. That was on St. Patrick’s Day – do you really think a team called the Green would lose?

Their location in Burlington allows them to have a close relationship with the University of Vermont, granting them access to a talented pool of players (UVM won the NCAA championship in 2025). Currently seven of their rostered players are affiliated with the school.

The home pitch advantage should benefit Vermont again. Their supporters are resilient and energetic; 2,500 of them came out for Round 1 in sub-freezing temperatures. Westchester might be a better team, but I suspect the Green will prevail.

Flint City Bucks (USL-2) vs. Detroit City FC (USL-C)

Kickoff: 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PTFinley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee Stream on Paramount+

This is the second fixture that screams out #cupset. This is Flint City’s first appearance in the Cup since COVID, having declined their spots to protest the early rounds moving to late winter. Despite their five-year hiatus, the Bucks are the all-time leading “giant-killer” in the tournament’s history. Since 1997 they have toppled 11 professional sides, more than any other team. Their latest scalp was Forward Madison two weeks ago by a 2-0 scoreline.

This should make Detroit City nervous. The two clubs are separated by 60-odd miles and the combination of local rivalry, home-field advantage and history could be hard to beat. Detroit is so dependent on Darren Smith to score goals; the Bucks will do everything possible to shut him down.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C) vs. Spokane Velocity FC (USL-1)

Kickoff: 8:00pm ET/5:00pm PTFinley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee Stream on Paramount+

Despite the Switchbacks’ lurching start to the USL season, they should have the quality to easily handle Spokane. Of course, last season the Oakland Roots thought the same thing, and ended up losing. The big difference then was that Spokane was at home. In this one they are the visitors.

San Antonio FC (USL-C) vs. FC Tulsa (USL-C)

Kickoff: 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PTFinley Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee Stream on Paramount+

At the moment, San Antonio is the strongest team in the Western Conference, squarely in first place with 10 points. FC Tulsa is sixth on 4 points and a -1 goal differential. This is San Antonio’s to lose.

New Mexico United (USL-C) vs. El Paso Locomotive FC (USL-C)

Kickoff: 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PTUNM Soccer Complex, Albuquerque, New Mexico Stream on Paramount+

It’s the first of four times these two will meet in 2026. New Mexico hasn’t been particularly strong or consistent, but they have yet to lose at home. Los Locos are the exact opposite. After an opening day draw at home, El Paso has won three straight matches on the road. One of these two streaks will have to give.

Orange County SC (USL-C) vs. Phoenix Rising FC (USL-C)

Kickoff: 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PTChampionship Soccer Stadium, Irvine, California Stream on Paramount+

How stoked are Orange County coming into this one? They were gifted a win on Saturday in Oakland and are sitting second in the Western Conference undefeated in four games. Yes, they’re missing two of their most dynamic players to youth USMNT call-ups, but that shouldn’t stop them.

Phoenix, on the other hand, are winless in 2026 so far in league play. Their three draws, the last two of which were achieved from losing positions, show they have some steel, but whether it will be enough to take down OCSC remains to be seen.