U.S. Open Cup Round 1 – Wednesday Fixtures | OneFootball

Sixty-four teams go head-to-head in single elimination matches. The winners advance to Round 2, where they keep fingers crossed to not draw one of the sixteen MLS teams who enter the round.

Wednesday is the busiest by far, with fifteen matches scheduled across the USA. Sharp-eyed folk will notice that unlike 2025, there are no MLS Academy teams participating in this year’s Cup. It is not known whether this is due to the reduced number of teams (forced by FIFA World Cup conflicts), or simply because MLS wouldn’t allow it.

But with fifteen fixtures featuring local rivals going head to head (the match fixtures try to minimize travel on account of the amateur teams having little to no budget), there will be plenty of spicy soccer action for the fan or neutral.

Chattanooga FC (MLSNP) vs. Kalonji Pro-Profile (UPSL)

6:00pm ET/3:00pm PTFinley Stadium – Chattanooga, TNWatch livestream on YouTube (free)Kalonji is one of the handful of amateur sides who went through three rounds of qualifying to get to this stage, while also winning the 2025 UPSL Georgia Conference. Their manager, Bruno Kalonji, is also the U-20 national team coach for St. Kitts & Nevis. Chattanooga play in the MLS Next Pro division, but aren’t a MLS academy. Their Cup record is 6W, 7L, 6D (advancing in half of these). This was a good draw for Kalonji.

Asheville City SC (USL-2) vs. Greenville Triumph SC (USL-1)

6:30pm ET/3:30pm PTGreenwood Field (UNC Asheville) – Asheville, NCWatch livestream on YouTube (free)This is a repeat of last year’s first round. Back then, Asheville was still recovering from a devastating hurricane, but they still managed to take Greenville all the way to penalty kicks. They eventually lost 4-3, but gave a good accounting. This year they’ll be looking for the upset.

Charleston Battery (USL-C) vs. Badgers FC (UPSL)

6:30pm ET/3:30pm PTPatriots Point – Mount Pleasant, SCWatch livestream on YouTube (free)Not much to say on this one. Badgers FC is apparently from Florida. That’s all I have.

Louisville City FC (USL-C) vs. Southern Indiana FC (UPSL)

7:00pm ET/4:00pm PTLynn Family Stadium – Louisville, KYWatch livestream on YouTube (free)It’s almost unfair to pit an UPSL side against LouCity, who are among the strongest USL-C sides. But these are the fixtures dreams are made of, when an unheralded side can produce a  #cupset. Last year, Southern Indiana FC drew LouCity’s Kentucky rival Lexington SC, and fell 5-0. Bettering the scoreline should be the minimum goal. Teal midfielder Sedi Mohamed previously played for LouCity’s academy.

FC Naples (USL-1) vs. Red Force FC (PFL)

7:00pm ET/4:00pm PTParadise Coast Sports Complex – Naples, FLWatch livestream on YouTube (free)FC Naples reached Round 3 of the Cup last season, only to fall to Florida rival the Tampa Bay Rowdies 9-8 in a penalty shootout. Naples were arguably the better side that night, so they’ll be keen to show the opposition what they can do. Red Force conceded 10 goals in their last three matches, all losses, which is bad momentum to have on your side.

FC Motown STA (USL-2) vs. Hartford Athletic (USL-C)

7:00pm ET/4:00pm PTLubetkin Field (NJIT) – Newark, NJBroadcast live on CBSSN; Stream on Paramount+Given that this match will have a national broadcast, Hartford will do everything possible to avoid a repeat of last year’s Open Cup tie. They fell to Portland Hearts of Pine in a penalty shootout that elevated the Maine club into national consciousness. Hartford played two matches within four days to start their season, winning one and drawing the other. They’ll come into this match with a full week of rest. There’s not much to say about host FC Motown as they have not played a competitive match since the summer of 2025.

SC Vistula Garfield (APSL) vs. One Knoxville SC (USL-1)

7:30pm ET/4:30pm PTGarfield HS – Garfield, NJWatch livestream on YouTube (free)The host team Vistula Garfield won all three of their qualifying matches by one goal margins, scoring five and conceding two. They might not be pushovers. One Knoxville has a win and a loss in the 2026 USL-1 season. This could be one very interesting match.

BOHFS St. Louis (MWPL) vs. Union Omaha (USL-1)

8:00pm ET/5:00pm PTLindenwood University – St. Charles, MOWatch livestream on YouTube (free)This is what Open Cup soccer is all about. BOHFS is a semi-pro side who fought their way through the qualifying rounds and now get to host Union Omaha. The Owls are renowned giant-killers, but will they be able to do the business against an upstart side? Lucky fans can watch on Paramount+ or the CBS Golazo! network.

Little Rock Rangers (USL-2) vs. FC Tulsa (USL-C)

8:00pm ET/5:00pm PTEpiscopal Collegiate School – Little Rock, ARWatch livestream on YouTube (free)FC Tulsa had best watch out! Little Rock Rangers pulled a shock upset last year by upending Birmingham Legion in Round 1. They could do it again. Despite winning the West in 2025, Tulsa’s season has started with a loss and a draw.

San Antonio FC (USL-C) vs. ASC New Stars (HFA)

8:30pm ET/5:30pm PTToyota Field – San Antonio, TXWatch livestream on YouTube (free)Houston has its own soccer league, and ASC New Stars isn’t even its champion. They are currently in second place in the standings. ASC did, however, win all three qualifying games without conceding a goal, though their final game against Denton Diablos required winning a penalty shootout. Will they present a challenge to San Antonio? Probably not. But we’ve seen upsets like this before in round one.

New Mexico United (USL-C) vs. Cruizers FC (NPSL)

9:30pm ET/6:30pm PTUNM Soccer Stadium – Albuquerque, NMWatch livestream on YouTube (free)Cruizers FC is one of the four NPSL bye teams that qualified directly into Round 1. After moving from the UPSL in 2025, the Modesto, CA club finished second in the hotly contested Group B, earning a bye to the Cup on their strong record. After watching New Mexico on Saturday against Oakland Roots, I can say that they do not lack an attacking threat, and Cruizers’ defenders will be hard pressed.

Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C) vs. El Farolito SC (NPSL)

10:00pm ET/7:00pm PTHeart Health Park – Sacramento, CAWatch livestream on YouTube (free)The Burrito Boys are back! After winning the 2025 Hank Steinbracher Cup, Farolito gets to  travel over some bridges to California’s capital city. Republic will not be taking this match lightly after their 3rd Round nailbiter last year, in which Sac squeaked by on a narrow 1-0 victory. El Farolito are a feisty and physical squad, and have a reputation as giant-killers.

AV ALTA FC (USL-1) vs. Valley 559 FC (UPSL)

10:30pm ET/7:30pm PTLancaster Municipal Stadium – Lancaster, CAWatch livestream on YouTube (free)

Valley 559 FC Photo credit: Bruce Corrie

To get here, Valley 559 FC had to travel 900+ miles north to play Ballard FC in their final qualifying match. A free kick from Ernesto Espinoza in the waning minutes sealed the deal, and clinched the Fresno club with their first ever Cup ticket. Now they travel a few hours south to the high desert town of Lancaster to take on AV ALTA. Last year the hosts advanced all the way to the 4th round, finally succumbing to FC Dallas 3-1.

Ventura County Fusion (USL-2) vs. Spokane Velocity FC (USL-1)

10:30pm ET/7:30pm PTVentura College Stadium – Ventura, CAWatch livestream on YouTube (free)Spokane are looking to avenge last year’s 2nd round defeat to Tacoma, Seattle Sounders affiliate club. They’ll be pleased to face Ventura County Fusion, who lost to AV Alta in this same round last year. This year they’re at home. We’ll see if that can give them an edge.

Orange County SC (USL-C) vs. Laguna United FC (UPSL)

10:30pm ET/7:30pm PTChampionship Soccer Stadium – Irvine, CAWatch livestream on YouTube (free)Orange County SC returned over 75% of their players from last season, making them the most consistent USL-C side in terms of player retention. So far all that’s yielded is two draws in league play. They’ll expect a better result against a fellow Orange County club out of Laguna Niguel, CA.