Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup First Round Starts Today | OneFootball

Tuesday, March 18

It’s the American equivalent of the English FA Cup, a soccer bacchanal over eight rounds to crown a champion.

Some Open Cup Thoughts and Predictions

We’ve got two BIG upset potentials in today’s games. Miami FC and Hartford Athletic are among the USL Championship’s worst performing franchises (both historically and in the short season so far).

The New York Shockers sit atop the East Region North Atlantic division of the NPSL with a 8W – 1D – 1L record. They’re not a pushover and Hartford should be on their toes. FC Naples are a squad less than a year old and just joined the USL 1 league. They’re as close to an unknown quotient as you can get in this competition. Watch out, Miami!

A true derby will be played out for the third time in four years when FC Tusla of the Championship travels to local UPSL rival Tulsa Athletic. Don’t the let the three divisions difference fool you… Athletic pulled off an upset in this fixture back in 2023. And they’re on home turf once again.

Just the fact that Asheville City SC can host a game makes them a winner in my book, especially after the hurricane damage than community suffered back in 2024 and their continued efforts to recover. No disrespect to Greenville, but go City!

Expect a surging and on-form Loudoun United to make short work of West Chester United SC. The Predators qualified by winning the amateur United Soccer League of Pennsylvania back in 2024.

The Fixtures

Home team is listed first. After each team is their current league affiliation. All times are PDT.