U.S. Open Cup Alumni Shine in FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage, Several Set for Knockout Stage | OneFootball

Fifty-four players with ties to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup are moving on to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Of the 78 players and coaches at the World Cup who have participated in Open Cup during their careers, over 70% are progressing to the win-or-go-home stage.

Across 78 group stage matches at this year’s tournament, 62 players with Open Cup ties made an appearance. In total, those 62 players combined for 153 appearances, 8,893 minutes, 13 goals and three assists in the group stage.

Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg Makes History in Los Angeles

Canada's Jacob Shaffelburg celebrates the team's fifth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match between Canada and Qatar at BC Place Vancouver on June 18, 2026 in Vancouver, B.C. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

The knockout stage kicked off with a dramatic stoppage-time winner for co-hosts Canada against former World Cup hosts South Africa. Aside from the United States’ 17 players with Open Cup ties, Canada’s nine is the most of any country. Alternatively, South Africa—alongside this year's World Cup darlings Cape Verde—is one of two African nations with Open Cup connections on the roster.

A slow, calculated contest culminated with a shocking scene in second-half stoppage time. Reigning Open Cup champion with Nashville SC and current LAFC winger Jacob Shaffelburg whipped in a dangerous cross into the South Africa box to ignite the action. Shaffelburg’s cross—initially headed away by a South Africa defender—fell to the feet of his LAFC teammate Stephen Eustáquio, who ripped the ball inside the far post for the Canadian winner. The victory—Canada’s first win in its first knockout stage appearance—sends Les Rouges and their nine Open Cup veterans on to the Round of 16 for the first time.

“I go into every game the same way, just trying to make an impact as much as I can when I'm on the field,” Shaffelburg said after the match. “Those big moments like playing in those [Open Cup, CanadianChampionship] finals definitely calm the nerves a bit more for these [World Cup matches].

“When I got subbed on, the coaches were saying, ‘Trust yourself with the crosses.’ It was on my right foot, which isn’t my strong foot, so, I really tried to focus on it, and I got lucky. I feel like in hockey that would be an assist, so I'll give it to myself, since we're Canadian. But yeah, I was just trying to whip the ball in the box.”

Along with former Nashville SC teammate and Iraq midfielder Ahmed Qasem, Canada winger Jacob Shaffelburg is the seventh defending Open Cup champion to appear in the World Cup this century, joining Jhegson Méndez, LAFC (2021)/Ecuador (2022); Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy (2005)/United States (2006); Michael Umaña, LA Galaxy (2005)/Costa Rica (2006); Cobi Jones, LA Galaxy (2001)/United States (2002); and Luis Hernández, LA Galaxy (2001)/Mexico (2002).

With his appearance as a second-half substitute against South Africa, Shaffelburg joins Concacaf legends Cobi Jones (United States) and Luis Hernández (Mexico) as the only defending Open Cup champions this century to appear in the knockout stage of the World Cup.

Additionally, Canada head coach Jesse Marsch joined an elite club during his playing days in MLS by winning the Open Cup four times—first with D.C. United (1996) and then with Chicago Fire FC (1998, 2000, 2003).

The Best of the Group Stage

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on June 16, 2026 in Kansas City, Mo. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Of the former Open Cup participants, none stood out more than Argentina forward Lionel Messi. The legendary goalscorer and defending World Cup champion is leading the Golden Boot race with six goals in three matches. The Inter Miami CF man helped the Herons to the 2023 U.S. Open Cup Final during his debut season in South Florida.

Elsewhere, eight other Open Cup alumni contributed to goals in the group stage. Canada’s Cyle Larin, formerly of Orlando City SC and now at Southampton FC in the English Championship, scored in each of Canada’s first two group stage matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar.

Former Columbus Crew man Cucho Hernández tallied an assist for Colombia on his World Cup debut against Uzbekistan, FC Dallas goalscorer Petar Musa found the back of the net against England in histournament debut for Croatia, towering Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman scored for New Zealand against Egypt, and Paraguay’s Matías Galarza—just over a month removed from his last Open Cup appearance with Atlanta United FC—scored the winner against Türkiye in the second minute.

Four goalkeepers with Open Cup ties suited up in the group stage. The USMNT’s Matt Freese (New York City FC, Philadelphia Union) and Matt Turner (New England Revolution, Jersey Express) both saw action, Canada’s Maxime Crépeau (LAFC, Portland Timbers) kept a clean sheet against Qatar, but it was Curaçao’s Eloy Room—currently of the USL Championship’s Miami FC and previously an unused substitute in the Columbus Crew’s Open Cup run in 2022 and 2023—who stole headlines. The 37-year-old amassed a tournament-leading 21 saves and matched USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard’s single-match record of 15 saves in the scoreless draw against Ecuador.

Shining for the Stars and Stripes

The USMNT's Auston Trusty celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Türkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Of the 17 USMNT players with Open Cup ties, 15 made appearances in the Stars and Stripes’ group-topping start to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Rising U.S. Men’s National Team talent Alex Freeman—an Open Cup champion with Orlando City SC in 2022—assisted Gio Reyna’s stoppage-time stunner against Paraguay before scoring one of his own against Australia.

Freeman stood out as the sixth-youngest USMNT World Cup goalscorer—just a year removed from his National Team debut—and became the second USMNT defender to score in the World Cup since John Brooks in 2014.

“We felt something before the World Cup even started, we knew our bond, this bond is like a family here in the [USMNT],” Freeman said. “Now that we've won two games and been consistently winning and playing well, our confidence is through the roof. Now it's about how can we give more and more and more. The game's done so now we work until the next game, be ready, be 100%, and give it all again.”

USMNT defender Auston Trusty—who previously appeared in the Open Cup with the Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids—scored his first USMNT goal in only his 10th appearance against Türkiye. Trusty’s goal after just two minutes and 13 seconds was the second-quickest the USMNT has scored in a World Cup match after Clint Dempsey’s score after 30 seconds against Ghana in 2014.

U.S. OPEN CUP ALUMNI IN THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 - GROUP STAGE STATISTICS

Player Statistics

* - Unused substitute

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