All 12 USL League One teams are participating in the US Open Cup, a declaration that should not have to even be said. But these are strange times in the US Soccer world, with the country’s top division shamefully not sending all of its teams. In any case, the rest of us will enjoy this historic tournament, and here’s a preview of where the USL League One teams landed in the draw.
South Georgia Tormenta FC vs. FC America CFL Spurs
March 19th, 2024
Tormenta Stadium
Statesboro, GA
FC America CFL Spurs will travel from Winter Park, Florida to Statesboro to face Tormenta FC in first round action. The Spurs will be making their US Open Cup debut after defeating three straight UPSL sides in Fall qualifiers, including a decisive 4-1 victory over top UPSL side Leg-AZ World FC to clinch. At the time, the amateur Spurs side was in the USSL, but will join UPSL for the 2024 season.
Vermont Green FC vs. Lexington SC
March 19, 2024
Virtue Field
Burlington, VT
Founded in 2022, Vermont Green FC makes its first appearance in the tournament. This is also the first US Open Cup match played in Vermont, and the first time a professional team will be playing a competitive match in Vermont. It won’t be the first appearance for Lexington SC, who debuted in 2023 with a 1-0 loss to cross-state USL Championship side Louisville City FC.
Forward Madison FC vs. Duluth FC
March 19th, 2024
Breese Stevens Field
Madison, WI
Last season, Forward Madison fell at home to Chicago House AC in the second round of the US Open Cup. They’ll have a chance for redemption this year, facing Duluth FC, an amateur side playing in the NPSL. The BlueGreens return to the tournament for the third time in its history, having lost to Saint Louis FC 2-0 in 2018, and to Des Moines Menace in a shootout in 2019. The club is owned by John Shuster, an American curler who led his country’s side to the gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Tulsa Athletic vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
March 19th, 2024
Hicks Park
Tulsa, OK
Last year’s cinderella story Tulsa Athletic will host Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, a year after taking home the prize for advancing the furthest out of NPSL and USL2 sides in the 2023 tournament. They took down USL Championship side FC Tulsa at home in the second round before falling at Sporting Kansas City in the third round. Northern Colorado had quite a run itself last year, taking down USL Championship side Colorado Springs Switchbacks in a second round extra time thriller.
Richmond Kickers vs. Christos FC
March 20th, 2024
City Stadium
Richmond, VA
If the name sounds familiar to cup-heads and Kickers fans alike, it’s because Christos FC pulled off a series of upsets in their historic 2017 run. This included a takedown of the then-second division Kickers in the second round en route to an eventual fourth round loss to MLS side DC United. Despite the loss, Christos FC was a bonus winner that tournament, having advanced the furthest out of any of the local qualifiers. They also made national news and got an Adidas sponsorship deal out of it. Not bad for a club named for the corner liquor store that fronted its original $1000 league fee to play in the Maryland Major Soccer League.
Asheville City SC vs. One Knoxville SC
March 20th, 2024
Greenwood Field
Asheville, NC
USL League Two side Asheville City SC will host its former one-season division rival One Knox SC. The sides were both in the Southern Conference, South Central Division in 2022, splitting the season series with one win apiece. This will be Asheville City’s first time qualifying for the tournament, on the back of the club’s 2023 first place finish in the South Central Division.
SC United Bantams vs. Greenville Triumph
March 20th, 2024
Southeastern Freight Lines Soccer Complex
Columbia, SC
Greenville will take the quick drive to the center of South Carolina to face off against USL League Two side SC United Bantams. The hosts finished second in the South Central division, and will be making their second appearance in the tournament. Previously, they lost in the first round to Atlanta Silverbacks in 2017, and qualified for the 2020 tournament, which was cancelled.
Ballard FC vs. Spokane Velocity FC
March 20th, 2024
Memorial Stadium
Seattle, WA
The reigning USL League Two champions will make their first ever entry into the US Open Cup, facing off against another newcomer to the tournament, Spokane Velocity FC. The visitors, an expansion side in USL League One, will have just two regular season matches under their belts when they visit Seattle on March 20th.
FC Folsom vs. Central Valley Fuego FC
March 20th, 2024
Folsom Lake College
Folsom, CA
Fuego FC will travel north to face FC Folsom of UPSL. It is the first trip to the tournament for FC Folsom, having qualified on a 4-2 win over Inter San Francisco in Fall qualifiers. Meanwhile, Fuego FC has experienced some success in the tournament, upsetting USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive FC in 2022.
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC vs. Brockton FC United
March 21st, 2024
CHI Memorial Stadium
Chattanooga, TN
UPSL side Brockton FC United will travel to East Ridge to face Red Wolves SC. The Massachusetts based side competes in the New England division, enters the tournament from the local qualifying rounds where they defeated New York Pancyprian Freedoms 3-1. All four goals in that match were scored in a chippy ten minute stoppage time. It will be their second appearance in the tournament. Previously they lost in the first round in 2022 to Western Mass Pioneers.
Vereinigung Erzgebirge vs. Charlotte Independence
March 21st, 2024
Cairn University
Langhorne, PA
Vereinigung Erzgebirg (senior side known as VE Majors) comes from a German-American social and sports club in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and play in the United Soccer League of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1931, they last qualified in 1991, 2002, and the ill-fated 2020 tournament. Their entry this year is thanks to a win in penalties over UPSL’s New Jersey Alliance FC in the local qualifying tournament, after which the team held a boot party at the club’s bar, the Ratskeller. They’ll host USL League One runners up Charlotte Independence at Cairn University.
Western Mass Pioneers vs. Union Omaha
March 21st, 2024
Lustiano Stadium
Ludlow, MA
The Pioneers make their 13th appearance in the tournament, hosting the 2023 USL League One Player’s Shield winners, Union Omaha. The Pioneers finished second in the Northeast division and advanced to the conference semi-finals in 2023. They also advanced to the second round of the 2022 US Open Cup, falling to Flower City Union in extra time.