Trophy Hunting: The 2025 US Open Cup semis begin today

Open Cup Digest #19

Just four of the 196 teams that participated in the 2025 edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup remain.

Tonight, Nashville SC and Philadelphia Union will face off in a Semifinal clash between two Eastern Conference teams that also have an eye on and a foot into the MLS Cup Playoffs.

A Western Conference matchup between Minnesota United FC and Austin FC tomorrow night will determine the second finalist for America’s national soccer championship. 

The winners will advance to the 110th US Open Cup Final, which will take place on Wednesday, October 1, hosted by the winner of the Western semifinal.

The four Major League Soccer sides that remain in the tournament deserve to be here, but it’s easy to miss the smoke, darkness, and smell of the earlier rounds. Where Cinderella stories of a Burrito shop taking down pro teams, or a squad from Astoria pulling off the impossible in Kentucky, can captivate fans. But new stories are being written as we speak — and locals are already competing in 2026 US Open Cup qualifying.

But first come the 2025 semis. The matches will be broadcast on the CBS family of networks: Today’s game will air exclusively on CBS Sports Network, while tomorrow’s game will be on Paramount+.

Read on as we take you through this penultimate round before making some iron-clad US Open Cup predictions.

The East clash in Nashville

The Supporters’ Shield-leading Philadelphia Union face a Nashville SC currently in 4th Place in the East in what might also be a preview of the MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Semifinals. Neither team looks ready to blink.

Philadelphia are scaring me into thinking they could pull off a treble season: They’re top of the league, MLS Cup favorites, and now just two wins from the US Open Cup. The Union were one of the first teams this season to clinch a spot in the MLS postseason, thanks in part to an undefeated stretch between April and June and just seven losses through 30 games.

Tai Baribo leads the team with 16 goals, but the main story is goalkeeping. Both Andre Blake and Andrew Rick have six clean sheets each. When Blake went down with an injury, the 19-year-old Rick stepped up in both regular-season play and the Open Cup. Blake underwent a hamstring injury back in August against New York Red Bulls, and most likely will not be available against Nashville.

Still, Bradley Carnell has coached a unit many didn’t think could get this far. The Union are without a major knockout trophy after sixteen seasons in MLS. A win tonight would put the team back in the Open Cup final for the first time since 2018, when they lost to the Houston Dynamo.

Nashville SC prepare for US Open Cup semifinal: “It’s a unique opportunity”

Ahead of Tuesday’s US Open Cup semifinal match with Philadelphia Union, Nashville are eyeing the first trophy in club history

SixOneFive SoccerBen Wright

This is Nashville’s first time reaching an Open Cup Semifinal, and only the team’s second-ever semifinal overall after the 2023 Leagues Cup. This season has run hot and cold for the Tennessee side. A 12-game unbeaten streak between April and July put the team in prime contention. However, Nashville have only won a single game since July 25 out of six league matches. While the offense has impressive weapons, namely MLS Golden Boot leader Sam Surridge (21 goals) and Hany Mukhtar (14), a troubling trend of shutouts or single-goal losses has emerged.

Head coach B. J. Callaghan took over midway through 2024, and his unit is a threat. But only when they’re firing on all cylinders. Right now, the 5-2 drubbing of DC United in July’s Quarterfinals feels like a lifetime ago.

Prediction: The Union are coming off a franchise-record loss to Vancouver Whitecaps over the weekend, resting plenty of their normal starters for this match. Nashville didn’t take that approach, with MLS Golden Boot leader Sam Surridge playing on Saturday, but still they came up short. I think it's foolish to look past the boys from the Volunteer State, but the Union are taking this seriously. DOOP into their fourth-ever Open Cup final, 2-1.

Fan favorite vs fan villain

Minnesota are on track to have their best season since joining Major League Soccer in 2017. The Loons have only lost six league games this season, seven in all competitions, and have yet to lose two games in a row. The team are currently on a four-game unbeaten run, including a 3-1 win this past Saturday over Western Conference leaders San Diego FC. 

It's been a team effort on offense as well. Tani Oluwaseyi led the group with 10 goals (but recently left for Villarreal in Spain’s LaLiga), followed by Kelvin Yeboah with nine. Besides them, six others under head coach Eric Ramsay have two or more goals, meaning a goal could realistically come from anyone.

After beating the Chicago Fire 3-1 to reach this point, MNUFC have a chance to make club history. The organization found success in the North American Soccer League prior to joining MLS, but this club have yet to win silverware as a member of Division I. The team came closest in 2019, when they reached their first – and, to date, only – USOC Final, when they lost to Atlanta United FC, 2-1.

Then there are the bad guys. Is it fair to the 2025 Austin FC team that many still hold the sins of Anthony Precourt and #SaveTheCrew against them? No, but I don’t think many people want them to win.

Of the four teams in the semifinal this week, Austin are the only ones struggling to secure a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Los Verdes are currently in 7th Place in the West, just two points above a potential play-in game. Two wins in their last three games have helped the team, but they have a record of 4W-2D-4L in their last ten games.

With only 31 goals this season, the fifth lowest in MLS, it's hard to look towards an attack with Myrto Uzuni and Owen Wolff (five goals each) for assurance. Still, a win would continue Austin’s best-ever run in the US Open Cup. This is the team’s first semifinal of any type since the 2022 Western Semifinals, where they lost, 3-0, to Los Angeles FC.

Prediction: Minnesota United have home-field advantage and are the overall stronger team. Austin’s weaker offense is offset by excellent defending and goalkeeping, but I don’t see that being enough to overcome the challenge. Loons back into the final, 2-0.

Results from 2026 First Qualifying Round

Over the weekend, the First Qualifying Round of the 2026 US Open Cup also took place, with 44 teams around the country playing matches. That included four games with New York and New Jersey teams on Sunday, with a few unexpected results.

Scots-American Athletic Club (NJ) scored two early goals and rode momentum past Real Central NJ (NJ), 3-1. The century-old side from Kearny, NJ, earned their first Open Cup win of any type since the mid-twentieth century. Former professional player and current New York Cosmos front office worker Daniel Vicente scored the game-winning goal for his hometown club.

In New York state proper, Doxa FCW (NY) beat New Jersey Alliance FC (NJ), 1-0, in New Rochelle, NY. Former University of Wisconsin and Fordham University player Murat Çalkap scored the lone goal in the 22nd minute, while former NYCFC II keeper Giuliano Santucci got the clean sheet. Doxa is seeking their first tournament appearance since 1975.

In the first of two games on Long Island, NY Renegades (NY) beat ASC New York, 2-1. Against a team from the National Premier Soccer League, goals in the second half from Oscar Rivas and Junior Rosero secured the victory. The UPSL side qualified for its first USOC earlier this year, where they ran into Columbus Crew 2 in the first round.

A battle between former US Open Cup champions closed out the round as New York Greek Americans (NY) beat long-time rival New York Pancyprian Freedoms (NY), 2-0. Former Hofstra University players Francesco Perinelli and Roc Carles Puig scored for the four-time Open Cup champs. Both teams were shown red cards during the heated Hellenic Derby match, and the Pancyprians bowed out after pulling off a memorable Cupset during the 2025 tournament.

Amateur Hour: 145 Teams compete for 16 US Open qualifying spots

Open Cup Digest #18: A total of 19 teams from New York and New Jersey – including 6 from New York City – are among the 145 lower-league clubs looking to qualify for the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Hudson River BlueMichael Battista