What began with 114 teams back in early October will end this weekend (December 7 and 8) with a final batch of seven teams reaching next year’s Tournament Proper via the Fourth and Final Matchday of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds.
The Matchday begins, regrettably, with a walkover. Las Vegas Legends notified U.S. Soccer of its intention to forfeit this Saturday's Qualifier. Washington Athletic Club – who would have hosted the contest – have been awarded a 1-0 victory and move on to the 2025 Tournament Proper.
Now, let’s get down to the on-field action. There will be two all-or-nothing contests on Saturday and four more on Sunday – including a mouth-watering affair between national amateur giants and former Open Cup darlings Chicago House AC and Tulsa Athletic.
The Windy City-based Midwest Premier League side, coached this year by former playing standout Shannon Seymour, aim for a third-straight berth in our Tournament Proper. And they’ll host the game at Langhorst Field in Elmhurst, Illinois after winning a good-natured coin toss in Missouri – at the geographic halfway point between Tulsa and Chicago – contested by the two team’s presidents.
“This is the Open Cup and all that matters is getting that win,” said Seymour, a playing veteran of Chicago House’s last two successful Qualifying campaigns. “There’s no tomorrow in the Open Cup and that’s something we know very well at this club.”
For Tulsa Athletic, who are also eager to reach the Tournament Proper for a second consecutive year, it’s a chance to plant the seeds of another Cinderella run. Back in 2023, the Oklahomans – who’ll play a UPSL playoff game the day before hitting the road for their all-or-nothing Open Cup contest in Illinois – set that year’s tournament alight with a win over crosstown pros FC Tulsa of the USL Championship before bowing out with a big day on the manicured pitch of Children’s Mercy Park, up against Sporting Kansas City of MLS.
“We know what the Open Cup represents and we do what we do to show who we are,” said Aaron Ugbah, a veteran player of that famous side from 2023 and a six-season member of the team. “It’s all about family and working hard here at Tulsa Athletic.”
The three other games on Sunday will see teams from the same state vying for a place in next year’s 110th edition of U.S. Soccer’s Club Championship. Miami United FC – led by ace striker Robertino Insua – are eyeing a place in a seventh Open Cup since first Qualifying in 2015 when they face off with South Florida rivals Red Force.
“You need to always be on your game in this tournament,” said Insua, who helped guide Miami United FC to a First Round win over MLS NEXT PRO side Chattanooga FC in last year’s Tournament Proper. “Any mistakes can cost you in a knockout competition like this.”
Out West, in California, International San Francisco of the historic SFSFL aim to put the finishing touches on a second-straight trip to the Tournament Proper when they go up against Valley 559 FC in a rare Qualifying date at home in their City by the Bay. Inter will be led by former MLS striker and Open Cup Semifinalist Matt Fondy, who’s still banging in the goals at age 35.
The last game on Sunday pits San Diego Internacional against Laguna United FC in a SoCal banger.
With the Las Vegas Legends forfeit, Saturday will see a lean menu of only two games.
FORO SC – the UPSL side who knocked out Austin FC II of MLS NEXT Pro after debuting in last year’s Tournament Proper – host Houston Regals SCA in an all-Texas affair. “We've been to the UPSL Championship three times. We have one of the best squads that's not paid in the country,” said Bob Peinado, the CEO and founder of the ambitious FORO SC. “We’ve got some really great committed players, who just love soccer, who have day jobs, who still aspire to go further.”
Saturday's offerings conclude with Florida combatants Harbor City FC taking on FC America CFL Spurs – who reached the First Round of last year’s Tournament Proper.
The winners from this Qualifying Matchday will join the seven from last month’s Third Qualifying Matchday as the 14 teams who’ll reach the 2025 Tournament Proper via the Qualifying Rounds. They’ll join USASA National Amateur Cup winner NY Pancyprian Freedoms, UPSL Spring Champion Soda City FC and 16 teams from the National League Qualifying Track, split between the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and USL League Two.
Washington Athletic Club 1 vs. 0 Las Vegas Legends FC (2 p.m. PT) 1-0 FORFEIT
Harbor City FC vs. FC America CFL Spurs (7 p.m. ET)
FORO SC vs. Houston Regals SCA (7 p.m. CT)
Chicago House AC vs. Tulsa Athletic (1 p.m. CT)
Miami United FC vs. Red Force (8 p.m. ET)
San Diego Internacional vs. Laguna United FC (6 p.m. PT)
International San Francisco vs. Valley 559 FC (7 p.m. PT)
Angelo Maduro is a senior reporter at large for usopencup.com.