2025 U.S. Open Cup Last Eight: Mixed Bag of Histories for Quarterfinal Octet
We take a closer look at the eight surviving MLS clubs in our 2025 U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals and how they’ve fared in previous editions of this historic competition.
Only eight teams remain in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. And each are just two wins from reaching a major Final and three from the glory of lifting a trophy. Join us for a closer look at the octet of surviving sides – all hailing from Major League Soccer (MLS) for the first time since 2015.
It’s a Quarterfinal field that includes a pair of proud former Champions, in D.C. United and the Chicago Fire, and six ambitious hopefuls looking to lift this country’s most-historic soccer prize for the first time.
2025 U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal Field:
- Austin FC
- Chicago Fire
- D.C. United
- Minnesota United FC
- Nashville SC
- New York Red Bulls
- Philadelphia Union
- San Jose Earthquakes
Two Former Champs Look to Revamp
The only sides left among our Last Eight to ever have lifted the U.S. Open Cup are D.C. United and the Chicago Fire. These two clubs, with seven Open Cup crowns shared between them, have a similar trajectory to their overall fortunes. Both were undisputed powerhouses in their early days but have fallen on harder times of late.
Player-turned-coach Ben Olsen the last time D.C. United’s won the Open Cup (2013)
D.C. United won the first U.S. Open Cup of the tournament’s MLS Era back in 1996, with a 3-0 rout of the Division II Rochester Ragin’ Rhinos. That dynastic team from the capital boasted John Harkes, Marco Etcheverry, Eddie Pope and Jaime Moreno, and they also claimed four MLS Cups between 1996 and 2004.
D.C.’s second Open Cup triumph came in 2008, with a slim 2-1 win at RFK over Division II powers Charleston Battery, and their last time lifting the trophy has become the stuff of legend. Led by rookie coach – and former playing legend – Ben Olsen in that year of 2013, United lifted the Cup on the road with a win over a powerful Real Salt Lake in what was, otherwise, the worst season in the team’s history.
“Winning it [the Cup] in 2013 saved my job, and that’s no exaggeration,” said Olsen – who was a playing member of the 2008 title-winning D.C. United team, of that 2013 run – the last trophy of any kind won by the club. “It was a horrible season. Everything spiraled away from us. But the Open Cup kept us together as a group and gave us a north star during some really, really tough times.”
“The Open Cup is important for us here at D.C. United, for our history and our future,” added current coach Troy Lesesne, who’s led his side past the Battery and fellow MLS outfit Charlotte FC and on to a road date with Nashville SC in the Quarterfinals on July 9 (LIVE on Paramount+ and FREE on the CBS Sports Golazo Network).
“Our club and our fans haven’t had enough to celebrate in the past 12 seasons and this is a big chance,” Lesesne added.
The Chicago Fire hit the ground running as an MLS expansion club in 1998. Their golden-goal OT win over the Columbus Crew in that year’s Open Cup Final was part of an astonishing League/Cup Double – and it was followed up by further Open Cup titles in 2000, 2003 and 2006.
The Chicago Fire with the Dewar Cup (the original U.S. Open Cup Trophy) in 2006
A win for Gregg Berhalter’s men in this 110th edition of the Open Cup would make the club from the Windy City the first side from Major League Soccer to lift our historic prize five times – thus joining heroes of yesteryear like Bethlehem Steel, Maccabi LA and the Fall River Rovers.
Up next for the Fire, who beat Detroit City FC of the USL Championship and a youthful New England Revolution on the road in Providence, is a Quarterfinal road date with Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field in St. Paul on July 8 (LIVE on Paramount+ and on air at CBS Sports Network).
Six With Eyes on Firsts
Minnesota United FC have only been an MLS club since 2017, but don’t think for one second they don’t have deep roots in the U.S. Open Cup. Aside from reaching the Final in 2019 – where they came up just shy of the mark in a 2-1 loss to Atlanta United – they took part in the competition as a member of the Division II NASL from 2010 to 2016.
“The Quarterfinal stage is when things start to, kind of, feel different,” said Julian Gressel, the recent big-name signing who was part of that Atlanta United side that spoiled MNUFC’s party in the Open Cup Final of 2019. “We’re three wins away from a trophy – and that’s a short road – so we’d like to give that to the people at the club and these great fans here.”
In addition to historyin the competition, and a spiritual connection to Open Cup legends of old, the Minnesota Thunder, MNUFC have the luck of draw on their side. They’ll host their Quarterfinal (LIVE on Paramount+ and on air at CBS Sports Network) against the Chicago Fire. Should they win it, they’re in line to host both a Semifinal and the 2025 Final at their Allianz Field.
San Jose Earthquakes celebrate the Round of 16 win over the Portland Timbers
The San Jose Earthquakes don’t have much in the way of Open Cup pedigree at first glance (two Semifinal appearances in 2004 and 2017 are all they have to crow about). But they do have a coach who knows a thing or two about winning the competition. Former USMNT boss – and American soccer legend – Bruce Arena was at the helm of the 1996 trophy-winning D.C. United.
“In the Open Cup you need everyone to step up because the games are never easy,” said Ian Harkes, the Quakes’ all-action midfielder and son of former Open Cup Champion John Harkes. “You need luck and for momentum to build at the right time – that way you can get a little of that Magic of the Cup.”
Austin & Nashville Eager to Break Through
If the Quakes are short on Open Cup pedigree, their opponent in the Quarterfinal, Austin FC, have barely any at all. Beginning life in 2021, early claims to Open Cup fame weren’t the kind the Texans wanted to broadcast. They were victimized by a lower-league team (San Antonio FC of the USL Championship) in 2022 and only earned their first Open Cup victory, over Division II New Mexico United, in 2023.
What they lack on paper they more than make up for on the field in 2025. Burly USMNT striker Brandon Vazquez has been on fire, with three goals in two wins over El Paso Locomotive and Houston Dynamo. The man who top-scored for Champions Atlanta United in their run to the 2019 crown might just have his sights set on another run to the title.
Austin FC have another Open Cup Champion in the squad, with Ilie Sanchez arriving from last year's tournament toppers LAFC in the off-season. “History is important and you build history by winning things,” said the Spaniard who started his soccer life at Barcelona’s famed La Masia before lifting an Open Cup with Sporting Kansas City in 2017 – and doing it again in LA in 2024. “There’s something special about reaching a Final and sharing that with the fans.”
Nashville SC knocked out 2022 Open Cup Champions Orlando City in the 2025 Round of 16
Another Last Eight contender without oodles of Open Cup pedigree is Nashville SC. USMNT defender Walker Zimmerman, who won an Open Cup with FC Dallas in 2016, is one of the stars of the Tennessee-based side whose best run came back in 2022 with a place in the Quarterfinal (which they’ve now matched).
Fallen Finalists in the Mix
Philadelphia Union have a proud record of reaching U.S. Open Cup Finals – but Lady Luck wasn't with them when they did. The Chester, PA-based MLS side lost out in 2014, 2015 and 2018 – and are still hunting a firstnon Supporters’ Shield (2020) prize in club history.
The Union are flying high in MLS League play this year, in first place in the overall standings (at the time of this piece’s publishing). They’ll face off with Eastern Conference rivals the New York Red Bulls in the 2025 Open Cup Quarterfinal on July 9 in Chester (LIVE on Paramount+ and on air at CBS Sports Network).
The Red Bulls, led by Emil Forsberg and Erick Choupo-Moting and with young starlet Mohammed Sofo showing up well in this year’s tournament, are another team still hunting a first non-Supporters’ Shield (2013, 2015 and 2018) trophy.
They’ve reached the Open Cup Final on two occasions, losing to Chicago Fire in 2003 when they were still known as the MetroStars and, most recently, to Sporting Kansas City in the 2017 Decider.
“It's not only the big picture, the trophy, for me – it's more to have the history, to have the emotional moments together. That's, for me, more,” said German-born coach Sandro Schwarz. “Play for the result…but to have these emotions, to create these moments all together, that's my biggest target and my biggest wish for the club.”
Eight will become four on July 8 and 9. So be sure to watch all the Quarterfinal action on Paramount+, the CBS Sports Golazo Network and CBS Sports Network to find out who’ll be heading to our 2025 Semis.
Angelo Maduro is a senior reporter at large for ussoccer.com/us-open-cup