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
