The U.S. Open Cup Will Have a First-Time Champ Again in 2025
One of these surviving 2025 sides – Austin FC, Minnesota United, Nashville SC, Philadelphia Union or the NY Red Bulls – will follow in the footsteps of last year's Champion LAFC as first-time winners of the historic Open Cup
By: Jonah Fontela
For a second straight year, a club’s name will be carved for the first time into the ever-expanding base of our old Dewar Challenge Trophy. The five surviving 2025 teams all hail from Major League Soccer (MLS) and are all hoping to make the 110th edition of the U.S. Open Cup an historic triumph.
From the West side of the 2025 Semifinal bracket, Minnesota United FC – quirky descendants of vintage Cinderella disruptors the Minnesota Thunder – are in pole position to become the first team from the Gopher State to lift the U.S. Open Cup, with hosting priority through the Semifinal and Final Rounds.
Of course, it could be Austin FC – the Loons’ opponent in the Semi on September 17 (LIVE on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network). Were the Texan upstarts to pull off a win in the Twin Cities in the Semi, they’d then go on to host the Final. Were they to win that, they’d join two-time Champs FC Dallas/Dallas Burn and Houston Dynamo in a trio of Open Cup toppers from the Lone Star State.
On the other side of the ledger, out East, we have Nashville SC, whose Semifinal berth this year – like Austin’s – is the farthest they’ve ever gone in an Open Cup. It's also the farthest any side from Music City (or its home state of Tennessee) have ever gone in the historic knockout competition.
Minnesota United have the hosting edge for the 2025 Open Cup
Of course, and lastly, it could be Philly’s Union or RBNY to take home the big prize – and both destinations are home to tradition aplenty in the 111-year history of our tournament.
Huge local tradition aside (teams from the two cities combine for 36 crowns in total – 29 for Metro NY and 7 for Philadelphia) it would be the first non-Supporters’ Shield trophy in club history for RBNY/Philadelphia Union. One of them will reach the Open Cup Semifinal against Nashville following a rescheduled August 13 replay (LIVE on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network) in Pennsylvania to decide the winner of the Quarterfinal abandoned on July 9 before kick-off due to dangerous weather in the area.