October 14 – Last weekend marked the kickoff of the largest round of qualifying games in the modern era (1995–present) of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the country’s oldest soccer competition.
The 22 winners from September’s opening round joined 96 clubs that received byes, creating a mammoth slate of 118 teams and 59 matches spread across three days. The action began Friday night with Western Mass Pioneers edging Atlético Boston before 21 more matches on Saturday, October 11, and another 37 on Sunday, October 12.
The 59 winners now advance to the Third Round, joining five clubs that received “double byes”: Ballard FC (USL League Two), Brockton FC United (UPSL), City Soccer FC (UPSL), Laguna United FC (UPSL), and UDA Soccer (UPSL). The so-called ‘Fortunate Five’ will need just two more wins to punch their ticket to the 2026 Open Cup. Those decisive “Win and You’re In” matchups are scheduled for November 22 and 23.
Already qualified for the 2026 tournament are the 2025 National Amateur Cup winners West Chester United SC, UPSL Spring champions Tennessee Tempo FC, and John Motta Trophy winners El Farolito SC.
The Open Cup, won this year by Nashville SC, remains one of the sport’s great levelers. A competition where amateur and semi-pro sides dream of toppling giants from Major League Soccer. Those dreams aren’t misplaced: in 2012, the unheralded Cal FC, coached by Eric Wynalda, and Nick Webster, stunned the Portland Timbers 1–0 in one of the tournament’s most legendary upsets.
As the 2026 qualifying campaign unfolds, hundreds of players across the country – from UPSL hopefuls to USL upstarts – chase that same magic moment. Because in the Open Cup, anyone can write their name into American soccer history.
Contact the writer of this story (the Nick Webster named above) at [email protected]