MLS NEXT Pro News

2025 U.S. Open Cup First Round: Where to Watch

open cup-16x9

The U.S. Open Cup, the country's oldest continuous sporting tournament, kicks off its 110th edition this week, with 10 MLS NEXT Pro teams starting their campaigns toward a domestic trophy.

Each MLS NEXT Pro team will be fighting to replicate an incredible run by NYCFC II in 2024, in which they carried the league flag all the way to the Round of 16.

Tuesday, March 18

Ventura County FC vs. Laguna United FC

Tuesday 10:30 p.m. | YouTube

Dignity Health Sports Park

Ventura County FC take on U.S. Open Cup debutant Laguna United FC, who will join MLS NEXT this fall. Ventura County is 1W-1L-0T in the new MLS NEXT Pro season, participating in two high-scoring matches including a 3-2 win over Tacoma Defiance.

Wednesday, March 19

Columbus Crew 2 vs. NY Renegades

Wednesday 6 p.m. | YouTube

Lower.com Field

Columbus Crew 2 seek their first win of 2025 in an Open Cup tilt against NY Renegades FC, who are playing in their first-ever Open Cup match.

Chattanooga FC vs. Corpus Christi FC

Wednesday 6:30 p.m. | YouTube

Finley Stadium

Chattanooga FC host USL League Two side Corpus Christi FC to begin Open Cup play. CFC are enjoying a strong early start to the 2025 season, with two wins in league play.

Inter Miami CF II vs. Miami United FC

Wednesday 7 p.m. ET | YouTube

Chase Stadium

Inter Miami CF II enter the U.S. Open Cup for the first time, taking on inter-city side Miami United FC of the UPSL.

Sporting KC II vs. Des Moines Menace

Wednesday 7:30 p.m. ET | YouTube

Swope Park

Des Moines Menace will welcome a host of big names back to the pitch for the 2025 U.S. Open Cup campaign, including Sporting KC great and former SKCII coach Benny Feilhaber along with Sacha Kljestan, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Dax McCarty, Ozzie Alonso, Matt Hedges, and Justin Meram.

We can only imagine the stories Kljestan, Wright-Phillips, and McCarty will bring when they return to the MLS Season Pass desk.

Real Monarchs vs. El Farolito

Wednesday 9:30 p.m. ET | YouTube

Zions Bank Stadium

Real Monarchs will host their first Open Cup match since 2015, taking on El Farolito, the NPSL side who earned a win over Timbers2 in last season's Open Cup first round.

LAFC2 vs. FC Arizona

Wednesday 10:30 p.m. ET | YouTube

Titan Stadium

Los Angeles Football Club 2 has enjoyed a positive start to MLS NEXT Pro play with four points through two games. They face FC Arizona of the NPSL in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup.

Thursday, March 20

Carolina Core FC vs. Soda City FC

Thursday 7:30 p.m. | YouTube

Truist Point

Columbia, South Carolina's Soda City FC of the UPSL heads up to North Carolina to take on Carolina Core FC. Core started their second MLS NEXT Pro season with a shootout win over Inter Miami II.

FC Cincinnati 2 vs. New York Pancyprian-Freedoms

Thursday 7:30 p.m. | YouTube

NKU Soccer Stadium

FC Cincinnati 2 will host the New York Pancyprian-Freedoms to start Open Cup play. The Pancyprian Freedoms are a Jamaica, Queens, New York-based amateur club that won the U.S. Amateur Cup in 2024.

Tacoma Defiance vs. Washington Athletic Club

Thursday 10 p.m. ET | YouTube

Starfire Sports Complex

Washington Athletic Club will make history as the first amateur team from Washington state in the modern area (post-1995) to play in the U.S. Open Cup tournament when they face the Tacoma Defiance, who are off to a 1W-1L-0T start in MLS NEXT Pro play.