U.S. Open Cup: A look at all the opening matchups

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Mar 22, 2022

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will resume on Tuesday when play in the 2022 competition begins with six games. The first round will conclude on Wednesday with 10 games.

A modern-era record 103 teams are entered in the 2022 Open Cup, the 107th edition of U.S. Soccer's cup competition. It was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 16 matches involve 32 Open Division teams -- 11 local qualifiers, 10 NPSL teams and 10 USL League Two teams in addition to the 2021 National Amateur Cup champion Lansdowne Bhoys.

Teams like the Western Mass Pioneers, Ocean City Nor'easters, Des Moines Menace and NC Fusion U23 (former Carolina Dynamo) have long histories in the Open Cup. More recently, Miami United FC made a run into the fourth round in 2018 and Chicago FC United  reached the third round in 2017. Upstarts include Oyster Bay United FC, which knocked off two former Open Cup champions with seven championships between them in local qualifying.

All games will air on ESPN+ or U.S. Soccer's YouTube Channel: Soccer on TV.

Tuesday, March 22
Hartford, CT. Hartford City FC (NPSL) vs. Oyster Bay United FC (UPSL)
Hartford City FC is coming off its best season since joining the NPSL in 2017 with its first conference title. // Oyster Bay eliminated two former Open Cup champions, four-time winner New York Greek Americans (on penalty kicks) and three-time winner New York Pancyprian Freedoms (2-0 in overtime) in local qualifying.

Montclair, NJ. FC Motown (NPSL) vs. West Chester United SC (USLL2)
In 2017, FC Motown beat New York area powerhouse Lansdowne Bhoys, 3-2, to qualify for the Open Cup for the first time and advanced to the second round by beating New Jersey Copa FC, 2–1. // In 2021, West Chester United SC entered teams -- and won conference titles -- in both USL League Two and the NPSL. It also has a team in the United Soccer League, Eastern Pennsylvania's top amateur league.

Summerfield, FL.The Villages SC (USLL2) vs. Orlando FC Wolves (NSL)
In two of its three previous appearances in the Open Cup, The Villages SC won its first-round game, beating Kraze United SC in 2016 and Lakeland Tropics (in a shootout) in 2019. // It took the Wolves four rounds of local qualifying to reach the Open Cup for the first time. They won their first three games and clinched a berth in the first round when South Carolina United had to pull out of the final round of qualifying due to Covid-19 issues.

Berea, OH. Cleveland SC (NPSL) vs. Chicago FC United (USLL2)
Cleveland SC has re-signed Conor Cable, the 2021 NPSL Goalkeeper of the Year.  // Chicago FC United reached the third round in 2017, upsetting the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Denton, TX. Denton Diablos FC (NPSL) vs. D'Feeters Kicks SC (Roja League)
After its first season, Denton qualified for the 2020 Open Cup, which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It qualified in 2022 as the reigning NPSL champion. // D’Feeters Kicks SC  -- D’Feeters is a well-known Dallas girls program going back more than 40 years -- added an adult program when FC Harrington out of South Dallas joined the club.

Hattiesburg, MS. Southern States SC Stars (NPSL) vs. Georgia Revolution FC (NPSL)
Southern States SC Stars fell in the 2021 NPSL South regional final in overtime at Tulsa Athletic. // In 2012, the Revolution made its Open Cup debut, defeating PDL powerhouse Mississippi Brilla.

Wednesday, March 23
Ludlow, MA. Western Mass Pioneers (USLL2) vs. Brockton FC United (UPSL)
The Pioneers have won six Open Cup games in their 11 previous appearances. // Brockton FC United, which has a heavy Capeverdean influence, won its three qualifiers, 5-3, 7-0 and 5-0.
 
Ocean City, NJ. Ocean City Nor'easters (USLL2) vs. Lansdowne Bhoys (EPSL)
The Nor'easters, founded in 1996, are making their 10th Open Cup appearances. They have reached the third round four times, twice going out to MLS teams. // The Yonkers-based Bhoys won the 2021 amateur double, beating Cal FC 2-1 to win the USASA Amateur Cup and ASC New Stars 4-3 to capture. As Amateur Cup champions, they qualified for first round of the Open Cup.

Lynchburg, VA. Lynchburg FC (UPSL) vs. Nova FC (EPSL)
Lynchburg FC won its opening match when the Aegean Hawks had to forfeit, then beat Maryland's Rockville SC on the road and St. Louis-based FC Maritsa. //  Nova FC, one of two entrants from the EPSL, qualified with a 5-0 victory over Districtonia Futbol after overcoming two first-half red cards.

Columbia, SC. South Carolina United FC (USLL2) vs. NC Fusion U23 (USLL2)
South Carolina United FC is looking for its first Open Cup win in three appearances. //  NC Fusion U23 is the former Carolina Dynamo, which reached the Open Cup quarterfinals in 1996 and the fourth round in 2006. Fusion U23 reached the 2021 League two championship game, where it lost to the Des Moines Menace.

Hialeah, FL. Miami United FC (NPSL) vs. City Soccer FC (NSL)
In 2018, Miami United FC reached the fourth round of the Open Cup with wins over a trio of Florida teams, Kendall, Miami FC and Jacksonville Armada, before losing to MLS's Orlando City, 3-0. //  West Palm Beach-based City Soccer FC competes in the NSL's Florida Elite Division.

West Des Moines, IA. Des Moines Menace (USLL2) vs. Minneapolis City SC (NPSL)
The Menace, the reigning USL League Two champion, is making its 13th Open Cup appearance. In 2005, it reached the fourth round with wins over three USL pro teams. //  Minneapolis City SC, which moved to the USL League Two in 2022, qualified as the 2021 NPSL North Conference champion.

Tulsa, OK. Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) vs. Azteca FC (Colorado Super League)
Tulsa Athletic's three previous appearances in the Open Cup -- in 2014, 2015, and 2017 -- ended with losses in its first match. //  Azteca FC is looking for its first win after exiting in the Open Cup first round in 2017 and 2018.

Encino, CA. San Fernando Valley FC (UPSL) vs. Escondido FC (UPSL)
San Fernando Valley FC has been playing in the UPSL since 2017. It moved up to the UPSL SoCal North Premier in 2022 after earning promotion from the SoCal North Division I. //  Escondido FC plays in the UPSL SoCal South Premier, in which it finished first in the fall with an 8-1-1 record.

Las Vegas, NV. Las Vegas Legends FC (NPSL) vs. Park City Red Wolves SC (USLL2)
The Legends, whose origins are in the indoor MASL, have moved to the NISA Nation this spring. //  The Utah-based Red Wolves are the sister club of the USL League One Chattanooga Red Wolves.

Salem, OR. Portland Timbers U23 (USLL2) vs. Contra Costa FC (NPSL)
Timbers U23 grads include Fatai Alashe, Erik Hurtado, Collen Warner and Khiry Shelton. //  Contra Costa FC played its first Golden Gate Conference season in 2021 and entered local qualifying because Bay Area conference didn't compete in the 2021 NPSL playoffs.