Whether you call it the second round, or Round of 16, it’s kinda moot. With the USA hosting the World Cup, this venerable tournament was forced to make some scheduling changes and trim the number of eligible teams.
Tuesday’s fixtures feature four USL Championship sides. Seeding rules in the first round guaranteed they would play amateur sides from the USL-2 or lower. That is no longer the case, but two clubs did draw non-professional opposition. Let’s get to the fixtures.
Asheville City SC (USL-2) vs. One Knoxville (USL-1)
Kickoff: 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT
Greenwood Soccer Field, Asheville, North Carolina
Stream on Paramount+
They say “three’s a charm” and Asheville City has proved the old adage correct. In their third trip to the Open Cup they finally emerged victorious out of Round One. Their win was all the sweeter as it came over fellow North Carolinian club Greenville Triumph, the same team that knocked them out in PKs back in 2025.
AC should have their tails up, having tasted the thrill of upsetting a professional side for the first time. Forward Ben Fall was selected the Player of the Round, for his assist in the 82nd minute that gave Asheville the lead, and his finish in stoppage time to put the fixture to bed. He feigned injury outside the box, and when a Greenville player tried to dribble out after a goal kick he leapt up, poached the ball and fired it into the net. It was pure cheek, and pure Open Cup excellence.
This match kicks off a three-game road trip that sees ONE Knoxville cross the Blue Ridge Mountains, travel down to Florida and up to Maine, all in 12 days. They had little difficulty eliminating the APSL’s Vistula Garfield despite giving up a goal in the 2nd minute. The final score was 3-1. As defending USL-1 champions, they should have little trouble winning, but I suspect Asheville is fully capable of the #cupset.
FC Naples (USL-1) vs. FC America CFL Spurs (UPSL)
Kickoff: 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT
Paradise Coast Sports Complex, Naples, Florida
Stream on Paramount+
We know practically nothing of consequence about FC America CFL Spurs, other than they reached Round 2 by virtue of South Georgia Tormenta ceasing operations only four weeks before the Cup started.
We do know that FC Naples is one of the stronger sides in USL-1 so far this season, sitting atop the table. Last season they finished 4th in their inaugural season. Assuming that coach Matt Poland takes this match seriously and doesn’t tinker too much with the line-up, victory should be straightforward.
Indy Eleven (USL-C) vs. Union Omaha (USL-1)
Kickoff: 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT
Michael A. Carroll Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
Stream on Paramount+
This is the first all-professional fixture of the 2026 Open Cup, and Indy Eleven had best watch their backsides.
Union Omaha is the best performing USL-1 side in the Open Cup. Since 2022, their first year competing, they’ve put up a record of 9W, 2D, 3L (they also won both draws in shootouts). Five of those victories came against higher division opponents; in 2022 they upset MLS’ Minnesota United and Chicago Fire. You do not take the Owls lightly, just ask BOHFS St. Louis who got spanked 8-0 by them two weeks ago. After losing their season opener to Spokane Velocity, they’ve gone 3-0.
Indy Eleven have at least shown some spark after a weak performance against Brooklyn FC in the season opener. They’ve earned a win and a draw, and brought their goal difference to zero. Right midfielder Bruno Rendón is their most dangerous player; he has 2g/1a in three games.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL-C) vs. Virginia Dream FC (UPSL)
Kickoff: 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT
Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Stream on Paramount+
The Riverhounds won the first ever “Steel Derby City” of the post-COVID era last week toppling their northern suburb rivals Steel City SC with a nervy 2-1 win last Wednesday. The defending USL champions are having a bumpy season so far, with 3W 2D in all comps. They’ve scored eight, but conceded ten, a real decline from last year where their defense was among the league’s best.
This gives Virginia Dream a tiny bit more than a fighting chance. Dream is a tricky side, as they’re now in their third league in as many years (first the VSSL, then the NPSL, and now the UPSL). Though only four years old, they have accomplished quite a lot, including a victory over Richmond Kickers in 2025 in their first ever Open Cup. Last Thursday they traveled to High Point, NC and emerged with a win over the Carolina Core of the MLS NEXT Pro division in Round 1.
Charlotte Independence (USL-1) vs. Charleston Battery (USL-C)
Kickoff: 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT
Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews, Matthews, North Carolina
Stream on Paramount+
Charlotte Independence will be looking to ride their undefeated 2026 record to a #cupset as they host the higher division side Charleston Battery. And that’s not a far-fetched possibility. Charlotte has only conceded twice in three games, and scored nine. Honduran midfielder Luis Álvarez is their main engine, with 2g/1a, but there are seven others with contributions.
Given the topsy-turvy form Charleston Battery have displayed in 2026, they should be worried about gettin knocked out. Yes, they have three wins from four in all comps, but those victories were far from convincing. A UPSL team from Florida called the Badgers had them at 1-1 until the 12th minute of stoppage, when Colton Swan miraculously scored to advance them.
Valley 559 FC (UPSL) vs. Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C)
Kickoff: 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT
Clovis East High School, Clovis, California
Stream on Paramount+
Valley 559 FC have never lost an Open Cup game. Then again, they’ve only played one. The young club from Fresno, CA upset AV Alta two weeks ago in a narrow and thrilling 1-0 win. Valley coach Milton Blanco offered this wisdom around being the underdog: “I think if anything, it’s more nerve-wracking for them [the higher division team] because they have more to lose than us.” The two teams combined for a whopping 33 shots, but Valley had 16 of those despite 31% possession. The lone goal came from 38 year old Quincy Amarikwa from a diving header that met Michael Gonzalez’s cross. Amarikwa is a former MLS pro with stints at San Jose Earthquakes, Chicago Fire and four others, and you can bet Sacramento will be man-marking him.
Republic did not look strong against El Farolito in their Round 1 match. The famed “Burrito Boys” brought their signature blue and gold kits, and bruising physical game, straight at the hosts, forcing extra time after a goalless regulation. But in the sapping heat and extra time El Farolito came unwrapped. Ex-Portland Timbers forward and new signing Forester Ajago got on the end of Dominick Wenner’s cross to give them a one goal edge only five minutes into the additional thirty. Farolito midfielder Sacré Kipré drew a red for a studs up challenge a few moments later and the wheels completely fell off. Both teams would end up with 10 men on the pitch, although Sac would get a very late clincher from a defensive blunder.
