Round 3 (aka the Round of 32) kicks off tonight and at last we throw the MLS teams into the U.S. Open Cup blender! In keeping with Open Cup policy, match-ups are still regionally restricted, so there will be plenty of passionate local rivalry.
In another interesting twist, most lower division teams will get to host. This is a positive because a) it reduces the travel cost of teams that can least afford it, and b) the allure of a MLS tie should draw crowds and lead to greater revenue.
Here are the fixtures.
Louisville City FC (USL-C) vs. Austin FC (MLS)
Kickoff: 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT
Lynn Family Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky
I can’t quite figure out Louisville City this season. In the Eastern Conference, they sit in 2nd place and have scored the most goals. This meets with my pre-season expectations. But defensively, they’re quite suspect and have already shipped 9 goals (that’s nearly half their total for all of 2025). This was quite unanticipated.
Austin FC have also been disappointing, managing only one win from seven tries. They’ve gone five games winless, though their two draws were against powerhouses Inter Miami and LAFC. They’ll feel confident coming north to Kentucky, but should watch their back. When LouCity scores, they tend to do so in clumps.
Prediction: Louisville City win from a shootout after a 2-2 draw.
New England Revolution (MLS) vs. Rhode Island FC (USL-C)
Kickoff: 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT
Centreville Bank Stadium, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
It might not be El Clamíco, but this is a heated derby nonetheless. The two team’s stadiums are only 22 miles apart along the I95.
Form-wise, both teams are faring poorly. The Revs are a straight-up mid-table outfit, sitting in 8th place with 3 wins, 3 draws and a +3 goal differential. One big red flag: 6 of their 12 goals came from a single game. RIFC are in much worse shape, currently in 11th place on a single win and a pair of draws and losses.
My take on this fixture isn’t optimistic for the home team. The Revs are far more dangerous offensively, and fully capable of producing dominant multi-goal games when given the chance. RIFC must keep level heads and ensure defensive discipline, keeping the game close and hoping for a counterstrike. If they concede early, it’ll be game over.
Prediction: New England win 2-0
Detroit City FC (USL-C) vs. Chicago Fire FC (MLS)
Kickoff: 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT
Keyworth Stadium, Hamtramck, Michigan
Chicago has been one of the more surprising outfits from the East. They don’t score much (only 9 goals in 7 games), but defensively they are rock solid. That backline, coupled with Hugo Cuypers’ five contributions (4g/1a), has propelled them into 2nd place. Detroit City FC is using the exact same playbook. They’ve conceded twice in five matches, while Darren Smith single-handedly keeps earning them points with spectacular goals. He’s scored five of the team’s six.
All this points to a potential chess-like match. Each team will be content to take measure of the other, looking for moments of opportunity to counter. Detroit hasn’t lost at home yet this season, or even conceded a goal. I suspect they’ll be content to take measure of Chicago, looking for moments of opportunity to counter. Fire, on the other hand, will want to punch Les Rouges in the nose early and put a dent in their confidence. In any event, this should be a thrilling contest.
Prediction: Chicago Fire win 3-1.
Westchester SC (USL-1) vs. New York City FC (MLS)
Kickoff: 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT
The Stadium at Memorial Field, Mount Vernon, New York
Westchester is finally coming into their own after a rough start to the USL-1 season. After being taken all the way into a penalty shootout by the scrappy Vermont Green in Round 2 (they won that 4-2), they followed up with two dominant wins over Corpus Christi (5-1) and Sarasota (2-0). So they’ll have some swagger as they host MLS’s New York City FC.
How manager Pascal Jansen approaches this fixture will be interesting. NYCFC have stumbled since a strong start. They’re still in 4th place, but have earned only one point from their last three matches. The slide started after losing to Inter Miami 3-2, a match they were leading 2-1 with 30 minutes remaining. A draw to lowly St. Louis followed, then last Saturday’s 2-0 blanking by Vancouver. I wouldn’t expect to see too many second-stringers starting. If anything, Jansen will front-load his usual eleven, try to run up the score and then sub in youth.
Prediction: NYCFC take it handily 5-0
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL-C) vs. Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Kickoff: 8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT
Weidner Field, Colorado Springs, Colorado
The U.S. Open scheduling brains missed a golden opportunity to have the two Colorado sides go head to head. So it goes. But rivalry’s loss in the Switchbacks’ gain, because they’ll be hosting the worst Western Conference MLS side instead of one of the strongest.
Most pundits predicted awfulness out of Sporting Kansas City in preseason, but it’s impressive just how bad they’ve been. They’ve shipped more goals than any West team (17) and have an average xG of 0.72. Their one bright spot has been Dejan Joveljić. Tireless, creative and blessed with a wicked shot, Joveljić has been involved in five of their seven goals so far.
All this gives Colorado Springs a real chance at a #cupset, despite not being in solid form themselves. They’ve only played twice at home, but have yet to lose. A newly signed forward, Jamaican Khori Bennett, has been the majority of their attack so far. The Switchbacks have earned more PKs than any other USL team; he’s converted all three of them.
Prediction: CUPSET! Colorado Springs win 2-1
Colorado Rapids (MLS) vs. Union Omaha (USL-1)
Kickoff: 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
Why this fixture departs from every other one on Tuesday in allowing the higher division team to host, I do not know. But that won’t help Union Omaha’s chances.
The host team is having a roller coaster start, with 3 wins and 2 losses in their last five as well as 17 goals scored and 10 conceded. In fact, Rapids have conceded six of their seven 2026 matches. This defensive frailty should give Omaha opportunities, and they must be ruthless in converting any chances they are offered.
The Owls have a long and distinguished history of giant-killing, and they enter this match on the back of six straight wins in all competitions. It’s as good a piece of momentum as any team can hope to have, and Omaha will be flush with confidence.
Prediction: Colorado will win 4-2 after goes to extra time at 2 apiece.
Sacramento Republic FC (USL-C) vs. Minnesota United FC (MLS)
Kickoff: 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT
Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
Yeah, we’re confused by this fixture too. There are thousands of miles separating these two. I suppose both teams being in their league’s respective “West” is sufficient to pit them against each other. Or perhaps someone in the scheduling team wanted to see these two face off for the first time. In any event, it’s an intriguing matchup.
Minnesota United are finally gaining some momentum. Their start was rocky to say the least, with two back-to-back losses to Vancouver and Nashville by a combined 9-1 scoreline. Those two games skew their stats into nightmare territory, but take them away and their defensive record is much better. Recently, they’ve eked out two wins by 2-1 margins over LA Galaxy and San Diego FC. They’ll be looking at this contest hungrily and eager to get a third straight victory.
Sacramento Republic are struggling offensively. They average the second lowest shots (9.1) and shots on frame (2.8) per game. They score by committee; no player has more than a single goal yet. All this means the club will need a tip-top performance from goalkeeper Danny Vitiello, the club’s all-time clean sheet record holder. The Loons will pepper the 30 year old with shots.
Prediction: Minnesota will win 1-0
