Fourteen USL League Two clubs have qualified for the first round of the US Open Cup, based on their 2022 regular season final standings. Qualifier League 2 organizations will join many other Open Division teams competing in the opening stages of the tournament.
The open cup magic starts here. Every team has a chance to lift the trophy at the end. All of these clubs are ready to start tournaments in three weeks.
All USL League 2 club names are in bold.
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Ocean City Noreasters vs West Chester United SC
Tuesday, March 21 – 7:30 PM ET
league 2 matchup
The first match of this year’s Open Cup will see two teams face off from their northeast neighbors. The Noreasters led the Mid-Atlantic division last season by 12 points. In a book undefeated campaign, the club ultimately failed to capitalize on their success with a first-round playoff exit. hopes to translate their performance into this March’s Open Cup and come out on top.
West Chester United – Runners-up to Nor’easters in 2022, West Chester United capped off a solid regular season display with a second-place finish in the Mid-Atlantic Division. The League Two team wants to avoid his four-game losing streak with his New Jersey club. Both recent results put Noreasters as a front-runner to advance to the next round of the competition, but everything will be on hand when we meet in Pennsylvania next month. The winner will advance to a game against the Maryland Bobcats FC.
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Club de Lyon vs. Nona FC
Wednesday, March 22 – 5:00 PM ET
2022 Southeast Division top hitters Nona FC are looking to kick off their Open Cup campaign with a win against Club de Lyon next month. After narrowly losing in the Southern Conference quarterfinals, the Florida side is determined to avoid a losing streak and advance to the next round. The Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship are waiting for this first-round winner of his.
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Appalachian FC vs. NC fusion
Wednesday, March 22 – 7:00 PM ET
The NC Fusion, who will top the South Atlantic Division in 2022, will head to ASU Stadium to take on fellow North Carolina Appalachian FC. The Fusion ran all the way to the national semi-finals, but ultimately lost to the Long Island Roughriders. The winner of this first round will face League One side Charlotte Independence. Date TBD.
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FC Motown STA vs Manhattan SC
Wednesday, March 22 – 7:00 PM ET
Manhattan SC, who are just ahead of the Rough Riders in the top spot in the Metropolitan Division, will welcome fellow FC Motown division clubs to the Bronx next month. The most recent matchup between the two saw Manhattan SC become his 2022 regular in the final game of his season, where he won 2–0, and we expect a similar performance this time around. With an unbeaten season appearing to be overshadowed by an Eastern Conference quarter-final elimination, the Organization aims to start his Cup run open with positive results against direct rivals.
After finishing in the bottom three in the Metropolitan Division, FC Motown could upset with a victory in the Divisional Division. In recent memory, he had a three-game non-win streak at the end of the season and a losing streak against future opponents, making Morristown unlikely for his team to rob a result. The winner will face the Flower City Union in the second round.
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Chicago House AC vs bayern united
Wednesday, March 22nd – 7pm CT
Bayern Untied SC – As the inaugural USL League 2 season approaches, one of the country’s oldest pre-pro clubs expects to make waves in both the league and the Open Cup this year. The League Two expansion team will head to Elmhurst, Illinois to face Chicago House AC in the first round of the Open Cup. USL League one-sided forward Madison awaits the winner of the second round.
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Beeman United vs Des Moines Menace
Wednesday, March 22nd – 7pm CT
Finishing at the top of the Deep North Division and boasting the most points per game (PPG) in the Central Conference, Des Moines Menace look back on a positive campaign in 2022 and can inspire them in this year’s Open Cup. increase. Menace’s stellar season of play earned them a spot in the Central Conference Finals, ultimately losing to the Flint City Bucks on penalties. The club have ambitions to further their previous Open Cup run by winning both the first and second rounds. The winner of the match will face the Chattanooga Football Club.
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Tulsa Athletic vs. Brazos Valley Cavalry FC
Wednesday, March 22nd – 7pm CT
One of the strong teams in the Southern Conference late in the season, Cavalry FC finished the 2022 season at the top of the Lone Star Division with a five-game win streak. However, this hot form failed to make it to the playoffs as he lost 3-0 to Asheville City SC in the opening round of the playoffs. The club has never made it past the first round of the Open Cup, but will aim to do so when it travels to Tulsa next month.
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Uda soccer vs. park city red wolves
Wednesday, March 22 – 7:00 PM MT
The 2022 Mountain Division winners, the Park City Red Wolves, travel to New Mexico to face UDA Soccer in the first round. After facing the Southern California Seahorses in last year’s Western Conference quarterfinals, the Utah club will be looking to advance to the second round of the Open Cup. The winner of this match will face New Mexico United in the USL Championship.
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Project 51O vs Crossfire Premier
Wednesday, March 22 – 7:00 PM PT
Project 51O, an affiliate of USL Championship Club Auckland Roots, will host the Crossfire Premier in the first round of this Open Cup. After narrowly beating the Ventura County Fusion in first place on goal difference, the 2022 Southwest Division leaders qualified for the Western Conference Quarterfinals against Ballard FC. They are looking to start the season off right with a win over the Washington club. 2022 Open Cup finalist Republic of Sacramento awaits the winner of the second round.
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Capo FC vs Ventura County Fusion
Thursday, March 23 – 7pm PT
Announced to be one of the newest clubs to join League Two this season, Capo FC will kick off next month’s US Open Cup. The expansion club will face stiff opposition as defending champions Ventura County Fusion are welcome to join the competition.
Behind the scenes of the USL League 2 Championship, Fusion will be a challenging test for all participants. The winner advances to the second round where USL Championship side Orange County SC awaits.
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Cleveland SC vs Lionsbridge FC
Thursday, March 23 – 7:00 PM ET
Lionsbridge FC, an impressive first-place finisher in the Chesapeake Division and PPG’s Eastern Conference leader, will face Cleveland FC. The Virginia team went undefeated in his 2022 and qualified for the competition. The club plans to start its Open Cup berth with a positive performance when it moves to Olmsted, Ohio next month. The winner of this matchup will face the Richmond Kickers in Round 2 of the Open Cup.
