CHICAGO (April 18, 2024) – U.S. Soccer today drew the pairings and hosting scenarios for Round of 32 contests in the 109th edition of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, set to take place from May 7-8.
For the Round of 32, winners from the 16 Third Round contests were paired against an entering side from either Major League Soccer (Div. I) or the USL Championship (Div. II), of which there are eight each. The draw also set up mini-brackets for the next two rounds, with each of the eight divisions – named for figures linked to the rich history of U.S. Soccer’s Club Championship – including two Third Round victors and two incoming squads.
Reigning tournament champion Houston Dynamo of MLS begin their repeat bid against a red-hot Detroit City FC that has won its first four games in USL Championship play in addition to a rivalry row with Michigan Stars FC in Third Round action on Tuesday. Another MLS/USLC meeting of intrigue sees four-time Open Cup title holder Seattle Sounders FC host perennial power Louisville City FC in the Pacific Northwest.
The other participating squad from MLS with four tournament trophies to its name, Sporting Kansas City, kicks off its tourney journey on the road against a revenge-minded Union Omaha of USL League One – one of four Division III teams to advance from the Third Round. NYCFC II, the lone survivor from MLS NEXT Pro (Div. III), also drew hosting honors for its Round of 32 game against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL Championship). On the flip side, the southeastern-based Alonso Division features USL1’s other Round of 32 representatives hitting the road as South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL1) travels to 2008 finalist Charleston Battery (USLC) and Charlotte Independence jumps down I-85 to take on 2019 champion Atlanta United (MLS).
The six intra-USL Championship contests are headlined by a clash of current title holders as defending USL Championship titlist Phoenix Rising FC head east to take on last year’s USL League One victor, North Carolina FC, which made the jump back to the Championship over the offseason.
Soccer fans in Northern California have no shortage of rooting interests in the Round of 32. The Lopez Division, honoring Modern Era Open Cup assist leader Rodrigo Lopez, will see his namesake’s side – and 2022 surprise Finalist – Sacramento Republic FC side host Monterey Bay F.C. in another all-USLC affair, while MLS’ San Jose Earthquakes welcome Oakland Roots SC (USL) to the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay.
All matches in the next two rounds will continue to be streamed live on usopencup.com, uslsoccer.com, and MLSSoccer.com. This unparalleled access to the tournament ensures soccer fans across the country can watch every action-packed match – including the entrance of USL Championship and Major League Soccer sides – in the nation’s oldest and most prestigious soccer competition. Broadcast details for the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Final will be announced later in the tournament.
Round of 32 Pairings – 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Home teams listed first; full schedule including venues and times
Alonso Division
May 8: Charleston Battery (USLC) vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL1)
May 7: Atlanta United (MLS) vs. Charlotte Independence (USL1)
Gonsalves Division
May 8: Tampa Bay Rowdies (USLC) vs. Birmingham Legion FC (USLC)
May 7: FC Dallas (MLS) vs. Memphis 901 FC (USLC)
Hakala-Nolan Division
May 8: Union Omaha (USL1) vs. Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
May 7: Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USLC) vs. FC Tulsa (USLC)
LeToux Division
May 8: Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) vs. Louisville City FC (USLC)
May 8: North Carolina FC (USLC) vs. Phoenix Rising FC (USLC)
Lopez Division
May 7: Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) vs. Monterey Bay F.C. (USLC)
May 7: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) vs. Oakland Roots SC (USLC)
Mark Division
May 8: Las Vegas Lights FC (USLC) vs. Los Angeles FC (MLS)
May 7: Orange County Soccer Club (USLC) vs. Loudoun United FC (USLC)
Onstad Division
May 8: Indy Eleven (USLC) vs. San Antonio FC (USLC)
May 7: Houston Dynamo FC (MLS) vs. Detroit City FC (USLC)
Watson Division
May 8: NYCFC II (MLSNP) vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USLC)
May 8: New Mexico United (USLC) vs. Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Round of 32 Participants by League/Division
Major League Soccer (Div. I) (8): Atlanta United FC, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo FC, Los Angeles Football Club, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City
USL Championship (Div. II) (20): Birmingham Legion FC, Charleston Battery, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Detroit City FC, FC Tulsa, Indy Eleven, Las Vegas Lights FC, Loudoun United FC, Louisville City FC, Memphis 901 FC, Monterey Bay F.C., New Mexico United, North Carolina FC, Oakland Roots SC, Orange County Soccer Club, Phoenix Rising FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, Sacramento Republic FC, San Antonio FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies
USL League One (Div. III) (3): Charlotte Independence, South Georgia Tormenta FC, Union Omaha
MLS NEXT Pro (Div. III) (1): NYCFC II
The Round of 32 pairings were created by placing two winners from the Third Round into a four-team group alongside one entering club each from MLS and USL Championship based on geography and drawing randomly from those groups. Home teams for each round were determined by random selection among those who applied to host. Clubs whose venue meets minimum tournament standards were given priority. The Round of 16 will see the two winners in each group square off from May 21-22, with the winner of the first game listed in each of the groupings above serving as the host team.
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