Updated as of May 11th to reflect first round results.
The First Round Of The U.S Open Cup kicked off yesterday with the South Florida Surf defeating Red Force FC 4-2. South Florida Surf plays in the Premier Development League (PDL) while Red Force FC plays under the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). Their matchup marks the first of the first round and the tournament as a whole.
The first round fields teams from the PDL, the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), and Open Division local qualifiers. USL and NASL sides joined in the second and third rounds, and MLS squads will join in the fourth round.
Due to their victory last night, South Florida Surf will go on to face Miami FC of the NASL in the first match of the second round. As the rounds increase, so will the talent level.
Matchups for the Open Cup are usually targeted locally, and while it will be awhile before Orlando City enters the tournament, their opponents are starting to take shape in these early rounds. The winner of South Florida Surf and Miami FC is likely to be a contender. Here are some other local matchups coming up:
First Round
Miami United (NPSL) defeated Boca Raton FC (USASA) to the tune of 2-1 last night. Miami United will now host Jacksonville Armada at home in Miami on May 17th in the second round.
The Villages SC (PDL) dropped out of the tournament after giving up an early one goal lead to Jacksonville Armada U23s (NPSL). The Armada U23s went on to make a comeback in the second half with two goals to catapult them to the next round.
Second Round
NASL side Jacksonville Armada will head south down the I-95 to Miami to face round one winner Miami United on May 17th.
Jacksonville Armada U23s have a date with Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL) on the gulf coast May 17th at 7:30 p.m.
Rounds three and four will be determined by who wins in the first two rounds. But the winners of these will likely face Orlando City in the early rounds of the tournament. The U.S Open Cup gives the opportunity to teams from across all leagues to compete and see who is the best. Although FC Dallas is the defending champion, MLS teams don’t always win. Bethlehem Steel, a current USL side, holds the record for the most wins of any active team at five.
The winner of the U.S Open Cup earns a spot in CONCACAF Champions League. Orlando City will join the competition mid-June.
