Seven Spots Up for Grabs: #USOC2025 Third Qualifying Matchday Preview
Seven of this weekend’s 21 games in the Third Qualifying Matchday (Nov. 16 and 17) will see the winners seal places among the amateur underdogs at the 2025 Tournament Proper.
It’s an All-or-Nothing weekend for 14 amateur sides.
Seven of the 21 games of Qualifying Matchday Three for the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will be of the Win-and-You’re-In variety. The winners of the 14 other games this weekend will need one more victory – on Matchday Four, December 7 and 8 – to book a place in the 2025 Tournament Proper.
We’ll start with a look at the seven contests where all’s on the line.
Saturday sees a five-game slate with the winners pushing through to join the field of 32 representatives of the Open (Amateur) Division in next year’s 110th edition of the U.S. Open Cup.
Cambridge, MA-based CD Faialense are the new powers in the Boston area
CD Faialense of Cambridge, Massachusetts host Buffalo’s FCY New York, who make the long trip south for a game that will see the winner reach the Tournament Proper for the first time.
“We want to be the amateur team that breaks through,” said Faialense player-coach Paul Correia, who’s eager to see his club – currently the toast of the Bay State Soccer League (BSSL) –take the next step up the ladder. “Every player on our roster right now is a former division-one college player – a lot of top guys fresh out of that competitive environment.”
The other two games that will kick off at 6pm ET on Saturday are Southern Indiana FC v Dalton United in New Albany, Indiana and New Jersey Alliance FC v Steel Pulse FC of Maryland.
“There’s a lot of great experience and great talent in this team,” said NJ Alliance star Marlon Preciado, UPSL national player of the year in 2009, who’s in a fitness race to be ready for the contest. “I think we’ve got what it takes to move on.” Preciado’s coach, Robert Kruk, is also in confident mood: “We identified the Open Cup as a big priority this year – it’s a next step for us.”
There’s a Pennsylvania blockbuster later on Saturday when West Chester United SC – coming off a pair of heavy wins in the last two rounds – host the historic Vereinigung Erzgebirge in a clash of sides in tip-top form. WCUSC are led by long-time coach Blaise Santangelo while VE Club boast former MLS and USL Championship standout Antoine Hoppenot in the squad. Both sides are looking to book a place in the Tournament Proper for a second consecutive year.
The Opening Day’s last All-or-Nothing game sees fresh-faced Virginia Dream take on fellow Virginians Aegean Hawks FC. While the Dream are only in their third year as a team, they’re looking to use the Open Cup as a springboard. “It would be incredible to make it through the Open Cup Qualifying,” said English-born captain Harri Hawkins. “The challenge of playing against pro teams is exciting, but I know we’re ready for it and that we’re capable of making a run and surprising some bigger teams.”
Saturday also sees nine Third Round games – with the winners moving on to a Fourth and Final Qualifying Matchday in early December. Three of those Third Rounders will be played in the Sunshine State of Florida, with O’Shea’s FC hosting SoFla powers Miami United FC, Palm Beach Flames SC traveling to take on Harbor City FC and FC American CFL Spurs – trying to reach a second straight Tournament Proper – taking on Inter Nona SC.
There’s a clutch of interesting Third Round contests out West on Saturday. 210 FC take on Houston Regals SCA in San Antonio in the lone Lone Star State contest of the Matchday. Las Vegas Legends FC roll the dice against Next Level Soccer in Nevada, while, out in California, we have three games with Real Galt FC hosting SFSFL giants and 2024 Open Cup participants International San Francisco, Laguna United FC playing Irvine FC and Valley 559 FC hitting the road to meet Bay Valley Suns Sports Club.
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Last but not least in Third Round action on Saturday, Tulsa Athletic – the amateur darlings of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup – open the doors of their Hicks Park once again to take on Woodland Football Club.
Sunday USOC Fixtures Coast-to-Coast
November 17th will see two games with places in the 2025 Tournament Proper on the line (and seven contests in total).
There’s an all-New York battle on the cards as NY Renegades of the UPSL take on national amateur powers – and U.S. Open Cup regulars – Lansdowne Yonkers FC on Long Island (WATCH the GAME LIVE HERE). The Bhoys of Yonkers are aiming to return to the final stages of country’s oldest competition for the first time since 2023, while the Renegades – eliminated in the Third Qualifying Round by former Champions NY Pancyprian Freedoms last year – take aim at a debut in the Tournament Proper.
The last of the All-or-Nothing games of this Third Matchday pits familiar old Denver/Boulder-area foes Harpos FC against Azteca FC. The two know each other well as long-time members of the Colorado Premier League. But Azteca, who haven’t lost in Open Cup Qualifying in a stretch of 13 straight games, have the edge in recent meetings.
“Whoever is going to win this one is going to have to play some really good soccer and really fight for it,” said Daniel Whittle, the Harpos defender and a local police officer. “Games between Harpos and Azteca are always weird and tough – and you never know what’s going to happen. We’ll really have to bring it.”
West Chester United SC of Pennsylvania are on a tear in 2025 Open Cup Qualifying
On the other side of the field will be a familiar face to fans of Mexican and U.S. top-flight pro soccer – with former USMNT and Mexico National Team wide man Edgar Castillo leading the lines for Azteca FC. “You’d be surprised at the quality of some of these young guys,” said the 38-year-old former Club America player. “It’s a little different than the top levels, but I still love being out there.”
The five other games on Sunday are Third Rounders, with the winners moving on to the Fourth Qualifying Matchday – where a win will see them into the Tournament Proper for 2025.
Chicago House AC – led by playing star-turned-coach Shannon Seymour – host Wisloka Chicago as they try to take one step closer to a third straight run to the Tournament Proper. There’s a Dallas-area clasico as StrikerZ DFW Soccer Clubface off with FORO SC in Lucas, Texas.
The last of the Florida contests sees Red Force tackle Pinecrest Premier SC while, way out West, San Diego Internacional host Chula Vista FC in SoCal and Washington Athletic Club meet Deportivo Rose City in a Seattle-Portland grudge match.
Angelo Maduro is a senior reporter at large forusopencup.com.