Meet the Magnificent Seven: First Batch of Amateurs Stamp #USOC2025 Tickets

There will be 32 amateur underdogs in the Tournament Proper of next year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – the 110th edition of this country’s most historic soccer tournament. The first batch of seven teams (of an eventual 14) emerged from the annual Open Division Qualifying Tournament’s Matchday Three on November 16 and 17 of 2024.

CD Faialense | Bay State Soccer League

Founded: 1972
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Open Cup History: 2025 Debut

“This club was born in soccer,” said Francisco Correia at CDF’s headquarters on Cambridge Street in East Cambridge, across the Charles River from Boston. “And it used to be only guys from the little island of Faial.” Much has changed since the club began as a sporting outlet for Portuguese immigrants from the Azores in the early 1970s – but the passion remains. And under the guidance of new player-coach Paul Correia (son of previously quoted club president Francisco), CD Faialense – born from the ashes of previous local side sPAC Lawrence and Merrimack Valley United – have taken the first-division of the Bay State Soccer League by storm, winning the title by huge margins in the last two years. “We’ve got players from ten different countries in the team now – and it’s amazing,” said Paul Correia, who grew up around the club. “We want to be one of those amateur teams that breaks through in the Open Cup.”

Harpos FC | Colorado Premier League

Founded: 1997
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Open Cup History: 2015 (Debut), 2016, 2020 (Canceled due to Covid-19)

“Things kind of changed around 2015 when we first qualified for the Open Cup,” said 34-year-old Dan Whittle, who works days as a local police officer. “Before that it was kind of like a run-of-the-mill beer league team.” Harpos – who leaned into their tongue-in-cheek tag of #Bullsh*tPubTeam when they first lined up in the Cup – have gone on to become national amateur powers. They boast former D1 college players and former pros both. And while never losing their identity of positivity, and the best attributes of the area’s soccer bro-culture, the sky's the limit for Harpos at the 2025 Open Cup. The evidence of that was on full display in their 2-0 deciding Qualifier against league rivals Azteca FC – a side that hadn’t lost an Open Cup Qualifier in 13 straight previous outings. “The Open Cup is always a main priority for us at the start of every year,” added Whittle, a survivor from the 2015 Harpos that first reached the Open Cup.

West Chester United SC | United Soccer League of Pennsylvania

Founded: 1976
Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Open Cup History: 2016 (Debut), 2019, 2020 (Canceled due to Covid-19), 2022, 2023, 2024

West Chester United SC is an established amateur power in the soccer-heavy hub of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Run for years by Blaise Santangelo – a landscaper by day and a devoted coach by night (and on weekends), the club were USASA National Amateur Cup runners-up in 2018 and are always near the top of the heap when it comes to the Open Cup Qualifying Rounds each autumn. This year’s run is a good indication of the talent they possess – with a combined 15-2 winning score across their three games. The free-scoring Joshua Luchini looks like one to watch when the Tournament Proper kicks off in March of 2025. “The Open Cup is a big part of what we do here at the club,” said Chas Wilson – the former Temple University star, now 32, who teaches history at a local high school. “First it’s about qualifying and after that we want to be the amateur team that goes the farthest.”

Virginia Dream | Virginia Super Soccer League

Founded: 2022
Location: Falls Church, Virginia
Open Cup History: 2025 (Debut)

Criticized early on as all-flash and no substance – “only an instagram team”– by some of the older members of the Mid-Atlantic soccer fraternity, they’re the ones still standing after a victorious 2025 Open Cup Qualifying campaign. In their third year as a team – and admittedly doing the style and social media side of things right – Virginia Dream is riding high. “We’ve had to build an identity on the field, grow and solidify a large player pool to conquer local and national leagues,” said head coach CJ Taylor. “The next step is to cement ourselves as a top semi-pro side and climb the next rung on the ladder. That’s The U.S. Open Cup.” Toward that end, the Dream have been able to rely on a clutch of highly talented youngsters and one hugely experienced former pro. Bill Hamid – the former D.C. United goalkeeper and 2013 U.S. Open Cup Champion – lent a safe pair of hands in a 2025 Qualifying campaign that saw the side beat fellow Virginians Alexandria Reds and long-time local powers Aegean Hawks FC.

Southern Indiana FC | United Premier Soccer League

Founded: 2024
Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana
Open Cup History: 2025 (Debut)

Another young club with huge ambitions, Southern Indiana FC finished the 2024 UPSL Fall Season – their first as a club – undefeated. They amassed a record of nine wins, no losses and a single draw and booked a first-ever home playoff game to boot. “The Community has really embraced us here,” said midfielder Andrew Minnis. Players like Jacque have professional playing experience – in his case with 2024 Open Cup Semifinalists Indy Eleven. The side took a long road to Qualifying for the 2025 Open Cup – needing three wins to book passage. They beat Valhalla FC 3-1, then Bowling Green FC 5-0 (on the road) and rounded it off with a commanding decider against Dalton United of Georgia (3-0).

NY Renegades | United Premier Soccer League

Founded: 2019
Location: Hicksville, New York
Open Cup History: 2025 (Debut)

The Renegades have been charging hard for an Open Cup berth for two straight years. They were knocked out in the 2024 Qualifying Rounds by the reigning USASA National Amatuer Champions NY Pancyprian Freedoms. This year, however, they wouldn’t be denied despite facing another local legend club in the deciding contest. After beating former Open Cup Champions New York Greek American SC in a 4-3 thriller and a talented Leros SC on Long Island, the Renegades – led by Rances Reneau Bardales and Oscar Rivas – edged out Open Cup regulars and national amateur powers Lansdowne Yonkers FC on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the all-or-nothing game on the Third Matchday. Clearly, these Renegades are now among the underdogs for watch for 2025.

New Jersey Alliance | United Premier Soccer League

Founded: 2012
Location: Clifton, New Jersey
Open Cup History: 2025 (Debut)

The Alliance is a magnet for talented players across the width and breadth of the Garden State. Based in Clifton – and with a strong core of players with experience at high levels or hunting a next step into the pro ranks – the club has developed a reputation as one of the best in the area. “We like to get our guys early,” said coach Robert Kruk, who also coaches a local high school team. “And the Open Cup is something we’re taking very seriously. We want to grow and see what we can do as a club.” Despite him being injured for most of the Qualifying Rounds, Kruk and the Alliance boast one of the top players in the UPSL in Marlon Preciado. “There’s great experience and hunger in this team,” said the 2020 UPSL national MVP. “I believe in our chances and I believe we can go far.”

The Fourth and Final Qualifying Round will be held on December 7 and 8 with seven more winners joining this first batch in moving on to the Tournament Proper. USopencup.com is the official website of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Fans can also follow the competition on X/Twitter and Instagram @OpenCup and Facebook @OfficialOpenCup.

Angelo Maduro is a senior reporter at large for usopencup.com.