2026 U.S. Open Cup Team of the Round - Second Round

The 2026 U.S. Open Cup Team of the Round is here! The collection of 18 players and one coach highlights the top performers across 16 Second Round matches. USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC leads the way with three representatives following a lopsided victory, while USL League One’s Charlotte Independence and FC Naples also earned multiple nods after key victories.

In total, 15 teams and all three divisions are represented on the Team of the Round: eight Division II teams from the USL Championship, nine Division III teams from USL League One (8) and MLS NEXT Pro (1), and two Open Division teams from USL League Two.

2026 U.S. Open Cup Team of the Round - Second Round

Coach - Mike Jeffries, Charlotte Independence (USL League One): The veteran MLS and USL coach guided the Independence to their first victory against Southern Derby foe Charleston since the 2021 USL Championship season. Jeffries’ Jacks overcame a -1.62 expected goal differential—the largest deficit among winning teams in the Second Round—weathering the consistent pressure from their higher-division opponents.

GK - Jonathan Burke, One Knoxville SC (USL League One): First-year Knoxville goalkeeper Jonathan Burke stood on his head against Smoky Mountain Series rival Asheville City SC. In his second match for One Knox, the 27-year-old made 11 saves across regular and extra time, tallied three stops in the penalty kick shootout and racked up 21 recoveries to help Knoxville advance on penalties and claim the Smoky Boot against its regional rival.

D - Egor Akulov, Vermont Green FC (USL League Two): Just a few months removed from helping the University of Washington claim its first NCAA Division I men’s soccer championship, Akulov stood out across 120 minutes in Vermont’s loss on penalties against Westchester. The Redmond, Wash. native scored in the penalty kick shootout, completed 84% of his 95 passes, won nine duels, connected on nine long balls, won all four of his tackles, recorded four clearances and added four recoveries to help the defending USL League Two champions tally their second consecutive Open Cup clean sheet against a professional opponent.

D - Julian Cisneros, FC Naples (USL League One): Cisneros helped his second-year League One side to the Round of 32 for the first time in club history, scoring once in Naples’ second consecutive 3-0 Open Cup victory against an in-state amateur opponent. Across 65 minutes, the 24-year-old also won 12 duels, completed 87% of his passes, added five recoveries, completed three long balls and won three tackles.

D - Lee Desmond, Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship): The former FAI Cup winner and Open Cup runner-up helped Sacramento to the Round of 32 with a winning goal against Valley 559 FC in the 11th minute. In addition to scoring his first goal of the season, the 31-year-old also made a goal-line clearance, completed 92% of his passes, won five duels, reeled in four recoveries, connected on three long balls and added three clearances.

D - Samuel Owusu, Union Omaha (USL League One): The 25-year-old Ghanaian followed up his two-goal performance in the First Round with a goal against Indy Eleven in the Second Round, helping the Owls knock off a higher-division opponent for the sixth time in club history and advance to the Round of 32 for the third consecutive year. Owusu completed 90% of his passes, completed six long balls, recorded six clearances, added three recoveries and won four duels.

M - Luis Álvarez, Charlotte Independence (USL League One): The Tampa Bay Rowdies loanee helped the Jacks down rival Charleston with a one-goal, one-assist performance. In addition to posting two goal contributions in back-to-back matches, the Honduran also won nine duels, completed 84% of his passes, registered six recoveries, won four fouls, completed a pair of dribbles and tallied two interceptions.

M - Simon Carlson, Asheville City SC (USL League Two): The former Georgia State University and West Virginia University midfielder scored Asheville’s lone goal in its loss on penalties against Smoky Mountain Series foe Knoxville. Across 120 minutes, the 24-year-old captain finished with 10 accurate long balls, six chances created, six recoveries, five duels won and two completed dribbles to help the Blues claim the John Motta Trophy as the furthest-advancing amateur team.

M - Dominik Wanner, Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship): The former Germany youth international recorded his first Open Cup goal and posted a pair of assists in Sacramento’s 4-0 win against Valley 559 FC. Through 83 minutes, the 26-year-old finished with an 87% passing accuracy rate, six recoveries, four duels won, three total chances created and two completed dribbles.

M - Jamie Webber, FC Tulsa (USL Championship): The former South Africa youth international was key in Tulsa’s 1-0 extra time victory against fellow Championship side San Antonio. Through 120 minutes, Webber totaled 12 recoveries, won 12 duels, completed 77% of his passes, won seven fouls, created four chances, completed four crosses, won all four of his tackles and recorded three interceptions to help the Scissortails advance to the Round of 32 for the third time in club history.

F - Kyle Edwards, Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship): The St. Vincent and the Grenadines international tallied three goal contributions in a single match for only the second time in his professional career, scoring twice and adding an assist in Sacramento’s road victory against Valley 559 FC. Across 90 minutes, Edwards also won three duels and added two recoveries.

F - J.J. Williams, Rhode Island FC (USL Championship): The veteran USL Championship goalscorer bagged his first goal of the season in match-winning fashion against El Clamico rival Hartford. The 28-year-old also provided an assist, completed 92% of his passes and won four tackles across his 71 minutes of play.

Bench: Matías Molina (Westchester SC – USL League One), Sam Layton (Richmond Kickers – USL League One), Talen Maples (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – USL Championship), Alex Dalou (Detroit City FC – USL Championship), Andrés Ferrín (FC Naples – USL League One), Eliot Goldthorp (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC – USL Championship), Daniel Mangarov (Chattanooga FC – MLS NEXT Pro)