The Second Round of the 111th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup wrapped up with 10 tightly contested matches across the country on Wednesday night. Of the 10 matches, only three were decided by multiple goals, four advanced to extra time and two were settled in penalty kick shootouts. Notably, the 1995 Open Cup champion Richmond Kickers were the only team to defeat a higher-division opponent on the night, downing intra-state foe Loudoun United FC at City Stadium.
The Round of 32 Draw for the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will be held on Thursday, April 2 at 9 a.m. ET on CBS Sports Golazo Network’s Morning Footy. Each of the 16 winners from this week’s Second Round will be matched up against Major League Soccer (MLS) opposition in the Round of 32 between April 14–15.
With tonight’s results, USL League Two’s Asheville City SC has won the John Motta Trophy and the $50,000 Open Division prize as the furthest-advancing amateur team—determined via tiebreakers.
MLS NEXT Pro side Chattanooga FC are through to the Round of 32 for the first time in their nearly two decades of existence after a 1-0 victory over UPSL side Tennessee Tempo FC. The difference came through Nathan Koehler’s first Open Cup goal, a towering header in the 44th minute. CFC—the first independent MLS NEXT Pro side to advance to the Round of 32 since Rochester New York FC in 2022—will now take on an MLS side for the second time in club history and first since falling to Atlanta United FC in the Third Round in 2022.
The 1995 Open Cup champion Richmond Kickers are back in the Round of 32 for the first time since 2022, downing a USL Championship side for the first time since departing the league for USL League One following the 2018 campaign. Lucca Dourado delivered the dagger—his second goal in as many Open Cup matches for the Kickers—in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, smashing in the winner from the center of the penalty area to send City Stadium into a frenzy.
The latest edition of the Commonwealth Cup went the way of Louisville City FC once again, as the longtime USL Championship power outlasted in-state foe Lexington SC on the road. In the pair’s fifth all-time meeting across a third competition, LouCity jumped out to an early lead through Babacar Niang’s first goal for the club before Tola Showunmi doubled his side’s advantage just after the halftime break. The win cements LouCity’s place in the Round of 32 for the third consecutive year and extends its hot start to six consecutive victories across all competitions—a club record to open a season.
Third-year USL Championship outfit Rhode Island FC has punched its ticket to the Round of 32 for the second consecutive campaign, downing El Clamico rival Hartford Athletic for the second time in six tries. Though out-possessed, RIFC was defensively superior, limiting Hartford to just two shots on target. J.J. Williams ultimately lifted the hosts to victory inside the opening half hour with the 16th multi-goal-contribution match of his professional career, assisting Aldair Sanchez’s winner in the 12th minute before scoring a goal of his own in the 30th minute.
The giant-slaying Flint City Bucks were unable to conjure up some of their fabled Open Cup magic, falling to USL Championship side Detroit City FC. Michigan native and Detroit forward Alex Dalou bagged his second goal for DCFC in as many Open Cup matches for his new club, leading DCFC to a third consecutive Open Cup win against the Bucks and a trip to the Round of 32 for the third time in five years.
Second-year USL League One side Westchester SC has advanced to the Round of 32 for the first time after sneaking past USL League Two side Vermont Green FC in a penalty kick shootout—the first in club history for WSC. The key to Westchester’s win was first-year professional goalkeeper Matías Molina. The 25-year-old Argentine made four saves through regular and extra time, secured his first professional clean sheet and made two key saves in the shootout.
The 2024 USL Championship title-winning Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC have advanced to the Round of 32 for a club-best third consecutive year, downing USL League One’s Spokane Velocity FC on penalties in the pair’s first meeting. 2023 Open Cup champion Talen Maples opened his Switchbacks account in the 45th minute, but Spokane would go on to answer through its signature, last-minute Open Cup dramatics. With three minutes remaining in regular time, Andrew Booth—who was announced as a Spokane player just five hours before the match—headed in the equalizer. Following a scoreless half hour of extra time, the Switchbacks were able to score four times on two-time USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year and Golden Glove winner Sean Lewis to advance to the Round of 32.
USL Championship side FC Tulsa topped intra-league foe San Antonio FC in a chippy affair to advance to the Round of 32 for the third time in club history. In a match that featured 60 fouls across 120 minutes of regular and extra time, the Scissortails stretched their unbeaten streak against SAFC to seven with the victory, which was decided by Rémi Cabral’s 106th-minute goal.
El Paso Locomotive FC cruised to a 4-0 victory against Derby Del Camino Real rival and fellow USL Championship foe New Mexico United on Wednesday evening. The Locos were propelled to their fourth consecutive victory across all competitions thanks to a New Mexico red card in the 59th minute and a quartet of goals from Álvaro Quezada, Alex Méndez, Rubio Rubín and Eric Calvillo. The victory—the largest in a Derby Del Camino Real contest for either side—ensures El Paso will play in the Round of 32 in back-to-back seasons for the first time in club history.
In the 38th meeting between frequent USL Championship opponents Orange County SC and Phoenix Rising FC, an extra-time winner from Aleksandar Vukovic helped Phoenix advance to the Round of 32 for the fourth time in five years. The hosts largely controlled the tempo of the contest, but it was Rising FC that made the most of its chances. Gunnar Studenhofft opened the scoring for Phoenix in the 35th minute before Ousmane Sylla was able to extend the match into extra time with an 86th-minute equalizer. Vukovic’s winning goal in extra time and key saves by goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky were integral to Phoenix’s road victory.