The Round of 16 of the 111th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup concluded with a six-match slate defined by the emergence of rising U.S. Youth National Team talents and strong performances from a trio of lower-division clubs.
Eight Major League Soccer (MLS) sides have advanced to the Quarterfinals, marking the second consecutive year in which the Division I league has claimed all eight Quarterfinal spots. Despite its loss in extra time, back-to-back USL Championship Players’ Shield winner Louisville City FC has claimed the $50,000 prize as the Division II team that advanced the furthest in this year’s tournament.
The Final Draw, setting the matchups and hosts for the Quarterfinals through the Final, will air live on CBS Sports Golazo Network’s “Morning Footy” at 9:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 30.
New York City FC claimed its third Hudson River Derby victory against Red Bull New York, notably taking down its crosstown rival in a knockout match for the first time. The victory confirms NYCFC’s spot in the Quarterfinals for the third time in club history. A pair of international talents kicked off the proceedings, as Australia international Kai Trewin scored his first NYCFC goal in the ninth minute and 18-year-old forward and U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team talent Julian Hall scored his ninth goal of the season for RBNY. As the contest progressed, 39-year-old midfielder Maxi Moralez—NYCFC’s all-time appearances leader—added to his club-record assists total. The former Argentina international tallied a second and third assist off a corner kick on the evening, finding Brazilians Raul Gustavo in the 39th minute and Thiago Martins in the 57th minute.
The Columbus Crew ended USL League One champions One Knoxville SC’s magical cup run, defeating the five-year-old side at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. The 2002 Open Cup-winning Crew are back in the Quarterfinals for the first time since finishing as runners-up in 2010. Though Columbus controlled the majority of the contest, the first half was fairly even as 22-year-old French midfielder Hugo Picard notched his second consecutive Open Cup brace and Knoxville’s Braudílio Rodrigues scored his third goal of the season. The second half saw Columbus put the match out of reach for its third-division opponent, as Hungary international Dániel Gazdag scored his second of the season in the 72nd minute before 18-year-old forward and U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team talent Chase Adams bagged his first Crew goal in his second senior team appearance.
Orlando City SC is back in the Quarterfinals for the first time since winning its first Open Cup in 2022. The Lions survived a back-and-forth, high-scoring affair in Pawtucket, R.I., against a New England Revolution side that was riding a six-match unbeaten run. Aside from goals from 34-year-old Revs legend Andrew Farrell—his first since 2018—and former Open Cup champion Griffin Dorsey for Orlando, the youth movement was on full display for both sides. For New England, 20-year-old Malcolm Fry bagged his first senior team goal in the first half before U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team forward and Real Salt Lake loanee Marcos Zambrano scored his first Revs goal in the second half. For Orlando, Brazil youth international Iago Teodoro scored his first OCSC goal, U.S. Under-19 Men’s National Team forward Justin Ellis scored for the second time in as many matches, and 20-year-old Orlando native and Homegrown product Zakaria Taifi netted his first senior team goal. The victory extends Orlando’s unbeaten streak against New England to six consecutive matches and knots up the all-time series at 8-8-8.
In a match largely controlled by hosts Chicago Fire FC, St. Louis CITY SC made the most of its chances and found a way to construct a two-goal comeback in the final 20 minutes and advance to the Quarterfinals for the first time in club history. After a scoreless first half, the Fire cashed in on their lone shot on target, as Sweden international and Chicago captain Anton Salétros scored his first goal for the club. CITY struck back twice in quick succession in the 71st and 78th minutes, as Tomas Totland tallied his first goal since 2024 and Eduard Löwen scored his second goal of the season after entering as a second-half substitute. St. Louis’ victory—its first on the road since October 2025 against Austin FC—snaps Chicago’s six-match unbeaten run. The result also sees a team from St. Louis advance to the Quarterfinals for the first time since former USL Championship side Saint Louis FC progressed to that stage in 2019.
Two-time Open Cup champions Houston Dynamo FC conquered back-to-back USL Championship Players’ Shield winners Louisville City FC, relying on goals in the 89th and 101st minutes to outlast LouCity in extra time. The perennial USL Championship power stood tall through most of the contest; longtime Championship shot-stopper Danny Faundez made the first penalty kick save of his professional career in the ninth minute and ended the night with eight saves, and 23-year-old Ray Serrano scored his second goal in as many matches in the 67th minute. Just minutes before LouCity secured a trip to the Quarterfinals for the second time in club history, the Dynamo staged a determined comeback, powered by a pair of assists from former Mexico international Héctor Herrera. Former Denmark international Erik Sviatchenko notched his first career Open Cup goal in the 89th minute to force extra time before Ezequiel Ponce sealed the deal in the 101st minute—the 29-year-old’s fourth goal in as many Open Cup matches. The win confirms Houston’s spot in the Quarterfinals for the first time since winning the Open Cup in 2023.
The Colorado Rapids remain unbeaten against their I-25 Derby rival Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC following the duo’s third meeting, advancing on penalties and securing a trip to the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2006. The pair of Centennial State foes traded goals in the first half, as Colorado’s Alexis Manyoma recorded his first Open Cup goal in the 25th minute and Colorado Springs’ Brennan Creek bagged his first Switchbacks goal in the 34th minute. A chippy affair saw seven yellow cards and one red card shown to the hosts and two yellow cards brandished to the visitors as the match stretched into extra time. The next goal—which the hosts believed was the winner—came in the 114th minute, as Georgi Minoungou scored his first Rapids goal on a breakaway. Minutes later, however, the Switchbacks’ Khori Bennett buried a penalty kick in the 120th minute following a Rapids handball in the box, sending the match to a penalty kick shootout. A dramatic shootout saw early conversions before the goalkeepers took over, ending with a key save from Nicolas Hansen and a winning strike from Keegan Rosenberry in the seventh round.