2026 U.S. Open Cup Team of the Round - Round of 16

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 eight Round of 16 matches.

Four Major League Soccer (MLS) sides placed multiple representatives on the Team of the Round—Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo FC, New York City FC and the San Jose Earthquakes—while USL Championship side Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC also earned a pair of nods.

The 18 players named to the Team of the Round were responsible for 12 goals and 13 assists. Notably, eight players on the Team of the Round recorded multiple goal contributions in their Round of 16 matches.

In total, 14 teams earned representation on the Team of the Round and all three divisions were represented: 15 Division I representatives from MLS, three Division II representatives from the USL Championship, and one Division III representative from USL League One.

2026 U.S. Open Cup Team of the Round - Round of 16

Coach – Yoann Damet, St. Louis CITY SC (MLS): The first-year St. Louis head coach guided CITY SC to the Quarterfinals for the first time in the club’s young history, overcoming an early one-goal deficit and large disparities in both expected goals (0.86) and possession (20%)—both highest amongst winning sides in the Round of 16. The comeback victory against Chicago Fire FC was Damet’s first on the road with St. Louis.

GK – Danny Faundez, Louisville City FC (USL Championship): In his 19th LouCity appearance and first in Open Cup play since 2024, the 33-year-old stood tall against Houston. Through 120 minutes, Faundez recorded the first penalty kick save of his professional career, totaled a round-high eight saves, completed seven long balls and registered three clearances.

D – Raul Gustavo, New York City FC (MLS): The second-year NYCFC defender bagged his first goal for the club, scoring a 39th-minute winner against Hudson River Derby foe Red Bull New York at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The 27-year-old Brazilian also completed 85% of his passes, connected on 10 of his 13 long balls, added eight clearances, won seven duels and recorded a pair of interceptions.

D – Owen Presthus, Columbus Crew (MLS): TheU.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team defender tallied his first Crew goal contribution in his second appearance for the senior team, providing an assist on Dániel Gazdag’s second-half score. The 20-year-old registered an 89% passing accuracy, seven duels won, four tackles won, three recoveries and two interceptions across 90 minutes in a 4-1 win against Knoxville.

D – Erik Sviatchenko, Houston Dynamo FC (MLS): The decorated Danish defender and 2023 Open Cup champion scored the fourth goal of his nearly four-year career with the Dynamo, converting a long-range Héctor Herrera cross into an incredible diving-headed finish in the 89th minute to send the match against Louisville into extra time. The former Denmark international also completed 84% of his passes, won five duels and won both of his tackles.

M – Brennan Creek, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL Championship): The 25-year-old midfielder scored the second goal of his three-year professional career—his first with Colorado Springs—netting an early equalizer against I-25 Derby foe Colorado Rapids. Across 74 minutes at DICK’s Sporting Goods Park, Creek finished with a 71% passing accuracy rate, four fouls won, two recoveries, and won all 11 of his duels.

M – Héctor Herrera, Houston Dynamo FC (MLS): The legendary Mexico midfielder and 2023 Open Cup champion paced Houston to a comeback victory against USL Championship power Louisville City FC with a pair of late assists—the seventh multi-assist match of his decorated career for both club and country. In 51 minutes, the 36-year-old finished with a 93% passing accuracy rate, eight total chances created, four duels won, four accurate crosses and three fouls won.

M – Beau Leroux, San Jose Earthquakes (MLS): The 22-year-old San Jose, Calif. native bagged his first Earthquakes brace, lifting his hometown club to a 4-2 victory against visiting Minnesota United FC. Leroux also won nine duels, registered seven recoveries, completed 66% of his passes and completed three dribbles.

M – Maxi Moralez, New York City FC (MLS): NYCFC’s all-time appearances leader added to his club-record assists total, constructing just the second three-assist match of his decades-long professional career. The 39-year-old finished with an 83% passing accuracy rate, five total chances created, four accurate crosses, four recoveries and four duels won in a big Hudson River Derby win against RBNY.

F – Justin Ellis, Orlando City SC (MLS): Days after scoring his first goal for Orlando City, the U.S. Under-19 Men’s National Team talent and OCSC Homegrown notched the first multi-goal-contribution match for Orlando, securing a goal and an assist in a 4-3 road win against New England. The 18-year-old completed 75% of his passes, reeled in four recoveries, won three duels and drew a pair of fouls.

F – Rafael Navarro, Colorado Rapids (MLS): Captaining the Rapids in his 101st appearance with Colorado across all competitions, Navarro dished out a pair of assists and scored in the penalty kick shootout to see the Rapids outlast I-25 foe Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. The 26-year-old Brazilian finished with 10 duels won, an 81% passing accuracy rate, six fouls won, four recoveries, four total chances created and three completed long passes through 120 minutes.

F – Hugo Picard, Columbus Crew (MLS): Picard recorded his second Open Cup brace this year, powering Columbus to a home victory against Knoxville. The 22-year-old Frenchman also created two chances and completed 92% of his passes across 74 minutes.

Bench: Christian Herrera (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC – USL Championship), Tomás Chancalay (Minnesota United FC – MLS), Eric Klein (New England Revolution – MLS), Jack Skahan (San Jose Earthquakes – MLS), Alexey Miranchuk (Atlanta United FC – MLS), Braudílio Rodrigues (One Knoxville SC – USL League One), Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire FC – MLS)