From the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup to the World
Meet the 78 players with Open Cup connections before their FIFA World Cup 2026™ adventure begins
With the most expansive FIFA World Cup upon us, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup representation has reached an all-time high. Seventy-eight players named to FIFA World Cup 2026™ rosters have either made an appearance or been named to a matchday squad in the U.S. Open Cup. Those 78 players represent 20 national teams and all six confederations.
THE BEST OF THE BEST
The most prominent names on the list of Open Cup alumni named to FIFA World Cup roster mainly hail from CONMEBOL and Concacaf. From South America, Argentine superstar and defending champion Lionel Messi is set to make his first World Cup appearance since making his Open Cup debut with Inter Miami CF in 2023.
Colombia veteran James Rodríguez returns to Los Cafeteros for his third FIFA World Cup and first since 2018.The 34-year-old midfielder enjoyed a quick stint with Minnesota United FC earlier this year, making two Open Cup appearances and six league appearances during his time in the Twin Cities.
Minnesota United FC midfielder and Colombia international James Rodríguez in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match against the San Jose Earthquakes on April 28, 2026 at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Atlanta United FC returnee and Paraguay winger Miguel Almirón is set for his FIFA World Cup debut, as La Albirroja face the USMNT in GroupD action on Friday. The former MLS Cup champion has made three Open Cup appearances, first against the Charleston Battery in 2017 and most recently against Chattanooga FC in 2026.
Additionally, two former MLS stars will hope to make an impact in the FIFA World Cup, as Argentina’s Thiago Almada and Paraguay’s Diego Gómez are set for action in the tournament. Almada made just two appearances in the Open Cup with Atlanta United back in 2022, while Gómez also made a pair of appearances in the tournament, helping Inter Miami reach the Final in 2023.
THE TITLE-WINNERS
Five players and one head coach at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ have won the U.S. Open Cup. Two members of the USMNT’s squad have won the Open Cup: Miles Robinson with Atlanta United in 2019 and Alex Freeman with Orlando City SC in 2022. Panama’s Adalberto Carrasquilla lifted the trophy with Houston Dynamo FC in 2023, and two members of Nashville SC’s victorious 2025 squad are set for FIFA World Cup debuts: Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg and Iraq’s Ahmed Qasem.
Additionally, Canada head coach Jesse Marsch joined an elite club during his playing days in MLS by winning the Open Cup four times—first with D.C. United (1996) and then with Chicago Fire FC (1998, 2000, 2003).
Chicago Fire FC midfielder Jesse Marsch during the U.S. Open Cup Semifinal on Sept. 23, 2003 at Cardinal Stadium in Naperville, Ill. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/MLS via Getty Images)
THE STARS OF TOMORROW
The expansion of the FIFA World Cup coupled with the continued evolution of lower-division leagues in the United States has opened the door for both current and former players from lower-division clubs to step onto the sport’s biggest stage. Twelve of the 78 Open Cup alumni participated in the Open Cup with a lower-division side.
The most obvious examples come from the USMNT. In the 2015 Open Cup alone, goalkeeper Matt Turner (Jersey Express, USL League Two) faced future USMNT teammates Haji Wright (New York Cosmos, NASL) and Tyler Adams (Red Bull New York II, USL Championship).
Aside from the USMNT connections, Colombia midfielder Juan Portilla made two appearances with then NPSL-side Jacksonville Armada FC in 2018, Haiti forward Frantzdy Pierrot made three appearances with USL League Two’s Reading United AC in 2017 in which he scored back-to-back winning goals before earning his move to Europe, and Canada defender Joel Waterman helped then-USL League Two side Kitsap Pumas advance to the Round of 32 and claim the Open Division prize in 2016.
Lastly, a collection of recent USL Championship talents will be on display during the FIFA World Cup. Curaçao’s Jearl Margaritha made his Open Cup debut with Phoenix Rising FC in 2025, and New Zealand’s Jesse Randall made a pair of appearances with the Charleston Battery in the 2023 Open Cup before moving on to the A-League’s Auckland FC. Recent USL Championship title-winners Carlos Harvey (Phoenix Rising FC) and Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC) are also set for their FIFA World Cup debuts for Panama and Haiti, respectively, after combining for over 20 Open Cup appearances over the past decade.
Former Phoenix Rising FC and current Curaçao forward Jearl Margaritha (Image: Phoenix Rising FC)
U.S. Open Cup Alumni in the FIFA World Cup 2026™
| Player | Team | Country | Confederation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Inter Miami CF (MLS) | Argentina | CONMEBOL |
| James Rodríguez | Minnesota United FC (MLS) | Colombia | CONMEBOL |
| Miguel Almirón | Atlanta United FC (MLS) | Paraguay | CONMEBOL |
| Ricardo Pepi | FC Dallas (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Brenden Aaronson* | Philadelphia Union (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Chris Richards* | FC Dallas (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Thiago Almada | Atlanta United FC (MLS) | Argentina | CONMEBOL |
| Tyler Adams | Red Bull New York (MLS), Red Bull New York II (USL Championship) | United States | Concacaf |
| Diego Gómez | Inter Miami CF (MLS) | Paraguay | CONMEBOL |
| Santiago Arias | FC Cincinnati (MLS) | Colombia | CONMEBOL |
| Cucho Hernández | Columbus Crew (MLS) | Colombia | CONMEBOL |
| Haji Wright | New York Cosmos (NASL) | United States | Concacaf |
| Brian Rodríguez | LAFC (MLS) | Uruguay | CONMEBOL |
| Joe Scally | New York City FC (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Petar Musa | FC Dallas (MLS) | Croatia | UEFA |
| Tajon Buchanan | New England Revolution (MLS) | Canada | Concacaf |
| Léo Pereira | Orlando City SC (MLS) | Brazil | CONMEBOL |
| Cyle Larin | Orlando City SC (MLS) | Canada | Concacaf |
| Andrés Gómez | Real Salt Lake (MLS) | Colombia | CONMEBOL |
| Álex Zendejas | FC Dallas (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Auston Trusty | Philadelphia Union (MLS), Colorado Rapids (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Matt Turner | New England Revolution (MLS), Jersey Express (USL League Two) | United States | Concacaf |
| Amir Murillo | Red Bull New York (MLS) | Panama | Concacaf |
| Moïse Bombito | Colorado Rapids (MLS) | Canada | Concacaf |
| Mark McKenzie | Philadelphia Union (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Obed Vargas | Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) | Mexico | Concacaf |
| Brian Gutiérrez | Chicago Fire FC (MLS) | Mexico | Concacaf |
| Tani Oluwaseyi | Minnesota United FC (MLS) | Canada | Concacaf |
| Esmir Bajraktarevic | New England Revolution (MLS) | Bosnia and Herzegovina | UEFA |
| Marco Pašalić | Orlando City SC (MLS) | Croatia | UEFA |
| Cristian Roldán | Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Max Arfsten | Columbus Crew (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Miles Robinson^ | Atlanta United FC (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Kaku | Red Bull New York (MLS) | Paraguay | CONMEBOL |
| Juan Portilla | Jacksonville Armada FC (NPSL) | Colombia | CONMEBOL |
| Jacob Shaffelburg^ | Nashville SC (MLS) | Canada | Concacaf |
| Adalberto Carrasquilla^ | Houston Dynamo FC (MLS) | Panama | Concacaf |
| Alan Franco | Charlotte FC (MLS) | Ecuador | CONMEBOL |
| Eloy Room* | Columbus Crew (MLS) | Curaçao | Concacaf |
| Lucas Herrington | Colorado Rapids (MLS) | Australia | AFC |
| Tim Ream | Charlotte FC (MLS), Red Bull New York (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Braian Ojeda | Real Salt Lake (MLS), Orlando City SC (MLS) | Paraguay | CONMEBOL |
| Jamiro Monteiro | Philadelphia Union (MLS), San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) | Cape Verde | CAF |
| Milos Degenek | Columbus Crew (MLS) | Australia | AFC |
| Alex Freeman^ | Orlando City SC (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Mbekezeli Mbokazi | Chicago Fire FC (MLS) | South Africa | CAF |
| Matías Galarza | Atlanta United FC (MLS) | Paraguay | CONMEBOL |
| Ahmed Qasem^ | Nashville SC (MLS) | Iraq | AFC |
| Frantzdy Pierrot | Reading United AC (USL League Two) | Haiti | Concacaf |
| Dayne St. Clair | Minnesota United FC (MLS) | Canada | Concacaf |
| Maxime Crépeau | LAFC (MLS), Portland Timbers (MLS) | Canada | Concacaf |
| Richie Laryea* | Orlando City SC (MLS) | Canada | Concacaf |
| Danley Jean Jacques | Philadelphia Union (MLS) | Haiti | Concacaf |
| Jordy Alcívar | Charlotte FC (MLS) | Ecuador | CONMEBOL |
| Aiden O'Neill | New York City FC (MLS) | Australia | AFC |
| Chris Brady | Chicago Fire FC (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Joel Waterman | Chicago Fire FC (MLS), Kitsap Pumas (USL League Two) | Canada | Concacaf |
| Matt Freese | New York City FC (MLS), Philadelphia Union (MLS) | United States | Concacaf |
| Olwethu Makhanya | Philadelphia Union (MLS) | South Africa | CAF |
| Steven Moreira | Columbus Crew (MLS) | Cape Verde | CAF |
| Finn Surman | Portland Timbers (MLS) | New Zealand | OFC |
| Kai Trewin | New York City FC (MLS) | Australia | AFC |
| Tommy Smith | Colorado Rapids (MLS) | New Zealand | OFC |
| Derrick Etienne Jr. | Red Bull New York (MLS), Atlanta United FC (MLS), Columbus Crew (MLS) | Haiti | Concacaf |
| CJ dos Santos* | Inter Miami CF (MLS) | Cape Verde | CAF |
| Jearl Margaritha | Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship) | Curaçao | Concacaf |
| Jesse Randall | Charleston Battery (USL Championship) | New Zealand | OFC |
| Aníbal Godoy | San Jose Earthquakes (MLS), Nashville SC (MLS) | Panama | Concacaf |
| Alberto Quintero* | San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) | Panama | Concacaf |
| Cristian Martínez | Columbus Crew (MLS) | Panama | Concacaf |
| Ricardo Adé* | Miami United FC (NPSL) | Haiti | Concacaf |
| Michael Boxall | Minnesota United FC (MLS) | New Zealand | OFC |
| Carlos Harvey | Minnesota United FC (MLS), MNUFC2 (MLS NEXT Pro), Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship), LA Galaxy (MLS) | Panama | Concacaf |
| Tim Payne | Portland Timbers2 (USL Championship) | New Zealand | OFC |
| Fidel Escobar | Red Bull New York (MLS) | Panama | Concacaf |
| Duke Lacroix | Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship), Reno 1868 FC (USL Championship), Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL Championship), Ocean City Nor'easters (USL League Two) | Haiti | Concacaf |
| Mohammad Abualnadi | Sporting Kansas City (MLS) | Jordan | AFC |
| Carl Sainté | Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship), FC Dallas (MLS), New Mexico United (USL Championship) | Haiti | Concacaf |
* - Unused substitute
^ - Champion