The Second Round is the traditional start of Cupset Season in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
It’s the first stage when the different tiers of the American Soccer pyramid begin to mingle and, without fail, and every year, lower-level teams rise to the occasion and beat their so-called betters.
Amateurs rise and pros fall. And it’s safe to say that 2023 will be no different.
Among the schedule of 30 Second Round games are 16 matches between the Division III pro sides (NISA, MLS Next Pro and USL League One) and USL Championship clubs (the second-tier of American professional soccer). There will also be six contests in which First Round winners (amateurs and semi-pros all) take on Division III professionals.
And in the biggest mismatches – at least on paper – are eight games between First Round Open Division winners and USL Championship second-division professionals. The gulf between is massive – and so is the jeopardy for the higher-ranked teams.
It’s worth noting that in last year’s Open Cup, one of the two surviving teams on Final day hailed from the second-division USL Championship. Sacramento Republic’s run to the Final was the stuff of legend – and something all underdog fans will want to see again this year.
