The matchup is locked in — Austin FC and Nashville SC will meet in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final on Oct. 1 in Austin, Texas at Q2 Stadium.
Both Major League Soccer (MLS) teams won in dramatic fashion in their respective Semifinals to punch a ticket to the Championship Match. Nashville earned a spot in the final by beating the Philadelphia Union 3-1 thanks to a hat trick by Sam Surridge, who leads the tournament in goals with four. Austin claimed an extra-time 2-1 victory over Minnesota United FC. That penultimate nearly needed a penalty shootout, but CJ Fodrey slammed home a close-range shot seconds before the final whistle in the dying moments of extra time.
There will be a first-time Champion crowned in the Open Cup’s 110th edition. Nashville and Austin will play in their first Open Cup Final, and the semifinal match was also a first for both clubs.
As MLS clubs entered the tournament in the Round of 32, Nashville and Austin both faced lower-league pro teams. The Boys in Gold beat Division III Cinderellas the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL1) 1-0. In the Round of 16 and quarterfinal, they won against MLS clubs Orlando City (3-2) and D.C. United (5-2). Meanwhile, the Verde & Black’s journey to the Final matched the theatrics of Wednesday’s Semifinal. Austin thwarted a Cupset with a comeback 3-2 victory against El Paso Locomotive FC (USL Championship) after falling behind 2-0 in the first half. In the next round, they claimed a 3-1 win against the two-time Open Cup champion Houston Dynamo (MLS). Then, in the Quarterfinal, Austin advanced past the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) via in a penalty shootout after a dramatic 120 minutes that ended 2-2.
Next month, these two will meet for the ultimate Open Cup glory. While this tournament’s history spans well over a century, these two clubs only recently had their inaugural seasons as MLS continues to grow and expand. Nashville played its first MLS season in 2020 (after spending 2018 and 2019 in the lower divisions of the USL) and Austin followed with an MLS debut in 2021. Now, these young clubs get a chance to stake their claim in history.
