The Second Round of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has arrived, and the 16-match slate is highlighted by the rekindling of intense regional rivalries and a handful of amateur teams still alive and hungry for more.
Key derbies set for the Open Cup stage include Asheville City SC vs. One Knoxville SC in the Smoky Mountain Series, the Charlotte Independence vs. Charleston Battery in the Southern Derby, Rhode Island FC vs. Hartford Athletic in El Clamico, Lexington SC vs. Louisville City FC in the Commonwealth Cup, and New Mexico United vs. El Paso Locomotive FC in the Derby Del Camino Real.
Additionally, amateur sides Asheville City SC (USL League Two), Valley 559 FC (UPSL), Vermont Green FC (USL League Two) and the Flint City Bucks (USL League Two) will look to upset a professional opponent once again and advance to the Round of 32 as they host professional opponents.
All 16 Second Round matchups will be broadcast on Paramount+, and CBS Sports Network will air one game each night, while CBS Sports Golazo Network will feature one match on Tuesday and a doubleheader on Wednesday.
Tuesday, March 31
7 p.m. ET; Highmark Stadium; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Paramount+
Defending USL Championship title-winners Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC are keen on advancing to the Round of 32 for a record third consecutive season, but first the Hounds will need to handle dangerous UPSL side Virginia Dream FC. The Dream have knocked off Division III professionals in back-to-back tournaments but have never defeated a Division II side. The Riverhounds arrived in the Second Round via a First Round victory against local USL League Two side Steel City FC.
7 p.m. ET, Greenwood Field (UNC Asheville); Asheville, N.C.; Paramount+ / CBS Sports Network
The Smoky Mountain Series is back for the first time since the 2024 Open Cup, as Asheville City SC and One Knoxville SC battle for the golden hiking boot trophy for the fifth time. Asheville punched its ticket to the Second Round thanks to a first-ever Open Cup win over Greenville Triumph SC in the First Round, while Knoxville overcame an early deficit against SC Vistula Garfield to advance to the Second Round for the fourth consecutive campaign.
7 p.m. ET; Paradise Coast Sports Complex; Naples, Fla.; Paramount+
Second-year USL League One side FC Naples has returned to the Second Round for the second straight year, downing Red Force FC by three goals in the First Round. For FC America CFL Spurs, the UPSL side advanced to the Second Round via forfeit. Neither FC Naples nor FC America have ever advanced to the Open Cup’s Round of 32.
7 p.m. ET; Michael A. Carroll Stadium; Indianapolis, Ind.; Paramount+
A pair of recent Open Cup darlings will do battle for the first time, as USL Championship side Indy Eleven play host to USL League One power Union Omaha. Both sides have knocked off MLS opposition in recent years and enjoyed deep runs in the tournament. Indy advanced to the Semifinals in 2024 and Omaha progressed to the Quarterfinals in 2022. Neither side had much trouble in the First Round this year, as Omaha dismantled BOHFS St. Louis 8-0 and Indy shut out Des Moines Menace 3-0.
7:30 p.m. ET; Mecklenburg County Sportsplex; Matthews, N.C.; Paramount+
Southern Derby rivals Charlotte Independence and Charleston Battery are set to meet for the 23rd time and first since a 2023 Open Cup clash which went the way of the Battery in extra time. Both sides have plenty of Open Cup experience under their belts; Ben Pirmann’s Battery have progressed beyond the First Round for the 25th time in club history thanks to a 2-1 win against Florida Badgers FC, while Mike Jeffries’ Jacks will participate in the Second Round for the 10thconsecutive tournament following a 4-1 victory against Ristozi FC.
10 p.m. ET; Clovis East High School; Clovis, Calif.; Paramount+ / CBS Sports Golazo Network
A big test awaits UPSL outfit Valley 559 FC as the side hosts USL Championship heavyweights Sacramento Republic FC. The pair of California-based sides boast a great deal of experience; 38-year-old 2010 MLS Cup champion Quincy Amarikwa scored the winner against AV ALTA FC in Valley 559’s first-ever Open Cup win, while Sacramento are bolstered by several key offseason additions such as 2018 Open Cup champion Memo Rodríguez and former USL League One Player of the Year Arturo Rodríguez.
Wednesday, April 1
6 p.m. ET; Finley Stadium; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Paramount+
The lone MLS NEXT Pro representative, Chattanooga FC, is a win away from advancing to the Round of 32 for the first time in club history. CFC will be tasked with defeating intra-state UPSL side Tennessee Tempo FC, who advanced to the Second Round for the first time with a 1-0 victory against USL League One’s Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.
6:30 p.m. ET; City Stadium; Richmond, Va.; Paramount+
The 1995 U.S. Open Cup champion Richmond Kickers are back in the Second Round of the tournament for the 23rd time in club history following a 2-0 victory against USL League Two’s Northern Virginia FC in the First Round. The Kickers are set to face fellow Virginia-based side and USL Championship outfit Loudoun United FC as the latter aims to advance beyond the Second Round for the fourth consecutive year. Wednesday’s contest marks only the second meeting between the intra-state opponents; Loudoun advanced on penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes of action at City Stadium in the Third Round of the 2024 Open Cup.
7 p.m. ET; Centreville Bank Stadium; Pawtucket, R.I.; Paramount+
El Clamico rivals and USL Championship foes Rhode Island FC and Hartford Athletic will meet for the sixth time in club history on Wednesday. Both Rhode Island and Hartford posted shutout victories against amateur opponents in the First Round. 2024 USL Championship Eastern Conference winners Rhode Island are eyeing their second consecutive trip to the Round of 32, while reigning USL Cup champions Hartford are looking to progress to the Open Cup’s Round of 32 for the first time.
7 p.m. ET; Virtue Field; Burlington, Vt.; Paramount+
Defending USL League Two champions Vermont Green FC will be eager to keep the party going at a sold-out Virtue Field as they play host to USL League One professionals Westchester SC. Vermont punched its ticket to the Second Round thanks to its second victory against professional opposition in Portland Hearts of Pine, while Westchester is back in the Second Round after shutting out NY Renegades FC at home. A win would guarantee a first-ever trip to the Round of 32 for either side.
7 p.m. ET; Lexington SC Stadium; Lexington, Ky.; Paramount+
A mouth-watering encounter between Commonwealth Cup rivals Lexington SC and Louisville City FC highlights a busy Wednesday evening slate. Both sides cruised to victory in the First Round; Lexington matched Louisville’s modern era margin of victory record with its 9-0 thumping of Flower City Union, while Louisville dispatched local rival Southern Indiana FC by a final tally of 2-0. For the hosting Lexington, the goal will be to defeat Louisville for the first time and advance to the Round of 32 for the first time in club history. That task may be easier said than done for a retooled Lexington SC side, though, as Louisville have amassed an unblemished 5-0-0 record across all competitions to open the new season.
7:30 p.m. ET; Don Batchelor Stadium; Grand Blanc, Mich.; Paramount+ / CBS Sports Golazo Network
Michigan-based sides Flint City Bucks of USL League Two and Detroit City FC of the USL Championship will go head-to-head in the Open Cup for the fourth time and first since 2018. The Bucks will look to rekindle a bit of that Open Cup magic from 2015 in which they knocked off DCFC, but the professionals out of Detroit have downed Flint City on penalties in each of the last two Open Cup meetings between the pair. Both sides enjoyed big wins in the First Round: Detroit outpaced Michigan Rangers FC with its 5-1 victory, and Flint City shut out USL League One’s Forward Madison FC to confirm its 11th victory against a professional opponent.
8 p.m. ET; Weidner Field; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Paramount+ / CBS Sports Network
The first-ever meeting between the USL Championship’s Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and USL League One’s Spokane Velocity FC will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network, as the Switchbacks look to advance to the Round of 32 for the third consecutive year and Velocity FC chases its first appearance in the Round of 32. Colorado Springs advanced to the Second Round through a 3-0 victory against Denver-based Colorado Premier League side Azteca FC, while Spokane relied on its signature Open Cup dramatics, progressing to the Second Round thanks to Joe Gallardo’s 89th-minute winner against former USL League Two champion Ventura County Fusion in California.
8:30 p.m. ET; Toyota Field; San Antonio, Texas; Paramount+
USL Championship sides San Antonio FC and FC Tulsa will square off for the 23rd time since 2016 and second this season, as each side aims to advance to the Round of 32 for the first time since 2024. Although SAFC has gone six matches winless against Tulsa, the all-time series between the pair is almost even—San Antonio maintains a narrow advantage with an 8-7-7 record across all competitions. FC Tulsa arrives in the Second Round following a 4-2 road win against Little Rock Rangers, while San Antonio FC dismantled ASC New Stars in a 6-0 rout.
9:30 p.m. ET; UNM Soccer Stadium; Albuquerque, N.M.; Paramount+
The 21st meeting of Derby Del Camino Real rivals New Mexico United and El Paso Locomotive FC is set for Wednesday evening, as New Mexico looks to advance beyond the Second Round for the sixth time in as many tries, and El Paso aims to advance to the Round of 32 for second consecutive year. The pair of USL Championship Western Conference rivals overcame a strong push from a pair of amateur opponents—New Mexico United outlasted NPSL side Cruizers FC, 3-2, thanks to Cristian Nava’s 90th-minute winner, while El Paso relied on a strong second half to defeat USL League Two’s Laredo Heat on the road.
10 p.m. ET; Championship Soccer Stadium; Irvine, Calif.; Paramount+ / CBS Sports Golazo Network
Orange County SC and Phoenix Rising FC are set to face off for the 38th time across all competitions to close out the Second Round. Neither side has faced another opponent more frequently, yet the pair have never matched up in the Open Cup. Both Orange County and Phoenix handled their business in the First Round via lopsided victories against Laguna United FC and San Ramon FC, respectively. Both Orange County and Phoenix—who settled for a 1-1 draw in league play earlier this month—have advanced to the Second Round over 10 times.
