The 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final (8 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+) features two of Major League Soccer’s (MLS) hottest sides. The Columbus Crew have won five of their last six matches, while St. Louis CITY SC recently recorded a league-record 21-match unbeaten streak across all competitions.
Both teams feature rosters filled with high-caliber talent, with most players having developed through some of the country’s top youth clubs, college programs and professional academies. Here’s a breakdown of the player development pathways represented on the Columbus and St. Louis rosters.
The Community Club/State Association Route
Brooks Lennon (Columbus) – RSL-AZ (Arizona Soccer Association)
Mamadou Mbacke (St. Louis) – Montverde Academy (Florida High School Athletic Association)
Célio Pompeu (St. Louis) – Cedar Stars Rush (USL League Two)
The Collegiate Game
Simon Becher (St. Louis) – Holy Cross, Saint Louis University (NCAA)
Kyle Hiebert (St. Louis) – Missouri States (NCAA)
Ben Lundt (St. Louis) – Lenoir-Rhyne, Akron (NCAA)
MLS & USL Academies
Chris Durkin (St. Louis) – Richmond Kickers Academy (USL), D.C. United Academy (MLS)
Stanislav Lapkes (Columbus) – Columbus Crew Academy (MLS)
Jaziel Orozco (St. Louis) – Real Salt Lake Academy (MLS)
Miguel Perez (St. Louis) – St. Louis CITY SC Academy (MLS)
Tyson Pearce (St. Louis) – St. Louis CITY SC Academy (MLS)
Tahir Reid-Brown (St. Louis) – Orlando City SC Academy (MLS)
Community Club and Professional Academy
Caden Glover (St. Louis) – St. Louis Scott Gallagher (Missouri Youth Soccer Association) & St. Louis CITY SC Academy (MLS)
Chase Adams (Columbus) – Galaxy SC (Illinois Youth Soccer Association) & Columbus Crew Academy (MLS)
Daniel Edelman (St. Louis) – Players Development Academy (US Club Soccer) & Red Bull New York Academy (MLS)
Mykhi Joyner (St. Louis) – Central Illinois United (Illinois Youth Soccer Association) & St. Louis CITY SC Academy (MLS)
Palmer Ault (St. Louis) – Indy Eleven Academy (USL) & Indiana Fire, Indy Premier (Indiana Soccer)
Tarun Karumanchi (Columbus) – De Anza Force SC (NorCal Premier Soccer) & San Jose Earthquakes Academy (MLS)
Taha Habroune (Columbus) – Blast FC (Ohio State Soccer League) & Columbus Crew Academy (MLS)
Tristan Brown (Columbus) – Waza FC, Michigan Wolves (Michigan State Youth Soccer Association) & Columbus Crew Academy (MLS)
Professional Academy and College
Charles-Emile Brunet (St. Louis) – CF Montréal Academy (MLS) & Central Arkansas, SMU (NCAA)
Dante Polvara (St. Louis) – New York City FC Academy (MLS) & Georgetown (NCAA)
Sean Zawadzki (Columbus) – Team Challenger FC (Ohio Soccer Association) & Columbus Crew Academy (MLS) & Georgetown (NCAA)
Community Club and College
Evan Bush (Columbus) – Mentor Impact, Cleveland Force (Ohio Soccer Association) & Akron (NCAA)
Brendan McSorley (St. Louis) – Players Development Academy (US Club Soccer) & Providence (NCAA)
Zach Zengue (St. Louis) – Shattuck (Minnesota State High School League) and Georgetown (NCAA)
Community Club, College and Professional Academy
Amar Sejdić (Columbus) – United 1996 FC, Derby City Rovers (Kentucky Youth Soccer Association) & Real Salt Lake Academy (MLS) & Maryland (NCAA)
Cesar Ruvalcaba (Columbus) – Downey FC United, Strikers FC (California State Soccer Association – South) & Cal Poly Pomona, SMU (NCAA)
Patrick Schulte (Columbus) – St. Louis Scott Gallagher (Missouri Youth Soccer Association) & Saint Louis FC Academy (USL) & Saint Louis University (NCAA)
