The 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup kicks off next Tuesday night with clubs from across the American soccer landscape set to begin their quest for a run in the 110th edition of the historic competition.

For the nine clubs from USL League Two competing in the tournament, there’s the potential for upsets from the off.

In this year’s tournament, all 32 pre-professional and amateur clubs that earned a place in the tournament will square off with a professional opponent from the USL Championship, League One or MLS NEXT Pro in the First Round.

From historic names like the Des Moines Menace and Ventura County Fusion to first-time qualifiers Corpus Christi FC, Flatirons FC and Sarasota Paradise, here’s a look at the teams who’ll be looking to make a name for themselves in next week’s games.

Asheville City SC

Last Open Cup Appearance – 2024
2024 League Two Season – Won South Central Division, Southern Conference
Notable Alumni – Nicholas Cavallo (New York City FC), Quenzi Huerman (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC), Haruki Yamazaki (Detroit City FC), Bachir Ndiaye (Charlotte Independence), Kemy Amiche (Union Omaha), Niall Reid-Stephen (South Georgia Tormenta FC)

Matchup – Tuesday, March 18 vs. Greenville Triumph SC (USL League One)

As it approaches the end of its first decade as a club, Asheville City SC has become one of League Two’s top performers on the field. Each of the past two seasons, the club has finished top of the South Central Division, and last year it claimed the Southern Conference for the first time before being eliminated in the National Semifinals by eventual title-winner Seacoast United Phantoms.

The club has also become prolific in sending talent into the professional ranks, including 2024 USL Championship title-winner Quenzi Huerman, now at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. This year’s squad includes some of the key players that led Asheville to success a season ago including midfielder Simon Carlson, who bagged four goals and five assists for the University of West Virginia last fall, and defender Michael Rempel, who last year was voted to the NAIA All-America Second Team after starring at Lindsey Wilson College.

Having been knocked out in the First Round a season ago by One Knoxville SC of USL League One, Asheville will go again in its bid for a first Open Cup victory as it hosts another League One power in Greenville Triumph SC at Greenwood Field.

Ballard FC

Last Open Cup Appearance – 2024
2024 League Two Season – Won Northwest Division
Notable Alumni – Leo Burney (Seattle Sounders FC), Stas Korzeniowski (Philadelphia Union II), Angelo Calfo (Texoma FC), Johan Garibay (One Knoxville SC)

Matchup – Tuesday, March 18 vs. Spokane Velocity FC (USL League One)

In three short seasons, Ballard FC has become one of the best-known clubs in USL League Two, with its combination of striking kit designs, on-field quality and well-known leadership making it a cult hit in the Pacific Northwest’s soccer community. Led by former Seattle Sounders FC star James Riley on the sidelines, the club has helped guide the path of multiple players into the pro ranks, including recent Seattle Sounders FC signing Leo Burney.

That pipeline from the Sounders remains strong going into this year’s tournament with players such as Khai Brisco (University of Washington) and Austin Brummett (San Diego State University) each having played previously in the USL Championship for Tacoma Defiance as USL Academy signings. There’s also the veteran presence of former United States international Kelyn Rowe in the registered squad for the club after his retirement from the pro ranks at the end of 2023, while forward Richie Aman, midfielder Ray Mendez, and goalkeeper Charlie Lanphier are all set to return as well.

With a rematch against USL League One side Spokane Velocity FC set for Ballard’s home of Interbay Stadium after Velocity claimed a 1-0 win in second-half stoppage time a year ago, the hosts will be out to turn the tables this time around.

Corpus Christi FC

Last Open Cup Appearance – N/A
2024 League Two Season – Won Lone Star Division

Matchup – Wednesday, March 19 at Chattanooga FC (MLS NEXT Pro)

Corpus Christi FC compiled its best campaign since joining League Two for the 2018 campaign a season ago, winning 10 games in the regular season to top the Lone Star Division for the first time and going on to the Southern Conference Final before falling to fellow Open Cup qualifier Asheville City SC.

That performance sets the stage for the club’s Open Cup debut this spring, which is part of CCFC’s bigger progression that in 2026 will bring the club into the professional ranks as part of USL League One. There are some key players returning to the squad for the Sharks this month, including goalkeeper Cuba Grant, defender Saul Fernandez and midfielder Arthur Medina, all of whom started last year’s Southern Conference Final, but there are some intriguing potential arrival Jack Thomas, who has recorded 27 goals and 10 assists in NAIA soccer for LSU Shreveport over the past two seasons.

While the side is faced with a difficult trip to face Chattanooga FC in its Open Cup debut, CCFC’s first appearance in the historic tournament is the next building block as to what the organization is building for the future.

Des Moines Menace

Last Open Cup Appearance – 2024
2024 League Two Season – Won Heartland Division
Notable Alumni – Chris Mueller (Chicago Fire FC), Lamar Neagle (Seattle Sounders FC), Tom Barlow (Chicago Fire FC), Brent Kallman (Union Omaha), Danny Cruz (Louisville City FC Head Coach)

Matchup – Wednesday, March 19 at Sporting Kansas City II (MLS NEXT Pro)

The Des Moines Menace have become a fixture in the Open Cup – this year’s appearance will mark the club’s 12th appearance in the tournament’s 14 editions since 2010 – which stands as a testament to the consistent success the side has achieved in the league each summer, finishing in the top two in the Heartland Division every year since 2014.

What’s more, the Menace have become the club that arguably as much as any club has drawn attention to the early rounds of the tournament with the gambit hatched last season to bring Sacha Kljestan on board as a player, which led more ex-pros to sign up for the team. This year’s crew includes former New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips, former United States international Dax McCarty and former Seattle Sounders legend Ozzie Alonso, as well as Menace returnees Leroy Enzugusi and Enzo Carvalho

The biggest spotlight this year, though, may fall on Benny Feilhaber, who recently was the Head Coach of the Sporting Kansas City II side the Menace will face in the First Round. After securing a berth in the Second Round a year ago, the Menace’s veteran squad is aiming to go even further this year.

Flatirons FC

Last Open Cup Appearance – N/A
2024 League Two Season – Won Mountain Division

Matchup – Thursday, March 20 vs. Union Omaha (USL League One)

The 2024 campaign proved a breakthrough season for Flatirons FC, which advanced to the USL League Two Playoffs for the second time, but also set club-highs with eight regular season wins and a 2.25 points-per-game average to finish top of the Mountain Division.

While the club’s postseason run was cut short by an upset in the Western Conference Quarterfinals by FC Tucson, the campaign earned Flatirons its first trip to the Open Cup, and some of its key performers will be back as part of the ride. Among a quartet of Colorado natives set to feature in the squad are defender Raymond Jackson, who logged 850 minutes a season ago while notching one goal and two assists, forward Joey Joiner, who put up seven goals and six assists in 13 appearances, midfielder Dani Barajas, who is coming off a year in which he was voted a Division II All-America selection with 12 goals and five assists for the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, and forward Tobi Osifodunrin, who notched three goals in nine appearance for Flatirons a season ago.

The Denver-based squad received one of the toughest draws of the round with USL League One title-winner Union Omaha set to head to Stermole Soccer Stadium next week, but the club will be eager to make the most of its opportunity.

Little Rock Rangers

Last Open Cup Appearance – 2019
2024 League Two Season – Won Mid South Division
Notable Alumni – Carlos Herrera (Detroit City FC), Donald Benamna (Texoma FC), Pascal Corvino (Greenville Triumph SC)

Matchup – Wednesday, March 19 vs. Birmingham Legion FC (USL Championship)

Having qualified for the USL League Two Playoffs for the first time since joining the league in 2023, the Little Rock Rangers went one better a season ago, sitting top of the Mid South Division to earn the club’s first Open Cup bid since 2019.

Back then, the side was eliminated in heartbreaking fashion by fellow amateur side NTX Rayados in a penalty shootout after giving up an equalizer in second-half stoppage time that saw the sides end in a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes. This year’s squad is hoping for a better ending, and includes some of the key players from last year’s postseason run including Syracuse University forward Daniel Burko, who notched three goals for the Orange a season ago, as well as goalkeeper Tomasz Wroblewski and the defensive trio of Scott Gray, Carlos Beltran and Ethan Garvey.

The Rangers will have a bigger challenge on their hands with the visit of USL Championship side Birmingham Legion FC to War Memorial Stadium, but the hosts could have a strong following backing them after notching impressive crowds over the club’s history.

Long Island Rough Riders

Last Open Cup Appearance – 2018
2024 League Two Season – Won Metropolitan Division
Notable Alumni – Tim Parker (New York Red Bulls), Dylan Nealis (Long Island Rough Riders), Danny Vitiello (Sacramento Republic FC), Nicholas Cavallo (New York City FC)

Matchup – Thursday, March 20 vs. Charlotte Independence (USL League One)

There are few more iconic names in lower-division American soccer than that of the Long Island Rough Rigers, whose logo featuring Teddy Roosevelt on horseback is similarly etched into the mind of anyone who’s seen it. In addition to the more recent alums listed above, this is the club where the likes of United States internationals Chris Armas, Edson Buddle and Tony Meola competed, where current United States Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes got her start in the original USL W-League.

Now, finally, after an absence of seven years, the Rough Riders are back in the Open Cup after winning the Metropolitan Division a season ago. The squad is set to feature players like former United States U-19 international Carlo Ritaccio, recent Hofstra University forward Jacob Woznicki, who bagged nine goals and five assists for the Pride before being selected by the LA Galaxy in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft last fall, and Long Island University defender Niklas Thanhofer as they bid for an upset on home turf.

Having advanced to the Open Cup Second Round seven times previously in its history, the Rough Riders will be aiming to spring an upset as they welcome the Charlotte Independence next week.

Sarasota Paradise

Last Open Cup Appearance – N/A
2024 League Two Season – Won South Florida Division
Notable Alumni – Hosei Kijima (D.C. United), JP Jordan (Texoma FC)

Matchup – Tuesday, March 18 vs. FC Naples (USL League One)

In a short span of time, Sarasota Paradise has become a serious player in USL League Two, but as it enters its third season as the reigning South Florida Division title-holders – which qualified the side for the Open Cup for the first time, there are even bigger things on the horizon.

In February, Paradise announced its plan to move into the professional ranks in USL League One for the 2026 season, part of a trend that began with founding member South Georgia Tormenta FC in 2019 which will likely see three more clubs – Sarasota is set to be joined by Fort Wayne FC and fellow Open Cup Qualifier Corpus Christi FC – make the move up next year.

This season is going to be a building block toward that progression, and there could be no better side for Paradise to be squaring off with than FC Naples, which made its own successful arrival in League One this past weekend. In terms of setting up a future rivalry, the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. should be the ideal setting.

Ventura County Fusion

Last Open Cup Appearance – 2023
2024 League Two Season – Won Southwest Division
Notable Alumni – Logan Farrington (FC Dallas), Rodrigo Lopez (Sacramento Republic FC), Daniel Steres (Houston Dynamo FC), Tony Alfaro (El Paso Locomotive FC), Ish Jome (Spokane Velocity FC)

Matchup – Tuesday, March 18 at AV ALTA FC (USL League One)

Approaching their second decade, the Ventura County Fusion have been an institution in USL League Two as both one of the most competitive clubs in the league but also one of the hubs for SoCal talent to develop on the way to the professional ranks. Players such as former United States international Gyasi Zardes competed here, as well as numerous figures like those listed above who’ve gone on to have lengthy professional careers.

A two-time League Two title winner – most recently in 2022 – the Fusion have some notable names in their squad this spring, including defender Carson Vom Steeg – who helped Memphis 901 FC reach the USL Championship Playoffs a season ago – and former New Mexico United Academy product Miles Merritt, now at Michigan State University.

Having last upset a professional opponent in the 2012 edition of the tournament – when they defeated current USL Championship side Orange County SC 3-1 after extra time – the Fusion will head to face AV ALTA FC hoping to spoil the party in the USL League One newcomer’s first game at Lancaster Municipal Stadium.