U.S. Soccer unveiled the matchups for the First Round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, and 20 Premier Development League teams – including reigning PDL champions the Charlotte Eagles – are set to kick off play in May.
The sides set to take part in the 105th edition of the tournament include the New York Red Bulls U23, the OKC Energy U23, the Seacoast United Phantoms, SIMA Aguilas, FC Golden State Force, the Michigan Bucks, the Myrtle Beach Mutiny, FC Tucson, the Portland Timbers U23, Reading United AC, FC Miami City, Mississippi Brilla FC, the Lakeland Tropics, the Ocean City Nor'easters, the Long Island Rough Riders, the Western Mass Pioneers, The Villages SC, South Georgia Tormenta FC, San Francisco City FC and the Eagles.
Among the many notable First Round matchups includes a showdown between three-time PDL winners the Michigan Bucks and Detroit City FC. Reading United AC will also host Christos FC in an intriguing matchup, as the latter reached the Fourth Round of the competition in 2017.
Last year, three PDL teams defeated professional sides and reached the Third Round of the tournament. The Bucks topped Indy Eleven, Chicago FC United defeated Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and Reading United took down the New York Cosmos.
The winner of the 2018 tournament will receive $300,000, as well as a berth in the 2019 Concacaf Champions League. Meanwhile, the runner-up will earn $100,000, and the team that advances the furthest from each lower division will take home $25,000. In 2017, the United Soccer League's FC Cincinnati was the furthest advancing side from the second division.
Sporting Kansas City is the reigning champion of the competition, defeating the New York Red Bulls in a thrilling 2-1 match on Sept. 20, 2017.
DATE | GAME | TIME | VENUE |
May 6 | Jacksonville Armada vs. The Villages SC | 7 p.m. ET | Southern Oak Stadium (Jacksonville Univ.); Jacksonville, Fla. |
May 6 | FC Miami City vs. Miami FC 2 | 7 p.m. ET | Tropical Park Stadium; Miami, Fla. |
May 9 | AFC Ann Arbor vs. Ocean City Nor'easters | 6 p.m. ET | Long Island University Brooklyn Athletic Facility; Brooklyn, N.Y. |
May 9 | Western Mass Pioneers vs. Elm City Express | 7 p.m. ET | Lusitano Stadium; Ludlow, Mass. |
May 9 | Long Island Rough Riders vs. Kingston Stockade FC | 7 p.m. ET | John Burns Park; Massapequa Park, N.Y. |
May 9 | FC Motown vs. New York Red Bulls U23 | 7 p.m. ET | Ranger Stadium (Drew University); Madison, N.J. |
May 9 | Reading United AC vs. Christos FC | 7 p.m. ET | Don Thomas Stadium (Exeter Twp. H.S.); Reading, Pa. |
May 9 | Seacoast United Phantoms vs. Kendall Wanderers | 7:30 p.m. ET | Seacoast United Sports Park; Amesbury, Mass. |
May 9 | Detroit City FC vs. Michigan Bucks | 7:30 p.m. ET | Keyworth Stadium; Hamtramck, Mich. |
May 9 | SIMA Aguilas vs. The Villages SC/Jacksonville Armada winner | 7 p.m. ET | Montverde Academy; Montverde, Fla. |
May 9 | Charlotte Eagles vs. Inter Nashville FC | 7 p.m. ET | Mecklenburg County Sportsplex; Matthews, N.C. |
May 9 | Myrtle Beach Mutiny vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC | 7:10 p.m. ET | North Myrtle Beach Sports Park (Field 6); Little River, S.C. |
May 9 | New Orleans Jesters vs. Mississippi Brilla FC | 7 p.m. CT | Pan American Stadium; New Orleans, La. |
May 9 | Red Force FC vs. FC Miami City/Miami FC 2 winner | 8:30 p.m. ET | Tropical Park Stadium; Miami, Fla. |
May 9 | FC Wichita vs. OKC Energy U23 | 7 p.m. CT | Adair-Austin Stadium (Friends Univ.); Wichita, Kan. |
May 9 | Midland-Odessa Sockers FC vs. Lakeland Tropics | 7:30 p.m. CT | Grande Communications Stadium; Midland, Texas |
May 9 | Portland Timbers U23 vs. Kitsap Soccer Club | 7 p.m. PT | McCulloch Stadium; Salem, Ore. |
May 9 | CD Aguiluchos USA vs. San Francisco City FC | 6 p.m. PT | Raimondi Park; Oakland, Calif. |
May 9 | FC Golden State Force vs. L.A. Wolves FC | 7 p.m. PT | Rio Hondo College; Whittier, Calif. |
May 9 | FC Tucson vs. La Máquina FC | 7:30 p.m. MST | Kino North Stadium; Tucson, Ariz. |