Your guide to the 2024 US Open Cup Round of 16 is here as our writers and guest contributors give us the lay of the land. No new clubs have entered and The Cup has begun its march toward the Final… We have USL vs USL and USL vs MLS - great matchups for fans of the Soccer Warz. So, let’s take a look and get stuck in!

Charleston Battery (USL Championship) vs Atlanta United (MLS)

Tues, 05/21 - 4pm PST / 7pm EST at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant SC

Charleston are undefeated this season and welcome a struggling Atlanta United of MLS to Patriots Point on Tuesday night. Atlanta are winless in their last eight not counting a win over League One Charlotte Independence in this US Open Cup. Charleston will be fresh after beating Birmingham away last Wednesday whereas Atlanta just tied Nashville on Saturday. This will be Atlanta’s third straight away game. The Battery will be looking to pull the Cupset while United are hoping to stop their skid.

Del Shaffer - The Leagues Podcast

NYC FC II (MLSNP) vs New Mexico United (USL Championship)

Tues, 05/21 - 4:30pm PST / 7:30pm EST at Belson Stadium in Queens, NY

Experiencing a streak in both Open Cup and USL Championship, New Mexico United is coming off a 4-2 Cupset victory over MLS side, Real Salt Lake (RSL) in the Round of 32. NYCFC II has secured the bag as the lowest division (MLS Next Pro, Div III) side to go the farthest in the Open Cup. A victor through four rounds, the Baby Blues face the Kings of Chaos, New Mexico United in the Round of 16.

NYCFC II rely on Jonathan Jiminez, who earned a hat trick in the second round against derby rival, NY Red Bulls II, but leads his team with 4 Open Cup goals. Other players to mention that may contribute are Máximo Carrizo and Talyor Calheira. New Mexico United will look to put the ball on the foot of Greg Hurst, but Daniel Bruce and Zico Bailey definitely play an active role in the attack. Bailey earned a brace bagging goals within two minutes of each other in the match against RSL. United has many players who can make a difference.

NYCFC II backline may want to bring an umbrella just in case United decides to rain shots on goal. United goalkeeper Alex Tambakis is going to need to rely on his backline to play the near side as he will need to look after the far side of the net to prevent the droppings of the Young Pigeons.
Fun fact: Cody Mizell, ex-New Mexico United, was the reserve goalkeeper for NYCFC (2021-24).

Chris Walker - Protagonist Soccer / Seek and Strike Collective / Black Diamonds

Sporting Kansas City (MLS) vs FC Tulsa (USL Championship)

Tues, 05/21 - 5:30pm PST / 8:30pm EST at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS

In the Round of 32, both Sporting Kansas City and FC Tulsa got road victories. Sporting Kansas City won late in extra time (120th min) against Union Omaha of USL League One 2-1. FC Tulsa got a late goal (88th) against Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USLC) and were able to hold it the rest of the match. However, both teams limp into this Round of 16 match with losses over the weekend.
For FC Tulsa, the key for them is Phillip Goodrum, if he can get the offense going against SKC, then the Cupset is possible. With the form that Sporting KC is at this time it is a great opportunity for FC Tulsa.

For Sporting Kansas City, who’s only victory since April 1st was the win in Omaha. With that you have to think Sporting KC is hoping to dip into its great history of four Open Cup titles, to try to turn around this season. The pressure is on Sporting KC to get a win vs Tulsa, with four games in the next 12 days.
Fun fact that both Sporting Kansas City and Seattle Sounders need one more US Open Cup Title to equal Maccabi Los Angeles and Bethlehem Steel of five US Open Cup Titles!

Harry Austin - SATXSoccer / SAFC Fancast / Texas Ring of Fire

Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship) vs San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)

Tues, 05/21 - 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET at Heart Health Park in Sacramento, CA

Anybody who's followed Major League Soccer for the past decade will tell you these two Northern Californian clubs should be one of the league’s rivalries.Somewhere along the way that never materialized (a long story for another day). Sacramento Republic, who were founded in 2014, have played San Jose Earthquakes 6 times since their founding; three friendlies and three US Open Cup matches - Sacramento have only won once and have been outscored by the Quakes 17-10 all time.

But that matters not - in 2024 the San Jose Earthquakes are awful. They sit dead last in the MLS’ Western Conference and have a -11 goal differential, having given up a league-wide worst 33 goals. Head Coach Luchi Gonzalez sets them up in a 4-2-3-1, a fairly defensive posture, and even with covering mids gives up bags of goals. They entered The Cup in the last round, same as their opponents this round, and advanced after an unconvincing win over another USL Championship side, Oakland Roots SC. They led the game in fouls, with 15, and although they outshot Roots 17 to 10, only 4 were on target. Maybe Jeremy Ebobisse is their danger man, although he only has 3 goals from 14 appearances this season.

On the other hand the Sacramento Republic are unbeaten in all competitions this year, with 5 wins and 5 draws in the USL and are first in their respective Western Conference. Head Coach Mark Briggs, who should be on MLS teams’ shortlists, sets up his side in a 5-3-2 with very active wingbacks. Last time out in The Cup, they defeated Monterey Bay Union 2-0. The two men to watch are Jack Gurr, who has 3 assists and 15 chances created so far and none other than Trevor Amann - you better put some respect on his name. Amann has 6 goals so far in USL Championship, but in 2023 he scored 23 in the USL League One - smashing the single-season goal tally; what’s more, he scored 27 in all competitions last year, which was the highest across ALL levels of professional soccer in the United States.

I honestly don’t think Sacramento beating San Jose will be a Cupset, I think they are flat out better; a more talented roster with a smarter head coach and they are playing at home in front of a very intelligent and active home crows at Heart Health Park in Sacramento.

Josh Duder - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C / The 2how

Los Angeles FC (MLS) vs Loudoun United (USL Championship)

Tues, 05/21 - 7:30pm PT / 10:30pm ET at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, CA

Even in the wackiness that is US soccer, Loudoun United FC sits in an odd position. The USL Championship franchise was launched a handful of seasons ago as D.C. United’s reserve team. With the advent of MLS Next Pro, Loudoun had to remain in USLC due to its lease agreement. Prior to last season, D.C. United sold a majority stake in the franchise which allowed Loudoun to play in its first U.S. Open Cup.

Having never made it to the USLC playoffs, last year’s USOC was probably Loudoun’s greatest competitive achievement to date when it beat two Division III teams before losing to Columbus Crew in the Round of 32. This time around Loudoun beat Division III Richmond Kickers in PKs and scored a minor 2-1 upset over Orange County SC.

Loudoun will have to travel out to Southern California again to face Los Angeles FC. While Loudoun has improved somewhat over the past seasons, long travel, a busy schedule, and the 2023 MLS Cup runners-up are likely to trip up Loudoun’s USOC hopes.

Dan Creel - Protagonist Soccer / One League Under the C

Indy Eleven (USL Championship) vs Detroit City FC (USL Championship)

Wed, 05/22 - 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET at Michael Carroll Stadium in Indianapolis, IN

Detroit City FC returns to Indianapolis to face a very different Indy Eleven team than the one they beat 2-1 earlier this year. Indy Eleven has used the USOC to recalibrate their season, beating Chicago Fire II to start a 6 game point collecting streak (5 wins and a tie), and sit just below DCFC in the league standings at 4th.

Meanwhile, Detroit will be without Elvis Amoh, but still have Open Cup darling Maxi Rodriguez who makes Le Rouge go (3 goals, 3 assists). Indy is led by a true striker in Auggie Williams (4 goals on the year), who is riding a streak of good form.

The midfield will determine this match, just like their regular season match. If Detroit’s don’t pick up the wide runs, Indy will get revenge. If Indy’s don’t disrupt James Murphy and Rodriguez’s connection, Detroit will advance.

Fletcher Sharpe - The Daily Detroit

Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL Championship) vs FC Dallas (MLS)

Wed, 05/22 - 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET at Al Lang Stadium in St Petersburg FL

On Wednesday night, the Tampa Bay Rowdies host FC Dallas. This won’t just be a case of a second division team looking to beat an illustrious top tier opponent. Each club will have their own motivations driving them forward when they line up at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida. For the Rowdies, this is already the farthest they’ve ever gone in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, by dint of their starting the competition in the Round of 32.

They would be loath to let the party end so soon. FC Dallas have had a tough year in league play, winning only two games before their last Open Cup fixture, a 1-0 win over another second division club, Memphis 901 FC. Will the Green and Gold cause the Cupset or will the Toros win to help right the ship in 2024?

James Knowles - RBLR Sports

Seattle Sounders (MLS) vs Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship)

Wed, 05/22 - 7:30pm PT / 10:30pm ET at Starfire Sports in Tukwila, WA

The Sounders are coming off another frustrating game (and another red card) in a 1-1 tie against the Vancouver Whitecaps in a Cascadia Cup game. Meanwhile Phoenix is coming off a 2-0 win against Miami and haven’t lost in five while collecting three wins over that span. On paper this feels like a solid Cupset pick however, the silver lining for a frustrated Sounders squad is that their academy kids have been playing better than the veterans. Both of these squads are looking for deep cup runs to help get their seasons back on track and return to the top of their respective divisions where they’ve both been in recent history.

Kyle Scoble - Independent Film Maker

Edited by Joshua Duder
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