Hard to believe, but we’ve hit mid-December and the final round of 2025 US Open Cup Qualifying is upon us. As well as the NISA Nation National Championship, UPSL Playoffs and the rest of the Major Arena Soccer League gets rolling this weekend. Let’s take a look at a few of the great games going on this weekend!

Dennis Pope Picks…
- NY Greek Americans vs Worldwide Problems FC in NISA Nation, National Championship
  - Sat, 12/07 - 3:00pm PT / 6:00pm ET
    at Hofstra University Soccer Stadium, Hempstead, NY
  - NY Greek Americans SC won the NISA Nation East Regional over Roc City Boom back in September and have been waiting for this national championship match ever since. The Greeks have a chance to be the second consecutive NISA Nation champion from the Eastern Premier Soccer League after NoVa FC won last year. Traveling across the country is Los Angeles-based Worldwide Problems FC, which defeated Las Vegas Legends two weeks ago in the West Regional Final in Las Vegas. Problems FC, the reigning SoCal Premier League and NISA Nation Coast Region champion, beat Legends 2-1 despite playing with only 10 men for more than 80 minutes.

Josh Duder Picks…
- Tacoma Stars vs San Diego Sockers in MASL Regular Season
  - Sat, 12/07 - 6:05pm PT / 9:05pm ET
    at Accesso Showare Center in Kent, WA
  - This year the league has gone to a single table, as opposed to a Western and Eastern separation, and two of the top clubs in MASL already have an early points lead. Both Tacoma Stars and San Diego Sockers have regular playoff appearances as a baseline of success and this league should be a dogfight from day one.
    Last year these two opened up against one another, in San Diego, where the Sockers won 11-6. San Diego and Tacoma played out west a total of six times in 2024 and Sockers outscored Stars 49-35 on aggregate, which in indoor soccer terms, seems pretty competitive - although I think Tacoma may try to reel San Diego in tonight and get a crucial season kickoff win.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Baltimore Blast vs Harrisburg Heat in MASL Regular Season
  - Sun, 12/08 - 12:00pm PT / 3:00pm ET
    at TU Arena in Towson, MD
  - Two teams, who missed out on playoffs last year, are trying to start fresh after a disappointing 2023-2024. It’s a chance for either of these teams to make this season a better one than last.

Michael Battista Picks…
- Bellevue Athletic FC vs Sharktopus in UPSL, Playoffs
  - Sun, 12/08 - 5:00pm PT / 8:00pm ET
    at Bellevue College in Bellevue, WA
  - Sharktopus’ win in the Washington Conference semifinals two weeks ago was overshadowed by a disgusting display of violence against referees. The second seed will need to refocus, especially as it continues to deal with the fallout of that incident, if it wants to win its second trophy of 2024. Bellevue Athletics' only stain on its undefeated season was a 1-1 draw in early November to Sharktopus (BAFC also needed penalty kicks to advance from the semifinals though).
    Fun fact; I’m going to Los Angeles for MLS Cup this weekend, but had the game been in Seattle ya boy would have stayed an extra day to see which deserving side gets crowned UPSL Washington Conference champion.

Adnan Bašić Picks…
- Chicago House AC vs Tulsa Athletics in US Open Cup, Qualifying 4th Round
  - Sun, 12/08 - 1:00pm CT / 2:00pm ET
    at Langhorst Field in Elmhurst, IL
  - The final round of U.S. Open Cup qualifying serves up a clash of amateur heavyweights as Chicago House Athletic Club hosts Tulsa Athletic at Elmhurst University. Both sides have set their expectations on qualifying for the tournament, but only one will be able to reach that mark this time around thanks to this matchup.
    The two teams got to this stage via very different results. The House secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Wisloka Chicago with a stoppage time winner, while Tulsa ran riot on Woodland Football Club, ultimately winning 9-0. Despite the gap in those score lines, this contest is expected to be a very close one.
  - See Adnan’s full match breakdown HERE

Josh Duder Picks…
- Inter San Francisco vs Valley 559 in US Open Cup, Qualifying 4th Round
  - Sun, 12/08 - 7:00pm PT / 10:00pm ET
    at James P. Lang Field in San Francisco, CA
  - Inter San Francisco, of the San Francisco Soccer Football League, have shown real fight and a propensity to score goals as they scrapped through three rounds of qualifying to get to this final hurdle. They beat the only other team from the SFSFL, SF Vikings, 4-1 in Round 1; 5-3 over JASA in AET in Round 2; and another 4-1 win over Real Galt last round.
    Meanwhile, Valley 559FC, who were simultaneously fighting for playoffs in the UPSL, and had a first round bye in the USOC qualifying, blasted Modesto 7-0 in Round 2 but snuck past Bay Valley Suns 1-0 in Round 3. This fixture decides who makes it to the First Round Proper of the 2025 US Open Cup and should be a tense game between two fun amateur sides.

Dan Vaughn Picks…
- Dallas Trinity FC vs Tampa Bay Sun FC in USL Super League, Regular Season
  - Sun, 12/08 - 12:30pm PT / 3:30pm ET
    at The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX
  - This is a sneaky good game, as Dallas has been on a great stretch of form over the last two months. On the other side, Tampa has been competitive in every match as well and this matchup should be a competitive one.

by Protagonist Staff and Guests