January 28, 2025 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
El Paso Locomotive FC News Release
EL PASO, Texas – The 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup kicks off on March 18-20 with El Paso Locomotive FC slated to enter in the 32-game First Round array of exclusively amateur vs. pro matchups. Under the direction of Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera, the Locos will prepare for their fifth Open Cup appearance intent on picking up their first win in the tournament.
U.S. Soccer has finalized the format for the 96-team tournament – the 110th edition of the historic national club championship that celebrates elite amateur and pro soccer in communities across the country – through to the showpiece Final on October 1. The Open Cup is the only competition in USA-based team sports where amateurs have the chance to play professionals in direct competition.
“The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a crucial connection point for all levels of soccer in the United States,” said U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson ahead of the tournament, first contested in 1913. “U.S. Soccer exists in service to soccer and this historic tournament allows us to lift up the people who are leading the charge to support soccer in their communities. We’re pleased to continue working with and collaborating with all U.S. Soccer members to maximize the tournament’s impact on the sport of soccer at all levels in this country.”
For a second year running, the 32 games of the First Round will be played exclusively between amateur teams from the Open Division and professional sides. And there’s bound to be fireworks as last year’s First Round produced no fewer than seven upsets. Returning amateur powers Miami United FC, FORO SC of Texas, El Farolito and the Des Moines Menace were all part of that group of Open Cup Dream-Chasers that bested pro teams last year — and they’ll aim to generate that same kind of magic again in the 2025 Open Cup.
The field of 64 professional clubs includes 14 from USL League One and 10 sides from MLS NEXT Pro. The tournament will include the 24 teams of the USL Championship – with last year’s league champs Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, last year’s Open Cup Semifinalists Indy Eleven and 2022 Open Cup Runners-up Sacramento Republic — and 16 teams from Major League Soccer (MLS), including former Open Cup Champions Chicago Fire, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, New England Revolution and Orlando City.
The eight lowest seeded USLC teams enter in the First Round along with USL League One and MLS NEXT…