The final entrants have joined the U.S. Open Cup, with Thursday’s draw seeing the top eight MLS teams from 2022 enter the fray.
They joined the 16 other MLS teams and eight USL Championship sides that emerged victorious from Tuesday and Wednesday’s third round clashes, with U.S. Soccer arranging the round of 32 draw into eight four-team pots.
The draw produced some eye-catching pairings, with the Atlantic Cup rivalry between the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United and a burgeoning Midwest derby between the Chicago Fire and St. Louis City SC among the highlights.
There will be at least one USL Championship side in the round of 16 after Birmingham Legion FC and Memphis 901 FC were paired up, while three more teams from the second tier will host MLS opposition.
While last year’s Open Cup saw lower-division sides Sacramento Republic and Union Omaha go on impressive runs against MLS foes, this year’s results have been a bit more on the chalk side of the ledger. The San Jose Earthquakes and Atlanta United were the only MLS teams to lose in the third round, while the various third-tier and lower leagues didn’t produce a single survivor. New Mexico United, sitting in 22nd place in the 24-team USL Championship, is the lowest team on the U.S. pyramid left alive.
2023 U.S. Open Cup round of 32 draw
- Austin FC vs. New Mexico United
- Houston Dynamo vs. Sporting Kansas City
- Birmingham Legion FC vs. Memphis 901 FC
- Nashville SC vs. FC Dallas
- LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders
- Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake
- Sacramento Republic FC vs. Colorado Rapids
- Monterey Bay FC vs. Los Angeles FC
- Loudoun United FC vs. Columbus Crew
- FC Cincinnati vs. New York City FC
- New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United
- New England Revolution vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds
- Charlotte FC vs. Orlando City
- Inter Miami vs. Charleston Battery
- Chicago Fire vs. St. Louis City SC
- Minnesota United vs. Philadelphia Union
Home teams are listed first. Dates and kickoff times will be announced in the future.
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