U.S. Soccer announces 2023 U.S. Open Cup pairings for first and second rounds

We’re just over a month from the start of the 108th edition of the U.S. Open Cup

The 2023 edition of the U.S. Open Cup is taking form.

U.S. Soccer released the pairings for the first two rounds of this year’s tournament, with the 108th edition officially kicking off on March 21 with a match between Pennsylvania amateur side West Chester United SC and the Ocean City Nor’easters of USL League Two.

The rest of the first round will play out over the following two days, with 28 teams from USL League Two, the NPSL, and 10 amateur sides that qualified through regional tournaments fighting for their place once the fully professional clubs enter the fray one round later.

U.S. Soccer has a full schedule for the first round, while the exact dates for the second round remain unannounced. Previously, the second round had been slated to take place between April 4-6. That said, U.S. Soccer has conducted a draw to determine the pairings and hosts for all 30 matches.

The 2023 U.S. Open Cup will largely take place in a two-month span, with the tournament’s round of 16 set for late May. The quarterfinals will be played in June, followed by two semifinal matches taking place in August. This year’s final is scheduled for September 27.

Below are the pairings and dates for the first two rounds of this year’s tournament. The host is listed first in all pairings. Teams are listed with their league, or in the case of amateur qualifiers, their home state.

First round

March 21:

  • West Chester United SC (Pennsylvania) vs. Ocean City Nor’easters (USL League Two)

March 22:

  • Club de Lyon FC (Florida)* vs. Nona FC (USL League Two)
  • El Farolito SC (NPSL) vs. Inter San Francisco (California)
  • Appalachian FC (NPSL) vs. North Carolina Fusion U23 (USL League Two)
  • Manhattan SC (USL League Two) vs. FC Motown (NPSL)
  • Chicago House AC (Illinois) vs. Bavarian United SC (Wisconsin)
  • Beaman United FC (Tennessee) vs. Des Moines Menace (USL League Two)
  • Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) vs. Brazos Valley Cavalry FC (USL League Two)
  • UDA Soccer (New Mexico) vs. Park City Red Wolves SC (USL League Two)
  • Project 51O (USL League Two) vs. Crossfire Redmond (NPSL)

March 23:

  • Cleveland SC (NPSL) vs. Lionsbridge FC (USL League Two)
  • Jacksonville Armada FC U23 (NPSL) vs. Miami United FC (Florida)
  • Hartford City FC (NPSL) vs. Lansdowne Yonkers FC (New York)
  • Ventura County Fusion SC (USL League Two) vs. Capo FC (California)

*Note: Club de Lyon FC has two Open Cup entrants as an organization: their fully professional NISA side (which enters in the second round), and their NISA Nation team that qualified through the amateur route in Florida. They cannot meet in the Open Cup unless both make the final.

Second round

  • Beaman United FC/Des Moines Menace winner vs. Chattanooga FC (NISA)
  • Central Valley Fuego FC (USL League One) vs. Monterey Bay FC (USL Championship)
  • Charleston Battery (USL Championship) vs. Savannah Clovers FC (NISA)
  • Charlotte Independence (USL League One) vs. Appalachian FC/North Carolina Fusion U23 winner
  • Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (USL League One) vs. Birmingham Legion FC (USL Championship)
  • Club de Lyon FC (NISA)* vs. San Antonio FC (USL Championship)
  • Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL Championship) vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (USL League One)
  • Detroit City FC (USL Championship) vs. Gold Star FC Detroit (NISA)
  • FC Tulsa (USL Championship) vs. Brazos Valley Cavalry FC (USL League Two) or Tulsa Athletic (NPSL) vs. FC Tulsa (USL Championship)
  • Flower City Union (NISA) vs. Manhattan SC/FC Motown winner
  • Forward Madison FC (USL League One) vs. Chicago House AC/Bavarian United SC winner
  • Hartford Athletic (USL Championship) vs. Hartford City FC/Lansdowne Yonkers FC winner
  • Indy Eleven (USL Championship) vs. Michigan Stars FC (NISA)
  • Las Vegas Lights FC (USL Championship) vs. Los Angeles Force (NISA)
  • Loudoun United FC (USL Championship) vs. North Carolina FC (USL League One)
  • Louisville City FC (USL Championship) vs. Lexington SC (USL League One)
  • Maryland Bobcats FC (NISA) vs. West Chester United SC/Ocean City Nor’easters winner
  • Miami FC (USL Championship) vs. Jacksonville Armada U23/Miami United FC winner
  • New Mexico United (USL Championship) vs. Park City Red Wolves SC/UDA Soccer winner
  • Oakland Roots (USL Championship) vs. El Farolito SC/Inter San Francisco winner
  • One Knoxville SC (USL League One) vs. Memphis 901 FC (USL Championship)
  • Orange County SC (USL Championship) vs. Ventura County Fusion FC/Capo FC winner
  • Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship) vs. Greenville Triumph SC (USL League One)
  • Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL Championship) vs. Rochester New York FC (MLS Next Pro)
  • Richmond Kickers SC (USL League One) vs. Cleveland SC/Lionsbridge FC winner
  • Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship) vs. Project 51O/Crossfire Redmond winner
  • San Diego Loyal SC (USL Championship) vs. Albion San Diego (NISA)
  • South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL League One) vs. Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (USL Championship)
  • Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL Championship) vs. Club de Lyon FC*/Nona FC winner
  • Union Omaha (USL League One) vs. El Paso Locomotive FC (USL Championship)

*Note: Club de Lyon FC has two Open Cup entrants as an organization: their fully professional NISA side (which enters in the second round), and their NISA Nation team that qualified through the amateur route in Florida. They cannot meet in the Open Cup unless both make the final.

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