If you’re looking for the latest us open cup soccer scores, things are currently in that weird, quiet-before-the-storm phase where the big names haven't stepped onto the pitch yet. Honestly, the tournament landscape has shifted so much lately that even die-hard fans are scratching their heads. We just came off a massive 2025 season where Nashville SC basically rewrote their own history books, and now we’re staring down a 2026 tournament that’s been slimmed down and tightened up because of the World Cup.
It's a lot.
The qualifying rounds for 2026 actually wrapped up back in late November of 2025. While you might be used to seeing MLS giants dominate the headlines, the real drama lately has been in the mud and the grit of the amateur brackets.
The Nashville Dominance and 2025’s Final Scores
Let’s talk about what just happened because it sets the stage for everything we’re seeing now. On October 1, 2025, Nashville SC did something they’ve never done before. They lifted a major trophy. They went into Q2 Stadium—Austin FC’s house—and pulled off a 2-1 victory that silenced a crowd of over 20,000 people.
Hany Mukhtar opened the scoring early, around the 17th minute. You’ve probably seen the highlight; it was a clinical finish. Austin clawed back with a goal from Myrto Uzuni right before the half, but the second half belonged to Sam Surridge. He buried a penalty in the 60th minute, which ended up being the winner.
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Surridge was a monster in 2025. He finished with six goals in the tournament. That's a huge number for the Open Cup. It was the first time since 2019 that anyone had hit that mark in a single campaign. Nashville didn't just win; they ground out results. Their keeper, Brian Schwake, was basically a wall, making seven saves in the final alone, including a penalty save that would have changed everything.
Recent Noteworthy Scores from the 2025 Bracket
- Final: Nashville SC 2, Austin FC 1
- Semifinal: Nashville SC 3, Philadelphia Union 1
- Semifinal: Austin FC 2, Minnesota United 1
- Quarterfinal: Nashville SC 5, D.C. United 2 (A total goal-fest)
Why the 2026 US Open Cup Soccer Scores Will Look Different
Here is where it gets kind of technical but stay with me. U.S. Soccer decided to shake things up for the 2026 edition. Why? The Men’s World Cup is coming to North America, and the schedule is already a nightmare. To keep players from literally falling apart, they’ve cut the tournament down to seven rounds—one fewer than we’re used to.
They also slashed the number of professional teams. Instead of 64 pro sides, we’re looking at 48. This means the us open cup soccer scores you see this spring will be even more concentrated.
The amateur side of things—the "Open Division"—already settled its business. In late 2025, we saw 16 teams punch their tickets through the qualifying rounds. We’re talking about squads like Steel City FC, who edged out Croatia Cleveland 3-2 in a wild game, and CD Faialense, who absolutely dismantled FC Lonestar Gpse 5-2. These are the teams that live for the "Cupset."
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Breaking Down the 2026 Schedule
If you're refreshing your apps for live updates, mark your calendars. The tournament proper hasn't kicked off yet, but the dates are locked in.
The first real wave of matches hits between March 17 and March 19, 2026. This is the First Round. You’ll see 32 matchups where amateur clubs go head-to-head against pro teams from Division II (USL Championship) and Division III (USL League One/MLS NEXT Pro).
The 2026 Roadmap
- First Round: March 17–19
- Second Round: March 31 – April 1
- Round of 32: April 14–15 (This is when the 16 MLS teams enter the fray)
- Round of 16: April 28–29
- Quarterfinals: May 19–20
- Semifinals: September 15–16
- Final: TBD (Late September 2026)
Wait, notice that gap? They’re literally pausing the tournament for the entire summer. It's a huge break. We’ll get the quarterfinal scores in May, and then... nothing until September. It’s a bold move, and honestly, it might kill some of the momentum, but that’s the reality of a World Cup year.
The MLS Drama: Who’s Actually Playing?
You might remember the massive controversy a while back about MLS trying to pull out of the Cup. Well, the "one-club, one-entry" rule is firmly in place now. Basically, if a club has a team in the top flight, that’s the team that has to play. No more hiding behind reserve squads for the whole tournament.
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However, only 16 MLS teams are getting in this year. They’re picked based on the 2025 Supporters’ Shield standings. If a team is already busy playing in the Concacaf Champions Cup, they’re out. This opens the door for teams like Austin FC—who are desperate for redemption after losing the 2025 final—to make another deep run.
How to Find Reliable Scores Without the Fluff
Look, Google is great, but when a game is happening at a high school stadium in the middle of nowhere, the big networks sometimes lag.
If you want the most accurate us open cup soccer scores, the official U.S. Soccer website (ussoccer.com) is actually the best bet. They’ve revamped their "Match Hub," and it's surprisingly decent now. For the qualifying rounds and earlier stages, check out TheCup.us. Those guys are legends; they track every single goal and card in games that ESPN wouldn't even acknowledge exist.
Apps like Sofascore and 365Scores are usually on point for the "Tournament Proper," but they can be spotty during the early amateur rounds.
Actionable Steps for Following the 2026 Cup
If you want to stay ahead of the curve and not just react to scores after they happen, here is how you handle the 2026 season:
- Sync the Calendar: Don't just wait for notifications. Use the March 17-19 window to set your alerts. The First Round is where the most chaotic scores happen because the pros often underestimate the amateurs.
- Watch the "John Motta Trophy" Race: This is a new thing for 2026. It’s a trophy specifically for the best-performing amateur side. It adds a whole new layer to the scores. Keep an eye on teams like Christos FC or any of the USL League Two standouts.
- Follow the Draw: The pairings are mostly geographic to save on travel costs. This means you can usually predict who’s playing whom based on where they’re located. If you’re in a soccer-heavy region like North Carolina or California, expect some local derbies early on.
- Check the Roster Rules: For 2026, they removed the limits on how many players can be on a competition roster. This is huge. It means teams can rotate heavily, which often leads to higher-scoring, more unpredictable matches.
The 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is going to be a sprint, then a long nap, then a finish. It’s weird, it’s historic, and the scores are bound to be as unpredictable as ever.