The U.S. Open Cup continues with its Round of 32 matches this Tuesday and Wednesday. This stage marks the entry of Major League Soccer (MLS) teams into the tournament, where they will compete against clubs from lower divisions.
This week`s action features 16 MLS clubs, including four-time champions Chicago Fire and two recent titleholders, the Houston Dynamo and Orlando City. These teams will face 16 lower-division opponents, consisting of 12 teams from the USL Championship, three from USL League One, and one from MLS Next Pro. Many of the pairings are regional matchups, including intrastate clashes like North Carolina FC versus Charlotte FC and Austin FC against El Paso Locomotive.
CBS Sports will broadcast all 16 matches of the Round of 32. Coverage will be available across CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, and CBS Sports Golazo Network. In-studio analysis will precede and follow games on both days, and “The Golazo Show,” a live whiparound program showcasing goals and highlights from all concurrent matches, will air on Wednesday during the 11 games scheduled for that day.
Here is the broadcast schedule:
U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 Schedule
| Matchup | Time (U.S. Eastern) | How to Watch |
|---|---|---|
| TUESDAY, MAY 7 | ||
| D.C. United vs. Charleston Battery | 7 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| North Carolina FC vs. Charlotte FC | 7 p.m. | Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| Nashville SC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves | 8 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| CBS Sports Golazo Matchday | 9 p.m. | Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| Colorado Springs Switchbacks vs. New York Red Bulls | 9:30 p.m. | Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| Tacoma Defiance vs. Portland Timbers | 10 p.m. | CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ |
| WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 | ||
| The Golazo Show | 7 p.m. | CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. New York City FC | 7 p.m. | CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ |
| Philadelphia Union vs. Indy Eleven | 7:30 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| Louisville City vs. Minnesota United | 7:30 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| Rhode Island FC vs. New England Revolution | 7:30 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Orlando City | 7:30 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| Chicago Fire vs. Detroit City | 8 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| FC Dallas vs. AV Alta FC | 8 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| St. Louis City vs. Union Omaha | 8 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| Austin FC vs. El Paso Locomotive | 8 p.m. | Paramount+ |
| CBS Sports Golazo Matchday | 10 p.m. | Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network |
| Phoenix Rising vs. Houston Dynamo | 10 p.m. | CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ |
| San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sacramento Republic | 10:30 p.m. | Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network |
Key Matchups and Storylines
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sacramento Republic: One of the most anticipated matches is Sacramento Republic`s visit to the San Jose Earthquakes. While the MLS side, managed by Bruce Arena, is expected to be the favorite, Sacramento is a formidable opponent in this competition. They notably reached the final just a few years ago, defeating MLS teams like the Earthquakes and LA Galaxy along the way, becoming the first non-MLS team in the final since 2008. They will undoubtedly aim for another deep run this year.
Potential Upsets and Lower Division Challenges: Although many games pair MLS clubs against USL Championship sides, the Round of 32 also includes third-division representation from USL League One (AV Alta FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves, Union Omaha) and MLS Next Pro (Tacoma Defiance, affiliated with the Seattle Sounders). Tacoma Defiance will host a Pacific Northwest derby against the Portland Timbers, while the Chattanooga Red Wolves face fellow Tennessee team Nashville SC. While MLS teams are heavily favored in these matchups, cup tournaments are known for surprising results, and the lower-division teams will be eager to pull off upsets.
