What lower-division teams could be primed for a deep US Open Cup run?

The second round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will take place between Tuesday and Thursday this week, mixing the first bunch of professional teams from the second and third divisions with those amateur teams whose qualifying journeys began back in 2022.

Lower-division teams always like to talk about the exciting prospect of making a deep cup run and toppling a few giants, but 2022 was a reminder that it can actually happen. Sacramento Republic FC of the second-division USL Championship made it all the way to the final, the first non-MLS team to make it there in 14 years, and Union Omaha of USL League One, a level below, made it to the quarterfinals.

With the slate now wiped clean, all teams in the USL Championship and League One, as well as the National Independent Soccer Association, will enter Open Cup play this week. They’ll hope to follow in Sacramento and Omaha’s footsteps, but who is the most likely to make a similar run?

Because of its run last year, I’ve disqualified Sacramento from this list even though it actually appears better-equipped than a year ago – which should tell you how unpredictable these cup runs can be. A deep run wouldn’t be as surprising or exciting the second time around, so I think it’s better to look at a few teams hoping to follow the trail Sacramento blazed.

San Antonio FC

If promotion and relegation was a thing in the American soccer pyramid, SAFC wouldn’t be a lower-division team this year, having indisputably been the best team in the USL Championship last year. Although not always visibly and unquestionably dominating matches, its methods were effective and secured every title it competed for … except the Open Cup. SAFC did manage to beat its regional rival Austin FC in the third round, though, for its first-ever competitive win over an MLS team, providing bragging rights for the fans.

SAFC got that first MLS toppling with several players who had played in MLS before — who might’ve wanted to prove something, even if they’ve found success and playing time at SAFC. New additions like Kimarni Smith and Jacori Hayes have only added to that roster of players who, even if they won’t admit it, might have a chip on their shoulder from their MLS pasts. The Open Cup provides perhaps the best opportunity for that.

Despite some early injury problems, SAFC has started its league campaign positively with three wins and a draw despite having a target on its back after its successful 2022. While it will want to retain all last year's successes, a deep Open Cup run provides the biggest opportunity for improvement.

Birmingham Legion FC

The Legion may not have as much MLS experience spread throughout its roster, but it does have one name bigger than any on SAFC’s roster: Juan Agudelo. With over 200 appearances in MLS, and even 28 for the United States men’s national team, he brings plenty of higher-level experience and could be hungry to prove he can still go toe-to-toe with MLS players.

Agudelo is just the most recognizable name in a very talented attack, though, with Neco Brett, Tyler Pasher and Enzo Martinez all bringing plenty of offensive productivity in the lower leagues and even a taste of MLS here and there. Even if there are fewer big names behind them, talented attackers could sometimes be the key to nicking a goal against the run of play when MLS teams put the Legion under pressure.

Birmingham doesn’t have the best record when it comes to knockout competitions, never winning more than once in its two Open Cup and four playoff runs. Perhaps this is the year that streak breaks; the Legion has started their season positively with three wins and a draw to lead the USL Championship’s Eastern Conference.

Charlotte Independence

The first team from the third-division USL League One on this list, Charlotte now enters its second year of living in the shadow of MLS’ Charlotte FC. Despite the big show across town, though, the Independence has still managed to attract some recognizable names to its roster and continue to perform well on the field.

Gabriel Obertan came up through various academies and youth national teams in France before playing in Ligue 1 and the English Premier League, boasting more high-level experience than most players in the American lower leagues. He can help facilitate chances for Miguel Ibarra, who bounced between a few MLS teams and even got a look with the U.S. national team when he was still playing in the lower divisions, and Dane Kelly, the USL Championship’s all-time leading goalscorer.

Charlotte has started its league campaign with two wins and a draw, currently sitting atop the league standings at this early stage. It might have to sacrifice some success on that front to make a deep Open Cup run, but that would also help keep it out of Charlotte FC’s shadow.

San Diego Loyal SC

In contrast to the last two teams, the Loyal’s chances of a deep Open Cup run might be aided by the newfound absence of a big name. Club co-owner Landon Donovan has now shifted exclusively to being executive vice president of soccer operations, no longer also juggling the role of head coach. With less scrutiny on the club now because of that change, perhaps this is the year San Diego can live up to the hype it has fallen short of so far, particularly in knockout competitions.

With hundreds of appearances across Liga MX and MLS and even 23 with the U.S. national team, Joe Corona brings a wealth of experience and talent to the Loyal this year, and he’ll also be keen to perform for the border community where he spent the latter part of his youth and most of his career. After a year in Sweden, Ronaldo Damus also returns to the USL Championship on loan, looking to pick up where he left off after scoring 18 goals in all competitions and helping Orange County SC win the league title in 2021.

San Diego has had a mixed start to the season, opening with two wins before suffering a loss and settling for a draw. However, it’s still early and the players will grow more comfortable with each other and how they work together as time goes on, hopefully in time to topple an MLS giant or two.

South Georgia Tormenta FC … or Rio Grande Valley FC

You’re probably wondering why I'm counting these two teams as one pick. I saw signs that both could be set for a deep Open Cup run … and then looked at the schedule to find they’re playing against each other Wednesday. Oh well, at least this means I’m guaranteed not to have all the sides I listed here stumble at the first hurdle and make me look like a complete fool mere days after posting this.

While this is only the second year RGV FC is competing in the Open Cup, it has key personnel with past success in it: head coach Wilmer Cabrera and midfielder Juan David Cabezas were part of the Houston Dynamo FC team which won the Open Cup in 2018. Erik Pimentel and Jose Francisco Torres also boast loads of experience from hundreds of appearances in Liga MX plus Concacaf Champions League success for the former and U.S. national team experience for the latter.

Tormenta doesn’t have nearly as much when it comes to big names or experience with a deep Open Cup run. Instead, players like Mukwelle Akale and Kazaiah Sterling bring experience from the U.S. and English youth national teams, respectively, and came through academies and reserve teams in Europe, which might have taught them a trick or two.

However, Tormenta does enter 2023 as the reigning USL League One champion, and it’ll hope to parlay that into a deep Open Cup run just like Omaha did last year. Its league campaign hasn’t gone to plan with just three points out of nine so far, losing twice, but the Open Cup could be the competition to build some confidence and momentum.

RGV FC remains undefeated through four matches in 2023, even if only one was a win, and neither it nor its opponent has scored multiple goals in a match. Cabrera has made the Toros a difficult team to break down over the last year and they’re keeping matches close, which could bode well for matches to come against tougher opposition in the Open Cup – but first, it needs to avoid a cupset on Wednesday.