The U.S. Open Cup competition resumes this week, with the Round of 32 fixtures taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday. This stage marks the entry of Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, who will compete against teams from lower divisions.
The Round of 32 features 16 MLS sides, including decorated clubs like four-time champions Chicago Fire and recent winners such as the Houston Dynamo and Orlando City. These MLS teams will be matched against opponents from lower leagues, specifically 12 teams from the USL Championship, three from USL League One, and one from MLS Next Pro. The fixtures include several regional rivalries and intrastate battles, such as North Carolina FC facing Charlotte FC and Austin FC taking on El Paso Locomotive.
All 16 Round of 32 matches will be broadcast by CBS Sports. Coverage will be available across CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, and CBS Sports Golazo Network. Viewers can expect studio coverage on both match days, and `The Golazo Show`, a program offering live look-ins, goals, and highlights from multiple games, will be featured on Wednesday, covering the 11 fixtures scheduled for that day.
Here is essential information for viewers.
U.S. Open Cup round of 32 TV schedule
All times U.S./Eastern
| TUESDAY, MAY 6 | TIME | HOW TO WATCH |
|---|---|---|
| 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 7 | TIME | HOW TO WATCH |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Storylines for the round of 32
1. San Jose Earthquakes, Sacramento Republic face off
Perhaps the most intriguing fixture of this round is the final match: Sacramento Republic visiting the San Jose Earthquakes. While the MLS side, coached by former USMNT manager Bruce Arena, is expected to win, Sacramento Republic has a strong history in this tournament. They reached the final just three years ago, defeating MLS teams like the Earthquakes, LA Galaxy, and Sporting Kansas City before falling to Orlando City. As the first non-MLS team in the final since 2008, they proved their cup credentials and will aim for another deep run, despite the challenge.
2. Lopsided matchups all around
Although the majority of matches pit MLS against USL Championship teams, the Round of 32 also includes several third-division clubs. These are AV Alta FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves, and Union Omaha from USL League One, and Tacoma Defiance from MLS Next Pro (an affiliate of the Seattle Sounders). Tacoma Defiance will host a regional derby against the Portland Timbers on Wednesday, while the Chattanooga Red Wolves face fellow Tennessee club Nashville SC. In these specific matchups, the MLS teams are expected to be strong favorites. However, in the unpredictable nature of cup ties, the lower-division teams will be highly motivated to achieve surprising upsets.
