2027 U.S. Open Cup Second Qualifying Round Highlighted by 300-Goal Weekend
64 clubs advance to Third Qualifying Round later this month; Final Qualifying Round set for Nov. 21-22
One of the largest and highest-scoring Qualifying Rounds in modern Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup history took place over the weekend, as 62 clubs from across the country emerged victorious to advance to the penultimate Qualifying Round ahead of next year’s Tournament Proper.
Across 62 matches, nearly 300 goals were scored. While nine games were decided in extra time and 20 were decided by one goal, the overarching theme of the round was disparity. Nearly half of the games were decided by three or more goals and the average margin of victory across all 62 approached five goals.
Virginia Dream FC defeated fellow Virginia-based UPSL side Grove United 2-1 on the road | Photo courtesy Virginia Dream FC
Notably, two teams recorded double-digit scoring outbursts: Southwest Premier League side JSC Jasa overcame starting the match with 10 men to throttle Norcal Shockwaves, 20-1 in San Francisco. In New York, historic APSL side and four-time Open Cup champions New York Greek American SC overpowered an eight-man New Amsterdam FC side, 14-0.
Plenty of matches came down to the wire and finished in spectacular fashion. Seventy-four-year-old Polish-American side SC Vistula Garfield inched closer to its second consecutive Tournament Proper appearance after a nearly six-decade absence, overcoming a two-goal deficit and playing a man down to knock out Open Cup regulars FC Motown in extra time.
In the Texas capital, Austin Men’s Soccer Association side ATX United downed Capital City SC with a stoppage-time winner to pick up its first-ever Qualifying Round victory. In Florida, current UPSL conference leaders Pinellas County United Pelicans SC and Kissimmee SC battled in St. Petersburg, as PCU made the most of a three-man advantage, erasing a two-goal deficit to win, 4-3, on Tampa Bay Rowdies legend Leo Fernandes’ stoppage-time penalty goal.
Other eye-popping results highlighted the Second Qualifying Round. Seeking a return to the Tournament Proper for the first time since 2024, 95-year-old Vereinigung Erzgebirge throttled fellow Philadelphia and APSL foe Philadelphia Soccer Club, 8-1, behind Derek Antonini’s first-half hat trick, Chris Baker’s brace and Justin Ruth’s three goal contributions.
USL League Two’s Swarm FC inched closer to its first Tournament Proper appearance with an 8-1 explosion against Lake County United, relying on a Rodrigo Lopes haul to overpower its UPSL opposition. In southwest Florida, the lone NPSL-RL representative, Charlotte County FC, hung on to its 2-0 lead after going down a man against UPSL side Cape Coral FC, finishing the match with a 3-0 victory.
RGV Red Crowns outlasted league foe Central Texas Coyotes FC amid a deluge in the Rio Grande Valley | Photo courtesy RGV Red Crowns
Among the dozens of other Second Qualifying Round matches, a collection of notable storylines also emerged. Hat tricks from Bulldogs SC’s Adam Zamraki, Next Level Soccer Premier’s Marco Afonso and Chicago Nation FC’s Preston Huirton led each star’s respective side to the Third Qualifying Round. A brace from Tom Marriott helped SC United Heat overcome an early red card to knock out 2026 darlings Kalonji Pro-Profile. Finally, two penalty kick saves from goalkeeper Jacob Pardo helped RGV Red Crowns down their The League for Clubs rival Central Texas Coyotes FC in pouring rain in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.
- MORE: Record 155 Open Division Clubs Enter 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds, Additional 16 Automatically Qualify for Tournament Proper
- MORE: Schedule Confirmed for 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Second Qualifying Round
The Qualifying Rounds will continue Oct. 31-Nov. 1, which will determine the 32 clubs that will advance to the Final Qualifying Round, scheduled for Nov. 21-22. The Final Qualifying Round will determine the 16 teams that earn a spot in the Tournament Proper, where they will face off against professional clubs in April 2027.
Second Qualifying Round
Saturday, Oct. 3
Vereinigung Erzgebirge (PA / APSL / USASA) 8 – 1 Philadelphia Soccer Club (PA / APSL / USASA)
Olympiacos CA (CA / UPSL) 3 – 1 Irvine FC (CA / UPSL)
Naples United FC (FL / Sunshine Conference League / USSSA) 0 – 1 Inter City FC (FL / UPSL)
Steel City FC (PA / USL League Two) 5 – 1 FCY New York (NY / UPSL)
Colonial SC (PA / APSL / USASA) 3 – 1 Vidas United FC (PA / APSL / USASA)
New Jersey Alliance FC (NJ / UPSL) 2 – 1 Ironbound SCP (NJ / UPSL)
Florida Badgers FC (FL / UPSL) 5 – 0 O’Shea’s FC (FL / UPSL)
CD Faialense (MA / Bay State Soccer League / USASA) 3 – 2 Brockton FC United (MA / UPSL) (AET)
WC Predators (PA / APSL / USASA) 3 – 0 Oaklyn United FC (NJ / APSL / USASA)
Bulldogs SC (NJ / UPSL) 7 – 4 Jersey Shore Boca (NJ / APSL / USASA)
Cape Coral City FC (FL / UPSL) 0 – 3 Charlotte County FC (FL / NPSL-RL / USASA)
Grove United (VA / UPSL) 1 – 2 Virginia Dream FC (VA / UPSL)
FC America CFL Spurs (FL / UPSL) 4 – 0 Stetson FA (FL / UPSL)
Green Bay Glory (WI / Midwest Premier League / USASA) 1 – 2 Milwaukee Bavarians (WI / Milwaukee Premier League / USASA)
Ethos United (IL / UPSL) 1 – 2 Chicago House AC (IL / Midwest Premier League / USASA) (AET)
Sporting NTX (TX / Metroplex Premier League / USSSA) 1 – 2 Denton Diablos (TX / USL League Two) (AET)
Master Joga (TX / Dallas Soccer Alliance / USASA) 2 – 3 Arkansas Wolves 2 (AR / UPSL) (AET)
Osner's FC (NY / UPSL) 0 – 2 NY Renegades FC (NY / UPSL)
Lansdowne Yonkers FC (NY / APSL / USASA) 3 – 0 Red Hook Football Club (NY / UPSL)
RGV Red Crowns (TX / The League for Clubs / USASA) 3 – 1 Central Texas Coyotes FC (TX / The League for Clubs / USASA)
Oklahoma United FC (OK / The League for Clubs / USASA) 2 – 1 Tulsa Athletic (OK / The League for Clubs / USASA)
Aurora FC (TX / Houston Football Association / USASA) 1 – 2 Houston Lions FC (TX / United States Soccer League / USSSA)
Napa Valley 1839 FC (CA / The League for Clubs / USASA) 3 – 0 Bay Area United FC (CA / UPSL)
San Ramon FC (CA / The League for Clubs / USASA) 4 – 2 Academica SC (CA / USL League Two)
Laguna United FC (CA / UPSL) 4 – 1 Temecula FC (CA / UPSL)
Norcal Shockwaves (CA / San Francisco Soccer Football League / USASA) 1 – 20 JSC Jasa (CA / Southwest Premier League / USASA)
CV United FC (CA / UPSL) 1 – 2 SF Vikings SC (CA / San Francisco Soccer Football League / USASA) (AET)
Oakland Stompers (CA / NPSL / USASA) 2 – 0 Sonoma Valley United (CA / UPSL) (AET)
Sin City Football Club (NV / NISA Nation / USASA) 3 – 1 STG Premier FC (UT / Southwest Premier League / USASA)
International San Francisco (CA / San Francisco Soccer Football League / USASA) 0 – 1 CF San Rafael (CA / The League for Clubs / USASA)
Capo FC (CA / NISA Nation / USASA) 0 – 2 DC Monsters (CA / Southwest Premier League / USASA)
San Diego Internacional FC (CA / UPSL) 3 – 0 Chula Vista FC (CA / Southwest Premier League / USASA)
Sunday, Oct. 4
Mockingbird Valley Premier (KY / Ohio Valley Premier League / US Club Soccer) 0 – 4 Tennessee Tempo FC (TN / UPSL)
New Amsterdam FC (NY / Cosmopolitan Soccer League / USASA) 0 – 14 New York Greek American SC (NY / APSL / USASA)
South Coast Union (MA / UPSL) 2 – 8 Fall River FC (MA / UPSL)
FC Omens (MA / Bay State Soccer League / USASA) 3 – 1 Atletico Boston (MA / Bay State Soccer League / USASA)
Somerville United FC (MA / APSL / USASA) 0 – 1 KO Elites FC (CT / APSL / USASA)
NY Pancyprian Freedoms (NY / APSL / USASA) 1 – 0 NY Dash FC (NY / UPSL)
Los Toros (VA / UPSL) 2 – 5 Bowleys Athletic (MD / UPSL)
Harpos FC (CO / Colorado Premier League / USSSA) 4 – 3 Azteca FC 5280 (CO / Colorado Premier League / USSSA) (AET)
BOHFS St. Louis (MO / Midwest Premier League / USASA) 2 – 5 Chicago Nation FC (IL / UPSL)
Shark Coast FC (FL / USL League Two) 5 – 0 Bold City SC (FL / UPSL)
Mint Hill FC (NC / NPSL / USASA) 4 – 1 Briar United FC (NC / UPSL)
Detroit Metro FC (MI / UPSL) 3 – 4 Akron City FC (OH / USL League Two)
SCU Heat (SC / UPSL) 4 – 1 Kalonji Pro-Profile (GA / UPSL)
Potros FC (GA / UPSL) 5 – 0 Terminus FC (GA / Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League / USASA)
Real Houston Futbol Club (TX / United States Soccer League / USSSA) 0 – 5 ASC New Stars (TX / Houston Football Association / USASA)
FC Denver (CO / Colorado Premier League / USSSA) 5 – 1 Peak XI FC (CO / Mountain Premier League / USASA)
FORO SC (TX / The League for Clubs / USASA) 3 – 1 Inter Nova Havoc (TX / Metroplex Premier League / USSSA)
Yinz United (VA / Super Soccer League / USASA) 5 – 0 Doradus FC (VA / UPSL)
Real Central NJ Soccer (NJ / APSL / USASA) 2 – 3 FC Monmouth (NJ / The League for Clubs / USASA)
SC Vistula Garfield (NJ / APSL / USASA) 5 – 3 FC Motown (NJ / NPSL / USASA) (AET)
Pinellas County United Pelicans SC (FL / UPSL) 4 – 3 Kissimmee SC (FL / UPSL) (AET)
Swarm FC (GA / USL League Two) 8 – 1 Lake Country United FC (GA / UPSL)
Palm Beach Flames SC (FL / UPSL) 0 – 4 Harbor City FC (FL / UPSL)
Dreamers AFC (FL / Premier Futbol League / USASA) 1 – 0 Boca Jrs Miami FC (FL / UPSL)
Aegean Hawks FC (DC / American Premier League / USASA) 0 – 3 DC Hyper (DC / UPSL)
ATX United (TX / Austin Men's Soccer Association / USASA) 1 – 0 Capital City SC (TX / The League for Clubs / USASA)
Woodland Football Club (KS / Midwest Premier League / USASA) 1 – 2 Omaha Street FC (NE / UPSL)
Bellevue Athletic FC (WA / UPSL) 4 – 0 Sharktopus FC (WA / Seattle Recreational Adult Soccer Team / USSSA)
Legends SC (CA / Southwest Premier League / USASA) 0 – 8 Iron Rose FC (CA / The League for Clubs / USASA)
Stars FC (AZ / UPSL) 0 – 4 Next Level Soccer Premier (AZ / UPSL)
Forfeit
Columbus Astray (OH / UPSL) 1 – 0 West Virginia United (WV / USL League Two)
Philadelphia Lone Star FC (PA / UPSL) 1 – 0 Pennsylvania Prime FC (PA / UPSL)