Sixteen clubs from the USL Championship learned their opponents for the Third Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Thursday afternoon with 12 sides receiving home draws as they begin their potential road to a run in the historic event. The Third Round contests will be played between April 16-17.
A matchup between two title-winners in their respective divisions highlighted the draw with two-time USL Championship winner Louisville City FC set to play host to League One title winner Greenville Triumph at Lynn Family Stadium. Louisville has made a perfect start to the new Championship season with three wins from three ahead of its historic clash with Indy Eleven on CBS this Saturday at 4 p.m. ET, while Greenville also currently sports an undefeated record in league and cup play having advanced 3-2 after extra time past fellow League One side One Knoxville SC on Wednesday night as Chapa Herrera scored the winner.
The draw also features seven additional matchups between Championship and League One sides, including Rhode Island FC’s debut in the tournament as it visits 2023 League One Final participant the Charlotte Independence. An all-Virginia affair also sees Loudoun United FC head to face League One’s Richmond Kickers at City Stadium, while El Paso Locomotive FC will head to face two-time League One Players’ Shield winner Union Omaha after Los Buhos knocked out League Two side the Des Moines Menace in the Second Round.
In-state matchups feature elsewhere in the Third Round with Detroit City FC set to host the Michigan Stars in a rematch from the Second Round in 2022 when Le Rouge ran out a 3-0 winner at Keyworth Stadium. North Carolina FC, meanwhile, will play host to fellow Tar Heel state club Carolina Core FC and Oakland Roots SC will take on fellow NorCal club El Farolito FC, who arrive in the Third Round as one of the notable storylines of the tournament so far.
The eight remaining USL Championship teams entered in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will enter in the Fourth Round, where they and the eight Major League Soccer clubs participating in this year’s tournament will await the winners of Third Round contests.
2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round
Tuesday, April 16
Charlotte Independence vs. Rhode Island FC, 7 p.m. ET, American Legion Memorial Stadium
Detroit City FC vs. Michigan Stars FC, 7 p.m. ET, Keyworth Stadium
Louisville City FC vs. Greenville Triumph SC, 7 p.m. ET, Lynn Family Stadium
New Mexico United vs. Lubbock Matadors, 9 p.m. ET, Rio Rancho Stadium
Oakland Roots SC vs. El Farolito, 10 p.m. ET, Pioneer Stadium
Wednesday, April 17
Hartford Athletic vs. New York City FC II, 7 p.m. ET, Trinity Health Stadium
North Carolina FC vs. Carolina Core FC, 7 p.m. ET, WakeMed Soccer Park
Richmond Kickers vs. Loudoun United FC, 7 p.m. ET, City Stadium
Memphis 901 FC vs. Miami United FC, 7:30 p.m. ET, AutoZone Park
Miami FC vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC, 7:30 p.m. ET, FIU Soccer Stadium
Birmingham Legion FC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, 8 p.m. ET, Protective Stadium
Chicago Fire FC II vs. Indy Eleven, 8 p.m. ET, SeatGeek Stadium
Union Omaha vs. EL Paso Locomotive FC, 8 p.m. ET, Werner Park
FC Tulsa vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, 8 p.m. ET, University of Tulsa Soccer and Track Stadium
Monterey Bay FC vs. Irvine Zeta FC, 10:30 p.m. ET, Cardinale Stadium
Las Vegas Lights FC vs. Spokane Velocity FC, 10:30 p.m. ET, Cashman Field