MLS teams are two weeks away from entering the US Open Cup, and on Wednesday, they learned their potential opponents in the third round.
One first-round game remains to be played, plus the entire second round on May 21, so specific pairings and locations of the third round games aren't set in stone. But there are now only two possibilities as far as opponents for each MLS team.
Defending champions Sporting Kansas City will kick off their defense at home on May 28, facing either the Minnesota United FC of the second-division North American Soccer League (NASL) or the winner of the remaining first-round game, which sees the Des Moines Menace of the USL Premier Development League (PDL) take on the Madison 56ers of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).
READ: Open Cup: Timbers, Sounders U23 sides advance from First Round
The Seattle Sounders, last year's runners-up and three-time champions, will either travel to face the NASL's Tampa Bay Rowdies or host USL PRO expansion side VSI Tampa Bay.
Defending MLS champions LA Galaxy will certainly be traveling to North Carolina and face a potential date against the NASL's Carolina RailHawks, who dumped them out of the 2012 edition (above), or the Carolina Dynamo of the PDL.
Here is the full list of pairings for MLS teams in the Third Round:
- May 28: Philadelphia Union at Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL) or vs. Ocean City Nor'Easters (PDL)
- May 28: D.C. United at Richmond Kickers (USL) or vs. Icon FC (USASA)
- May 28: New England Revolution at Rochester Rhinos (USL) or vs. GPS Portland Phoenix (PDL)
- May 28: Chicago Fire at Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) or vs. Seattle Sounders U-23 (PDL)
- May 28: Colorado Rapids at Orlando City SC (USL) or vs. Ocala Stampede (PDL)
- May 28: FC Dallas at Fort Lauderdale Strikes (NASL) or at Laredo Heat SC (PDL)
- May 28: San Jose Earthquakes at Charleston Battery (USL) or at Portland Timbers U-23 (PDL)
- May 28: Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United FC (NASL), Des Moines Meance (PDL) OR Madison 56ers (NPSL)
- May 28: Real Salt Lake vs. Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) or Georgia Revolution (PDL)
- May 28: Chivas USA at LA Blues (USL) or at Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
- May 29: LA Galay at Carolina RailHawks (NASL) or at Carolina Dynamo (PDL)
- May 29: Columbus Crew vs. Dayton Dutch Lions (USL) or Dearborn Stars (USASA)
- May 29: New York Red Bulls vs. Harrisburg City Islanders (USL) or Reading United AC (PDL)
- May 29: Houston Dynamo at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) or vs. FC Tucson (PDL)
- May 29: Seattle Sounders at Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) or vs. VSI Tampa Bay (USL)
- May 29: Portland Timbers vs. Wilmington Hammerheads (USL) or Austin Aztex (PDL)
