Tennessee Tempo FC Set to Compete in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Tennessee Tempo FC will compete in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, as U.S. Soccer has finalized the format, schedule, and participating teams for the 111th edition of the nation’s oldest soccer competition. The Open Cup continues its tradition of bringing together clubs from across the American soccer pyramid in a single-elimination tournament that crowns a national champion.

The 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will feature 80 teams from professional and amateur levels, with the tournament beginning in mid-March and concluding with the Final on October 21. The competition will be contested over seven rounds, a modified structure designed to accommodate scheduling considerations surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Tennessee Tempo FC will enter the tournament proper after their triumph in the UPSL Spring National Championship, joining alongside clubs from leagues across the country, with early rounds featuring matchups between Open Division and lower-division professional sides before the competition expands to include top-flight teams in later stages. Each round will be decided by a single match, continuing the Open Cup’s long-standing emphasis on competitive integrity and the possibility of dramatic upsets.

The Open Cup schedule opens with First Round matches scheduled for March 17–19, followed by the Second Round on March 31 and April 1. The Round of 32 will be played April 14–15, with the Round of 16 on April 28–29. Quarterfinals are set for May 19–20, with the Semifinals scheduled for September 15–16 ahead of the championship match in October.

Participation in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup represents an important milestone for Tennessee Tempo FC, providing the club with an opportunity to compete on a national stage and measure itself against teams from across the American soccer landscape. As the tournament approaches, additional details regarding matchups, hosting information, and ticketing will be announced.