Today, U.S. Soccer drew opponents and hosting rights for the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. With the draw, Republic FC will host Monterey Bay F.C. on Tuesday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Fans with full and half season memberships will soon receive communications to have the first opportunity to purchase tickets to the match, before seats are made available to the general public at 1:00 p.m. on April 19 at SacRepublicFC.com/Tickets.
The May 7 contest will mark Republic FC’s debut match in this year’s tournament. Earlier this year, it was announced that the club would enter in the Round of 32 among a group of the top seven teams from the 2023 USL Championship regular season and the league champion, as well as eight Major League Soccer sides. Last season, Sacramento finished on top of the Western Conference table and had the second-best record across all of USL.
The next two rounds of the tournament will be played in four-team brackets, assigned primarily by geographical location, with the winners from the Round of 32 advancing to face off in the Round of 16. The club is a part of the Lopez Division – named after Republic FC captain Rodrigo Lopez – along with Monterey Bay F.C., Oakland Roots SC, and San Jose Earthquakes. The eight divisions were named after U.S. Open Cup legends, including Lopez, the tournament’s all-time assist leader in the modern era.
Republic FC has participated in every tournament played since the club’s inaugural season in 2014 with an overall record of 20 wins and eight losses, while also advancing once in a penalty shootout. The Indomitable Club remains the only second-division club to reach the National Championship Final since 2008, defeating three MLS sides in the 2022 tournament.
USL Championship side Monterey Bay F.C. advanced to the Round of 32 on Wednesday night, defeating Division III side Irvine Zeta 2-0. All-time, the club has a 3-2 record in Open Cup play, including a win over San Jose Earthquakes in 2023.
This is the first time that Republic FC and regional rival Monterey Bay F.C. will face off in the tournament. The Indomitable Club has never lost to a USL Championship team in the Open Cup, claiming six all-time wins against intraleague opponents. The club has also continued to make Heart Health Park a difficult environment for Open Cup foes, claiming 17 all-time wins in addition to besting MLS side Sporting Kansas City in a penalty shootout in a 2022 semifinal match.
The match will be streamed live on USOpenCup.com and USLSoccer.com, providing unparalleled access to the tournament for soccer fans across the country.
This year’s tournament is the 109th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – U.S. Soccer’s National Championship. The tournament has crowned a champion every year since 1914, except for 2020 and 2021 when play was suspended due to COVID-19. It is the oldest ongoing domestic soccer competition and is a single-game, knockout tournament that is open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer.
For more information about this year’s tournament, visit USOpenCup.com.
