The First Round of the 111th Edition of the U.S. Open Cup Set to Open Between March 17th to March 19, 2026

The U.S. Soccer Federation Has Announced That the Laredo Heat Soccer Club Will Host the USL Championship’s El Paso Locomotive FC

Tuesday, January 27, 2025 (Laredo, TX): U.S Soccer has announced the format, schedule and participating teams for the 111th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, U.S. Soccer’s historical national club championship that celebrates elite amateur and professional soccer from communities across the country, the tournament begins in mid-March and will conclude with a championship final on October 21, 2026, the current champion is Nashville FC (MLS).

A field of 80 teams will contest for a $1 million purse with a place in the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup is U.S. Soccer’s Club Championship and has crowned a Champion annually since 1914 (with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19). The historic tournament is conducted in a single-game, knockout basis and open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer.

The tournament is the longest running national soccer competition in the United States and the world’s third longest continuously run national cup tournament. It is the only competition in USA-based sports where amateurs have the chance to play professionals in direct competition.

For some historical reference, the Laredo Heat Soccer Club has had some luck participating in the tournament, in 2014, the Gateway City club advanced to the 4th Round of the U.S. Open Cup and faced the MLS’s Houston Dynamo and only lost 1-0 and won the tournaments furthest amateur team to advance, not an easy task but something the organization counts as a historical accomplishment.

Today, U.S. Soccer announced the First Round of the Open Cup and our hometown team, the Laredo Heat Soccer Club (USL League Two Qualifier) will be hosting the El Paso Locomotive FC (USL Championship, 2nd Division, one division below Major League Soccer) on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

Match Details:

Teams | Laredo Heat SC vs El Paso Locomotive FC

Date | Thursday, March 19, 2026

Kickoff | 7:30 P.M. CST

Stadium | PEG Energy Stadium, 5401 Bob Bullock Loop, Laredo, Texas

“This is a very unique opportunity, not to mention the first time in our 22-year history that we will host a U.S. based professional team in Laredo and what better place to do it than our home, PEG Energy Stadium”, said Heat Owner Shashi Vaswani.

“PEG Energy Stadium will serve as the perfect backdrop for this match between the Locomotive and our hometown Laredo Heat, we are very much excited to showcase the club, the city and the stadium to a national audience and we are very happy that U.S. Soccer selected us to host this game”.

Vaswani concluded, “We are looking forward to having our fans here with us on this evening of soccer versus an established side such as the El Paso Locomotive of the USL Championship Division, we invite all of Laredo to come out and make their passion and presence felt and who knows, this may be the start of another U.S. Open Cup run for our organization”.

About the USL2:

USL League Two is the premier pre-professional league in the United States with over 140 clubs across 37 states engaging with their passionate fanbases and building deep roots in their local communities. A cornerstone of the American soccer landscape since its foundation in 1995, USL League Two provides a platform for the top emerging pre-professional and college players to showcase their talent with thousands of players continuing their careers in the USL Championship, USL League One, MLS, and Europe.

About the Laredo Heat Youth Soccer Club:

The Laredo Heat Youth Soccer Club and Academy is designated as 501 (c)(3) non-profit entity, donations and sponsorships are available to interested parties in the club’s vision of improving the lives of young athletes in the City of Laredo, Webb County and surrounding areas, "Do Good, Be Good".