HOUSTON (May 6, 2025) – Houston Dynamo FC kick off their 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign on Wednesday, May 7, facing USL Championship side Phoenix Rising FC on the road in the Round of 32. Kickoff is set for 9:00 p.m. CT at Phoenix Rising Soccer Stadium, and Dynamo fans can watch the match live via Paramount+ & CBS Sports Network.
If the Dynamo advance to the Round of 16, Houston will face the winner of Austin FC and El Paso Locomotive. If Austin wins, Houston will travel to Q2 stadium for the next round. If El Paso wins, Houston will host them in the next round at Shell Energy Stadium.
The Dynamo have won two U.S Open Cup titles in Club history, with their most recent triumph coming in 2023 when they defeated Inter Miami CF 2-1 at Chase Stadium (previously DRV PNK Stadium) in 2023. Houston’s goal scorers on the night were Griffin Dorsey and Amine Bassi. Houston never trailed in a match during its championship campaign.
Notably, Dynamo assistant coach Juan Guerra joined Houston from Phoenix last year after serving as their head coach and leading the club to its first USL Championship title in 2023.
The champion of this 110th U.S. Open Cup will earn a berth into the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Houston’s 2023 U.S. Open Cup title secured Houston’s fourth domestic title in Club history after the Dynamo won back-to-back MLS Cup titles in 2006 and 2007, as well as the 2018 U.S. Open Cup.
Head coach Ben Olsen became the third coach to win the U.S. Open Cup with two different teams, after lifting the trophy as a player (2008) and head coach (2013) with D.C. United. Assistant coach Aurélien Collin also won the 2012 cup title as a player with Sporting Kansas City, while fellow assistant coach Josh Wolff won three cup titles with the Chicago Fire (1998 and 2000) and Kansas City Wizards (2004).
Additionally, 14 players on this year’s Dynamo roster have previously lifted the Open Cup trophy. Players who were not part of Houston’s 2023 championship team include Erik Dueñas (2024 with LAFC), Michael Halliday (2022 with Orlando City SC), Júnior Urso (2022 with Orlando City SC).
Phoenix advanced to the Round of 32 in a penalty shootout victory over fellow USL Championship side FC Tulsa after drawing 1-1 in regulation. Jearl Margaritha scored Phoenix’s lone goal, while goalkeeper Patrick Rakovsky finished the night with four saves, including a crucial save late in extra time and two penalty saves during the shootout.
Phoenix currently sits tenth in the USL Championship Western Conference standings with seven points and a 1-3-4 (WLD) record. They are coming off a 1-1 draw at the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, with Jearl Margaritha scoring the lone goal for Rising.
Houston and Phoenix have met twice before in preseason action, with the Dynamo winning both meetings, including a 1-0 win in 2018 and a 2-1 win in 2022.
The Dynamo are coming off a 2-0 road loss to LAFC this past weekend in regular season action. Notably, Dynamo captain and midfielder Artur made his 200th career MLS regular season start that evening. Additionally, goalkeeper Jonathan Bond tied the Dynamo record for saves in any half with six saves in the first half, while ending the match with eight total saves.
Now in its 110th edition, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has crowned a champion since 1914 in every year except 2020 and 2021. The history-filled tournament is conducted on a single-game-knockout basis and open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer.
Houston returns to MLS play on Saturday, May 10, hosting the Club’s Season 20 Celebration Match on Alumni Weekend at Shell Energy Stadium versus Seattle Sounders FC.
