Sporting KC Travel to the Colorado Springs Switchbacks for the US Open Cup

After a year away from the competition, Sporting Kansas City are back in the US Open Cup. A tournament where they’ve lifted the trophy an MLS best four times (2004, 2012, 2015 and 2017).

On Thursday, US Soccer held the 2026 US Open Cup draw and Sporting KC were matched up with USL Championship side, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks. SKC enter the competition in the round of 32. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, just three days after a league match at home against the San Jose Earthquakes on April 11.

This will mark the first ever meeting between Colorado Springs and Kansas City.

Not only was the round of 32 draw completed, but US Soccer went ahead and handled the round of 16 as well. The winner of Sporting KC and the Switchbacks will face the winner of the Colorado Rapids and Union Omaha (USL League One). If Sporting KC advance, they will host that game, no matter the opponent.

In a format change, 16 MLS teams entered this year in the round of 32 and there are 16 lower division opponents remaining, ensuring no MLS versus MLS matches in this round.

Sporting KC will need just five wins to lift another trophy.

2026 US Open Cup Schedule

• Round of 32: April 14-15
• Round of 16: April 28-29
• Quarterfinals: May 19-20
• Semifinals: Sept. 15-16
• Final: Oct. 21

Sporting KC didn’t get to play in last year’s version of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and instead SKC II took their place. Sporting KC II fell to the Des Moines Menace, who were co-captained by their former coach and SKC Legend, Benny Feilhaber.

In 2024, Sporting KC made the finals, before falling 3-1 in extra time to LAFC.