2026 U.S. Open Cup Team of the Round - Round of 32

The 2026 U.S. Open Cup Team of the Round is here! The batch of 18 players and one coach highlights the top performers across 16 Round of 32 matches. Red Bull New York, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, New York City FC and Charlotte FC lead the way with multiple representatives named to the Team of the Round following lopsided victories.

The 18 players named to the Team of the Round were responsible for 20 goals and eight assists. Notably, 12 players on the Team of the Round recorded multiple goal contributions in their Round of 32 matches.

In total, 14 teams earned representation on the Team of the Round and all three divisions were represented: 14 Division I representatives from MLS, four Division II representatives from the USL Championship, and one Division III representative from USL League One.

2026 U.S. Open Cup Team of the Round - Round of 32

Coach – Alan McCann, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL Championship): Kicking off his first season at the helm in Colorado Springs, the two-time USL League Two Coach of the Year guided the Switchbacks to their first victory against an MLS side through a dominant 3-0 showing against four-time Open Cup champions Sporting Kansas City. Although SKC was reduced to 10 men in the 78th minute, McCann’s side controlled the contest from start to finish, owning significant advantages in total shots (16-7), shots on target (7-2), fouls won (21-9) and touches in the opponent’s box (23-12).

GK – Donovan Parisian, New England Revolution (MLS): In his first appearance with the Revs’ first team, the 2025 draftee made two saves across regular and extra time before reeling off three consecutive penalty shootout saves against Rhode Island to power New England to the Round of 16 for the 17th time in club history. The 21-year-old also tallied 11 recoveries, completed 63% of his passes and connected on three long balls.

D – Pedro Amador, Atlanta United FC (MLS): Entering his third season with Atlanta, Amador scored his first goal of the season to help the Five Stripes overcome an early deficit on the road against Chattanooga FC. The 27-year-old also completed 86% of his passes, added four recoveries, won three duels and completed three long balls.

D – David Schnegg, Charlotte FC (MLS): The Charlotte FC newcomer bagged his first goal for the club in a 6-0 rout against crosstown foe Charlotte Independence, marking the defender’s first goal since he scored against Charlotte FC in the Open Cup with D.C. United in last year’s Round of 16. The former Austria international added one assist, 11 recoveries, a 79% passing accuracy rate, five duels won, four chances created, four accurate crosses, three tackles won and three completed long balls.

D – Robert Voloder, Red Bull New York (MLS): The first-year Red Bull helped his side to a 3-1 victory against defending USL Championship title-winners Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Across 73 minutes, the 24-year-old completed 98 of his 100 passes, tallied 14 recoveries, recorded seven clearances, won five duels and connected on all five of his long passes.

M – Nick Fernandez, San Jose Earthquakes (MLS): The second-year Earthquakes midfielder notched his first goal contributions with the club, scoring the winner against Phoenix Rising FC in the third minute before assisting Jack Jasinski’s goal in the 23rd minute. Through 77 minutes, Fernandez completed 78% of his passes, won six duels, earned five fouls, recorded three chances created and added three recoveries.

M – Talles Magno, New York City FC (MLS): Magno was stellar in New York City FC’s 5-2 road victory against local outfit Westchester SC. The NYCFC returnee constructed the first hat trick of his professional career—the first perfect hat trick in the Open Cup since Minnesota United FC’s Ángelo Rodríguez in 2019—completed 71% of his passes and won three duels across his 86 minutes of play.

M – Nick Markanich, Houston Dynamo FC (MLS): The CD Castellón loanee and former USL Championship Player of the Year with the Charleston Battery opened his Dynamo account with a second-half goal against El Paso Locomotive FC. In 79 minutes, Markanich also provided an assist, completed 77% of his passes, created three total chances and won a pair of duels.

M – Hugo Picard, Columbus Crew (MLS): Entering his first full season with the Crew, the 22-year-old French midfielder opened his Columbus account with a brace in 22 minutes against the Richmond Kickers—the first of his professional career. Picard finished with a 97% passing accuracy rate, three recoveries, two chances created and two completed long balls.

F – Denis Krioutchenkov, One Knoxville SC (USL League One): The 21-year-old first-year professional was crucial in Knoxville’s penalty kick shootout victory against D.C. United. Entering as a second-half substitute, the former collegiate and USL League Two standout scored in the 78th and 113th minutes before converting his penalty in the shootout. Krioutchenkov also won five duels and added two clearances across 43 minutes of action.

F – Sadam Masereka, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL Championship): Selected in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft by Sporting Kansas City, Masereka made SKC pay with a goal and an assist against the team that drafted him. The Uganda youth international also completed 94% of his passes, tallied six recoveries, won four duels and completed three dribbles in 71 minutes at Weidner Field.

F – Agustin Ojeda, New York City FC (MLS): In just 68 minutes, Ojeda produced the first three-goal-contribution match of his young professional career, scoring the opener against Westchester in the 13th minute before adding a pair of assists. The former Argentina youth international also completed 93% of his passes and won two duels.

Bench: Javier Otero (Orlando City SC – MLS), Michelle Benítez (Sacramento Republic FC – USL Championship), Baye Coulibaly (Charlotte FC – MLS), Emil Forsberg (Red Bull New York – MLS), Jason Shokalook (Chicago Fire FC – MLS), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York – MLS), Tola Showunmi (Louisville City FC – USL Championship)