FC Naples to Host Orlando City SC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32
USL1 FC Naples

FC Naples to Host Orlando City SC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32

Published on April 2, 2026 under United Soccer League One (USL1)
FC Naples News Release


Naples, FL - FC Naples is set for one of the biggest nights in club history as the USL League One side will host Major League Soccer's Orlando City SC in the Round of 32 of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m. at Paradise Coast Sports Complex. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 3 at 7:00 PM at www.FCNaples.com/tickets. Season members receive 50% off their seats.

FC Naples arrives at the Round of 32 on the strength of two dominant performances - a 3-0 win over Red Force FC in the First Round and a 3-0 shutout of FC America CFL Spurs in the Second Round. Orlando City SC enters the Round of 32 as one of the most experienced Open Cup programs in the country, with a 2022 championship to their name - the first Open Cup trophy in the club's MLS era. The Lions of Central Florida have competed in the U.S. Open Cup since 2015.

Head Coach Matt "Gaffa" Poland spoke to the magnitude of the draw - and quickly brought the focus back to what his squad does best: "Things stay the same. It's 90 minutes of soccer. You have to go out and earn the win, or the other team earns it. It's really about maintaining our identity. Tactics will adjust based on the opponent, but for us, it's 90 minutes of football in front of our fans, and we're going to give it everything we have."

Team captain and goalkeeper #1 Edward "Lalo" Delgado echoed his coach's confidence and called on his teammates to rise to the moment: "We're just hard workers. We don't care who's on the other side. The staff does a great job presenting what we want to accomplish on game day, and these guys put their heads down, work hard, and know what we're after." And for the Southwest Florida faithful who have packed Paradise Coast Sports Complex all season long, the captain had a message: "I'm glad we can give this community something to be proud of."

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, now in its 111th edition, is the longest-running national soccer competition in the United States. The tournament champion earns a berth in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup and has their name engraved on the historic Dewar Challenge Trophy. FC Naples reached the Third Round in its 2025 inaugural season; this year's squad has already matched that milestone and is intent on going further. Orlando City SC, by contrast, brings the full weight of a decade in MLS competition to this fixture - including a championship banner earned in 2022. The contrast in Cup pedigree only adds to the magnitude of what FC Naples has built in Southwest Florida.

FC Naples encourages fans across Southwest Florida to pack Paradise Coast Sports Complex for a historic Cup night against in-state MLS opposition. Tickets for the Round of 32 matchup will go on sale on Friday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m. at www.FCNaples.com/tickets. Season members will receive 50% off their seats.

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