Burlington, Vt., March 2, 2024 – Today, the United States Soccer Federation announced the draw for the First Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Vermont Green Football Club will host Lexington Sporting Club of USL League One on Tuesday, March 19 at 7:00pm at Virtue Field in Burlington.
“Hosting a professional club in the U.S. Open Cup is an incredible honor for our club. The Vermont soccer community has shown its vibrancy and passion for the game, and this is another opportunity to show the nation that Vermont truly is a ‘Soccer State’. We can’t wait to see a packed Virtue Field getting loud for our Boys in Green.” said Patrick Infurna, Vermont Green FC co-founder.
This will be the 109th edition of the historic U.S. Open Cup. Beginning in 1913, it is the oldest soccer competition in the United States. The tournament is a single elimination contest, and includes clubs from every level of the American soccer pyramid—from Major League Soccer (MLS) all the way down to amateur and semi-professional teams. 96 clubs will compete in 2024.
According to available records, this will be the first U.S. Open Cup game ever hosted in Vermont, with the Green looking to secure the first win for a Vermont club in the tournament’s history.
“Our club has earned the right to play against this level of competition, and we’re looking forward to putting our players, who have pro aspirations themselves, against a professional team of this caliber.” said Vermont Green FC Sporting Director, Adam Pfiefer. “We’ll be playing against a professional team that has gone through preseason, so we’ll have to organize ourselves with that reality in mind. There’s no doubt we go into the Cup as underdogs, but we’re confident in the group we’re putting together. The boys will give everything they’ve got for the chance to advance in the tournament. These guys know how much this means to our fans and this community.”
Lexington SC is a fully professional club competing in USL League One. The team played their inaugural season in 2023, finishing in ninth place. The Kentuckians competed in the U.S. Open Cup in 2023, narrowly losing to in-state rivals Louisville City FC by a score of 1-0.
Vermont Green FC will announce the full U.S. Open Cup roster in the coming weeks.
Tickets to the match on March 19 are included in the 2024 Season Ticket. Single Match Tickets are available now at tickets.vermontgreenfc.com.