Sarasota Paradise to compete in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
SARASOTA, Fla. — The United Soccer League (USL) announced this week that Sarasota Paradise, a USL League Two team based in Sarasota, has been selected as one of the nine USL League Two teams to participate in the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, with the first round to be held March 18 – 20.
“This is an incredible moment for Sarasota Paradise and our community,” said Marcus Walfridson, CEO of Sarasota Paradise. “To compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved with the club. It’s a chance to represent Sarasota on a national stage, and we’re excited to showcase ourselves in this historic tournament.”
Every club in the USL Championship and League One, as well as nine clubs from USL League Two, are set to compete in the 110th edition of the historic tournament.
96 teams will compete in the 2025 Open Cup overall, including 16 clubs from Major League Soccer. Eight teams from the USL Championship and all 14 teams from League One will compete in the First Round alongside League Two’s representatives, with the remaining 16 clubs from the championship entering in the Third Round.
“The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a crucial connection point for all levels of soccer in the United States,” said JT Batson, U.S. Soccer CEO, ahead of the tournament, first contested in 1913. “U.S. Soccer exists in service to soccer and this historic tournament allows us to lift up the people who are leading the charge to support soccer in their communities. We’re pleased to continue working with and collaborating with all U.S. Soccer members to maximize the tournament’s impact on soccer at all levels in this country.”
Nine clubs from USL League One and League Two will enter the tournament for the first time. League One expansion clubs AV ALTA FC, FC Naples, Portland Hearts of Pine, Texoma FC and Westchester SC will be joined by first-time League Two participants Corpus Christi FC, Flatirons FC, Little Rock Rangers and Sarasota Paradise. Sarasota Paradise will play a professional team in the First Round.
2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Format
The First Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will consist of 32 games with 32 clubs from the Open Division going up against 32 professional teams. The winners of the First Round will play each other in a Second Round consisting of 16 games.
The 16 Second Round winners will then be matched up against the 16 highest-ranked professional teams from the USL Championship in the Third Round. USL Championship Teams were seeded by conference, with the top eight returning clubs in the Eastern and Western Conference based off the 2024 regular season standings entering in the Third Round.
Eight clubs from the USL Championship entering in the Third Round have been awarded seeds based on the 2024 season, giving those clubs the right to host their contest.
Third Round-winners will square off against the 16 teams of Major League Soccer (MLS), eight of which have been awarded seeds and will host games in the Round of 32. The tournament will conclude on Wednesday, October 1, with the Final.
Last year, Sarasota Paradise announced Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch will be its new home field for the upcoming 2025 League Two season beginning in mid-May and running through July.
Located in the heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Premier Sports Campus is a true haven for sports enthusiasts, athletes and spectators alike. With world-class facilities and a commitment to fostering a love for sports, the campus is the ultimate destination for sporting excellence.
For more information, visit SarasotaParadise.us.
About Sarasota Paradise
Launched in 2023, Sarasota Paradise is a USL League Two team based in Sarasota, Florida. The men’s pre-professional soccer team aims to bring high-level soccer to Sarasota and the surrounding community, with a commitment to nurturing local talent and providing a platform for aspiring players.
Founded by Marcus Walfridson, Sarasota Paradise came to fruition when Walfridson, a devoted soccer entrepreneur from Sweden, fell in love with Sarasota and recognized the need for a local soccer team. Since then, the team has seen much success, including being named New Organization of the Year by the USL in 2023 and having its first player in the team’s history be drafted into the MLS.
To learn more, visit SarasotaParadise.us.