KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Still riding high after its epic penalty kick victory in the Smoky Mountain Series to advance in the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, One Knoxville SC learned its next opponent in the competition, and it’s a big one. For the first time in club history, One Knox will test its skills on the pitch against a club from Major League Soccer as it will face DC United in the Round of 32.
The matchup will take place at Audi Field in Washington DC on either April 14 or 15 (date, time and broadcast information will be announced by US Soccer on Thursday afternoon).
In a meeting of two titans in their respective leagues, One Knox enters the contest representing USL League One as the defending champions and Players Shield winner. DC United, meanwhile, is a founding member of MLS where it won the league’s first two championships in 1996 and 1997 before adding two more trophies in 1999 and 2004. DC United has also experienced past US Open Cup success, having won the Dewar Challenge Trophy in 1996, 2008 and 2013.
Playing in the Open Cup for a fourth time, this year marks the first that One Knox has reached the Round of 32 after it outlasted its rival, Asheville City SC thanks to a man of the match performance from Jonathan Burke. The goalkeeper from Naperville, Illinois stood on his head on Tuesday with an 11-save performance, plus three more saves in a penalty kick shootout, to secure a signature victory despite One Knox down to nine-men by the end of regulation.
One Knox is one of five representatives in USL1 in the Open Cup Round of 32, along with FC Naples, Charlotte Independence, Richmond Kickers, Union Omaha and Westchester SC.
Before heading up to the nation’s capital, One Knox resumes league play on Saturday at Sarasota Paradise. It then concludes its three-match roadtrip at Portland Hearts of Pine on April 11. The squad returns to Covenant Health Park on April 18 when it hosts Charlotte(tickets).
