Austin FC will begin its journey in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday evening. The VERDE & Black will host El Paso Locomotive FC at 7:30 p.m. CT at Q2 Stadium.
Tune-In
- Stream: The match is available to watch in English on Paramount+.
- Radio: The match will be broadcast live locally in English on iHeart Radio’s Alt 97.5, and in Spanish on Univision’s TUDN Radio Austin (104.3-HD2, KLQB-FM).
Austin FC Outlook
Austin FC enters the fray of this season’s U.S. Open Cup in the Round of 32 and will need to win five single elimination matches to lift American soccer’s most historic prize and earn an automatic berth in next season’s Concacaf Champions Cup.
The Club has three wins and four losses in the seven single elimination matches it has previously played in cup competitions. If victorious on Wednesday, Austin would await the winner of the match between Phoenix Rising FC and Houston Dynamo FC in the Round of 16. Depending on both results, the VERDE & Black could either travel to play Phoenix or host Houston in the next round on May 20 or 21.
Three Austin FC players have won the Open Cup previously in their careers: Diego Rubio and Brandon Vazquez once each, and Ilie Sánchez twice including last year. Their experience in the tournament should prove valuable to ATXFC on Wednesday night.
El Paso Locomotive FC Outlook
El Paso has already played three matches in this season’s Open Cup to reach the Round of 32, defeating amateur side Harpos FC 5-1 at home, Ventura County FC of MLS NEXT Pro 3-0 away, and fellow USL Championship team New Mexico United on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Locomotive FC currently sits in fourth place in the USL Championship Western Conference with a 3-3-2 record. Their matches this year have been high scoring. The team’s 15 goals scored are tied for the most in the league, while their 13 goals allowed rank the fourth-most.
Wilmer Cabrera Jr. is El Paso’s leading attacker thus far in 2025, recording six goals in eight games. Other key players include El Salvador international Amando Moreno (three goals, two assists) and Gabriel Torres (one goal, three assists).
