Two New England clubs to face off for second-straight season in historic competition on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m.
PAWTUCKET, R.I. (April 2, 2026) – During Thursday’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Round of 32 Cup draw, Rhode Island FC was selected to face Major League Soccer club New England Revolution on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. at Centreville Bank Stadium. The New England Revolution enter the Round of 32 as a designated host, and will use Centreville Bank Stadium as a temporary home venue. The game will be streamed live on Paramount+, and ticket information will be released soon.
Rhode Island FC opened up its 2026 U.S. Open Cup campaign with a pair of shutout wins, first taking down amateur side CD Faialense 4-0 on March 17 before defeating regional rivals Hartford Athletic 2-0 in the Second Round at Centreville Bank Stadium on April 1. Rhode Island FC has collected back-to-back shutout wins in the historic tournament for the first time in club history, setting up a rematch of last season’s Round of 32 clash that saw RIFC fall 2-1 to the Revolution at Centreville Bank Stadium.
New England, who will participate in the tournament for the second-straight year and the 24th time in the club’s history, joins 15 other MLS teams entering the competition in the Round of 32. The five-time MLS Eastern Conference Champions won the tournament in 2007 and made runs to the final in 2001 and 2016. Last season, the club played both of its cup games in the Ocean State, defeating RIFC 2-1 on May 7 before falling to fellow MLS side Chicago Fire, 3-1, at Providence College’s Anderson Stadium in its first Round of 16 appearance since 2022. The Revolution holds a 24W-20L-5T record in the competition since its first-ever appearance in 1997, having reached the Quarterfinals nine times and and the Semifinals four times in its history.
During CBS Sports Golazo’s Morning Footy, U.S. Soccer conducted a live draw where RIFC was selected second in hosting priority in its four-club regional group. Should the Ocean State club advance, RIFC would either travel to USL League One side FC Naples or host MLS club Orlando City SC for the Round of 16.
The regional clash also marks the second reunion between Rhode Island FC Head Coach and General Manager Khano Smith and his former club. Smith made over 100 appearances for the Revolution across two stints from 2005-2010 during his playing career, including the Revolution’s run to the Open Cup title in 2007. Smith began his coaching career with the Revs Academy, where he helped coach several current RIFC players.
The U.S. Open Cup is the only competition in USA-based team sports where amateurs have the chance to play professionals in direct competition. It is the oldest active professional soccer tournament in the country and the third-longest continuously run national cup competition in the world. Conducted on a single-game, knockout basis, the tournament has crowned a champion every year since 1914, with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. The first-ever Final of the tournament took place at Coats Field in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 1914, and RIFC’s Round of 32 matchup in 2025 marked the first time in more than 80 years the tournament returned to the Ocean State.
The 2026 edition of the historic tournament, which began with an 80-team field of amateur and professional competition, kicked off with the First Round on March 17-19, and will conclude with the Final on Oct. 21. Rhode Island FC joined 16 other USL Championship teams participating in the tournament, which features a $1 million prize and a berth in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup for the winner.
For Rhode Island FC news and updates, visit rhodeislandfc.com, subscribe to RIFC’s monthly newsletter, follow the club on Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok, X and LinkedIn, and download the official team app.
