The draw to determine the semifinal hosts and hosting priority for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final resulted in lone second-division side Sacramento Republic FC winning the right to host Sporting Kansas City (MLS) in the West semifinal, while the East semifinal will see Red Bulls (MLS ) hosted by the winner of the last quarterfinal to be played between Orlando City SC and Nashville SC (both MLS).

Both semifinal matches will be played on July 27 on ESPN+.

Immediately after the semifinal hosts were confirmed, the draw to determine the hosting priority for the final was held. All four potential finalists were drawn at random to set the priority ranking. The Orlando-Nashville winner received first priority to host the September final should one advance.

Second priority went to Sporting KC, followed by the Red Bulls and, in fourth spot, Sacramento, which will not be eligible to host the final.

Full event details for the final will be announced at a later date.

Orlando City hosts Nashville SC next Wednesday, June 29 (7 p.m. ET on ESPN+) with the winner punching its ticket to complete the semifinal field. This is the deepest run in the competition for Nashville since the team began play in the second division in 2018.

For Orlando City, this is the club’s fifth journey to the quarterfinal round dating back to its Division II days (2011-14). A win for Orlando would see the Purple Lions qualify for the semifinal stage in consecutive Open Cups as the club also reached the final four in 2019, the last time the competition was held in full due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

FOR YOUR SUMMER READING: A book about the highs and lows of the Rochester Lancers

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.