BREAKING NEWS: Flint City Bucks Set to Host Detroit City FC in U.S. Open Cup Showdown
- Jonathan Turner
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
Grand Blanc, MI — The Flint City Bucks are set for a high-profile showdown as they host Detroit City FC in the second round of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1 at Don Batchelor Field in Grand Blanc. Tickets are currently available through the Flint City Bucks ticketing platform and are included in all season ticket packages.
Flint City returns to Open Cup play in strong fashion after earning a 2-0 victory over Forward Madison FC in the first round—marking their return to the competition after an eight-year absence. The Bucks now face a major test against Detroit City FC, a USL Championship side competing in the second tier of U.S. Soccer.
Detroit City enters the matchup in form, coming off a 5-1 Open Cup win over Michigan Rangers FC and a 3-0 league-opening victory over Brooklyn FC.
The winner of Wednesday’s matchup will advance to the Round of 32, where they will face a Major League Soccer (MLS) opponent on April 14 or 15.
Flint City is one of just eight remaining non-professional (Open Division) teams left in the tournament, with the furthest-advancing team earning automatic qualification for the 2027 Open Cup.
Familiar Foes
This will be the latest chapter in a growing rivalry between Flint City and Detroit City FC. The two sides last met in Open Cup play in 2018, when DCFC advanced via penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Flint City earned a 1-0 win in a 2019 friendly at Atwood Stadium.
A Historic Cup Club
The Bucks remain one of the most successful semi-professional teams in modern Open Cup history. Across 16 appearances, the club has:
Played 31 matches
Earned 16 wins
Recorded multiple victories over MLS teams
Their first-round win over Forward Madison marked their 11th all-time Open Cup victory against professional opposition.
Venue & Outlook
Don Batchelor Field, located on the Grand Blanc High School campus, has a capacity of approximately 6,000 and also hosted Flint’s opening-round victory. The club has applied to host future matches, with potential later rounds returning to Atwood Stadium in downtown Flint.
About the Flint City Bucks
The Flint City Bucks compete in USL League Two and are one of the most decorated pre-professional clubs in the country. Since their founding in 1996, the Bucks have:
4 national championships (including 2019)
12 conference titles
17 division titles
26 playoff appearances in 29 seasons
The club has also never recorded a losing season.
About the U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest ongoing soccer competition in the United States, dating back to 1914. The tournament features clubs from all levels of American soccer in a single-elimination format. Now in its 111th edition, the competition awards a national champion, a $1 million prize pool, and a berth in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Flint City continues to build its legacy as one of the competition’s premier “giant killers,” with historic upsets over MLS clubs including the New England Revolution (2000) and Chicago Fire (2012).
For more information, visit https://www.irenesgb.com/.
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