U.S. Soccer Awards Flint City Bucks Host Bid for 2026 U.S. Open Cup First Round

Jonathan Turner
4 days ago
3 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

Bucks to face USL League One’s Forward Madison FC on March 19 in Grand Blanc

GRAND BLANC, Mich. (NSN) — Jan. 20, 2026 — U.S. Soccer has awarded the Flint City Bucks a host bid for the first round of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, setting up a professional showdown against USL League One side Forward Madison FC.

The match will kick off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at Don Batchelor Stadium in downtown Grand Blanc. The 6,000-seat multipurpose venue, opened in 2023 by Grand Blanc Community Schools, will host its first U.S. Open Cup match.

U.S. Soccer conducted the draw Tuesday for the 111th edition of the nation’s oldest soccer competition, which dates back to 1914. The single-elimination tournament features clubs from every level of the American soccer pyramid.

Tickets for the March 19 match are included with all Flint City Bucks and Flint City AFC season-ticket packages and are available now to the general public at flintcitybucks.com.

Bucks Return to Open Cup Play

The Bucks accepted a U.S. Open Cup invitation for the first time since relocating to Genesee County in 2019. Flint City earned one of USL League Two’s nine automatic berths by winning the Great Lakes Division with a 9-3-0 record during the 2025 season, bypassing the Open Division qualifying rounds.

Forward Madison FC, founded in 2019, is a founding member of the fully professional USL League One. The Wisconsin-based club has competed in five consecutive U.S. Open Cups, winning all five of its first-round matches and advancing to the third round twice, where it faced Major League Soccer opponents.

The 2026 tournament will feature 32 semi-professional and amateur Open Division teams, each matched against professional opposition in the opening round. Professional teams come from the USL Championship, USL League One, and MLS NEXT Pro.

The furthest-advancing Open Division team will earn $50,000 in prize money and an automatic berth in the 2027 U.S. Open Cup. The second round will be played March 31 and April 1, with the third round scheduled for April 14 or 15.

The Bucks have applied to host all Open Cup matches, with later-round games potentially returning to the club’s traditional home at Atwood Stadium in downtown Flint.

A Historic Open Cup Resume

Flint City is among the most accomplished semi-professional clubs in U.S. Open Cup history. Since being founded in 1997 as the Mid-Michigan Bucks, the club has made 15 Open Cup appearances, playing 30 matches, including 22 at home.

The Bucks hold a tournament-record 10 wins over professional opponents, highlighted by two of the most iconic upsets in Open Cup history. In 2000, they became the first Premier Development League team to defeat an MLS club with a 1–0 win over the New England Revolution. In 2012, the Michigan Bucks defeated the Chicago Fire 3–2 in extra time, becoming the first semi-pro team in the modern era to defeat multiple MLS opponents.

Community Leaders React

Grand Blanc Community Schools superintendent Trevor Alward said hosting the tournament is a point of pride for the district.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our community and the greater Genesee County area to the world,” Alward said. “Hosting a U.S. Soccer-sponsored Open Cup match reinforces our district’s ‘Tradition of Excellence.’”

Flint City Bucks president Costa Papista emphasized the collaborative effort behind securing the host bid.

“We are grateful and honored that U.S. Soccer selected our club to host this first-round Open Cup match in Genesee County,” Papista said. “We feel prepared to take another run at this historic David vs. Goliath tournament and bring something truly special to our fans.”

Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Leigh LaForest highlighted the regional impact.

“This event will shine a spotlight on Grand Blanc and Genesee County, bringing excitement, pride, and meaningful economic impact to our local businesses,” LaForest said.

Grand Blanc mayor John Creasey echoed that sentiment.

“Hosting the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a tremendous opportunity for our city and the greater Genesee County area,” Creasey said. “Personally, I’m excited.”