The Loons step back into the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in the San Francisco Bay Area. Specifically, to the city of San Jose, where the San Jose Oaks in 1992 were the last San Jose team to win the Open Cup. The Oaks win was the first in a trio of consecutive Cup wins by Bay Area amateur clubs, at a time when professional participation was limited.
Oaks still exists in the amateur leagues of California, as do their successors, San Francisco CD Mexico, now (very well) known as El Farolito. The Quakes own a 24-20 all-time record in the tournament, although the positive side of the ledger is considerably boosted by 20 wins against non-MLS teams. They have not made it past the semifinals, an achievement they have to their name twice, most recently in 2017. The two sides have never met in the Open Cup (according to MLS) or the MLS Cup Playoffs before tonight. Therefore, the only knockout match between the two clubs to date was the Quarterfinals of the MLS Is Back Tournament, which finished 4-1 to Minnesota. The only member of that MNUFC squad still with the club, Michael Boxall, remains off the pitch with an injury.
The Loons come into tonight's game off the back of the illogical and disappointing 1-0 loss to LAFC and a stunningly dull Round of 32 match. That match is Minnesota United's only loss in their past eight matches, previously having gone on a seven match unbeaten run. Minnesota's biggest question will be if they can break the best defence in MLS and hold off their top of the league offence.
Conversely, San Jose are unbeaten since March 14th, their only loss of the season so far, and sit top of the MLS Western Conference. The Quakes have scored 25 goals in 10 league matches, averaging 2.5 goals per match just in MLS play. What makes the Earthquakes dangerous on the attack is the fact that they do not have just a single primary goalscorer. Rather six players have multiple goals this season, lead by Preston Judd with six followed Ousseni Bouda and Timo Werner with five and four goals respectively.
News & Notes
MNUFC2 won their home opener at Allianz Field on Sunday, garnering only their second ever win against North Texas SC.
Want to watch some Late Night Loons with other supporters? Dark Cloud & Red Loons will be at Black Hart of St. Paul.
Dark Clouds will also have a Minneapolis watch party at Becketts in Uptown.
Kickoff is set for approximately 9:00pm tonight. It can be watched on CBS Sports Golazo and Paramount+.
Tonight's winner advances to the Quarter-Finals of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, set to be held in May ahead of the World Cup break.
Availability (as of 26 April)
SJ | Out: Vítor Costa (lower body), DeJuan Jones (lower body) ; Questionable: None
MIN | Out: Michael Boxall (adductor), Peter Stroud (quad), Julian Gressel (broken toe), Carlos Harvey (lower body) ; Questionable: None
Staff Predictions
- Tim McLaughlin: 3–1 San Jose
- Michael Lake: 2–1 Loons
- Bridget McDowell: 3–1 Loons
- Seth Steffenhagen: 3–1 Loons
- Ashle Paige: 1–1, Loons in PKs
- Knives Paige: 2–1 Loons
Guest Prediction
- Non-League Editor & Open Cup guru Tim Abbott: 2–1 Loons
