Memphis 901 FC vs. Miami United preview: US Open Cup Returns to Memphis

For the first time since 2019, there will be a US Open Cup game played in Memphis. It was announced on April 4 that Memphis 901 FC would be hosting their Third Round game against Miami United. The last time Memphis 901 FC hosted US Open Cup games was in their inaugural season, when all three of their Open Cup games were played in Memphis: one at AutoZone Park (in front of a crowd of 4,057) and two in the stadium at Mike Rose (in front of respective crowds of 1,819 and 3,088).

Of course, no discussion of this year’s Open Cup can be properly had without making mention of the dastardly intentions of Major League Soccer. All professional teams in the American soccer pyramid are required to participate in the US Open Cup, per US Soccer. But in December of last year MLS told US Soccer they would not be playing and would instead be sending their reserve teams from the MLS Next Pro league. US Soccer told them no but after several months of talking, MLS got most of what they wanted. Now only eight of the 27 American MLS teams will be taking part in this year’s US Open Cup and the future of the competition remains uncertain.

Memphis 901 FC however, will be participating in the tournament as will all of the teams in the USL Championship. It’s a competition that the Beale Street Boys have traditionally performed well in. 2019 saw them beat the New York Red Bulls U23 team and then smash the Hartford Athletic before falling to MLS side Orlando City in a back and forth game. The next two editions of the tournament in 2020 and 2021 were canceled due to the COVID pandemic. But it was back in 2022 and so was 901 FC. Unfortunately, that was the year where 901 FC fell victim to the “Cupset” as they lost on the road to Chattanooga FC. The tables turned for the better in 2023 as 901 FC once again made a decent run by beating One Knoxville SC on the road before pulling off their own Cupset on the road against Atlanta United of MLS. Sadly they ran out of steam after that and were beaten 3-0 by the Birmingham Legion, again on the road.

The opponent that Memphis 901 FC will face down at AutoZone Park is a Miami United. They are something of an enigma. They appear, per their Twitter bio, to be part of a variety of leagues including the NPSL and the NSL. At the draw for the Third Round, US Soccer had them listed as a USSL team. Their continued participation in the tournament was thrown into question when, shortly after they were drawn against Memphis 901 FC, a report surfaced suggesting that their had been unusual betting activity on their previous US Open Cup game, a 2-0 win over Club de Lyon FC of NISA. But perhaps most famously, the only goal in their 1-0 win over Chattanooga FC in the First Round made the SportsCenter Top 10 Plays.

Shoutout to night 1 of #USOC2024. That goal for @miamiunitedfc made it onto the SportsCenter Top 10 at the number 5 spot tonight @opencup @usopencup pic.twitter.com/WODNWP1LWZ
— Douglas Reyes-Ceron (@dreyesceron) March 20, 2024