MATCH PREVIEW: Houston Dynamo FC begins US Open Cup title defense against Detroit City FC

HOUSTON (May 6, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC kick off the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup title defense at Shell Energy Stadium on Tuesday, May 7, it will host USL Championship team Detroit City FC in the round of 16. The match is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 p.m. CT, and tickets are available HERE.

If the Dynamo advances to the Round of 16, Houston will travel to face the winner of Indy Eleven and San Antonio FC. The tournament champion will earn a spot in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, which would be Houston’s second consecutive appearance.

Houston finishes the week by returning to MLS play with a road trip to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, May 11, followed by a midweek road trip to in-state rival Austin FC on Wednesday, May 15 .

Dynamo won the 2023 US Open Cup with a 2-1 victory over Inter Miami CF at Chase Stadium in September. Houston’s scorers that night were Griffin Dorsey and Amine Bassi. Notably, Houston never trailed in a game during its championship campaign.

The victory secured Houston’s fourth national title in club history after the Dynamo won back-to-back MLS Cup titles in 2006 and 2007, as well as the 2018 US Open Cup.

Head coach Ben Olsen, who recently signed a multi-year contract extension with Dynamo, became the third coach to win the US Open Cup with two different teams, after winning the trophy as player (2008) and head coach (2013) with DC United. Assistant coach Aurélien Collin also won the 2012 cup title as a player for Sporting Kansas City.

Detroit City FC is competing in the USL Championship and currently sits in third place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 5-1-1 (WLD) and 16 points. Detroit advanced to the round of 16 after posting a 1-0 home win over local foes Michigan Stars FC, who compete in the NISA, earlier this month. The match was decided by a stoppage-time goal from Maxi Rodriguez.

Houston currently sits in eighth place in the Western Conference with a 4-4-2 record (WLD) and 14 points. Dynamo ended a two-match slide Saturday, earning a scoreless draw at home after keeping a powerful St. Louis CITY SC attack off the scoresheet. The result marked Houston’s third clean sheet of the season, while also managing a record 22 shots on the night. In addition, captain Héctor Herrera made his first start of the season after returning from injury.

Now in his 109^th edition, the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup has crowned a champion since 1914 every year except 2020 and 2021. The history-laden tournament is played on a single-match playoff basis and open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with US Soccer .

Houston finishes the week by returning to MLS play with a road trip to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, May 12, followed by a midweek road trip to in-state rival Austin FC on Wednesday, May 15 .