U.S. Open Cup

Steel City FC vs.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds

03.17.2026 | 7:00 PM
Highmark Stadium

The U.S. Open Cup is the oldest soccer tournament in America. Any club can enter: even a local, grassroots team from Pittsburgh like ours.

For Steel City FC, that meant funding and winning three qualifying matches just to earn a place.

Now, on the national stage, we’ve been drawn against the professional powerhouse and reigning USL Championship titleholders, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

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A rare moment for a local club

Steel City FC earned its place in the U.S. Open Cup by funding and winning every qualifying match required to get here.

When you buy tickets through Steel City FC, you are directly supporting the club and helping make moments like this possible—competing on a national stage against professional opposition like the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

This doesn’t come around often.

Why this match matters

Open to anyone

The U.S. Open Cup is the only national competition where grassroots and professional clubs compete side by side.

David vs. Goliath

This matchup brings a grassroots Pittsburgh club face to face with a fully professional opponent.

A First for Pittsburgh

This is the first time in history that Steel City FC and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds have met in any competition.

Two Tiers Apart

The Riverhounds compete two full levels—and over fifty places—above us in the U.S. soccer pyramid.

Support Makes It Possible

Tickets purchased through Steel City FC directly support the club—one match like this can help sustain a grassroots organization for months.

A Rare Showdown

Professional vs amateur matchups are uncommon in U.S. soccer—and even rarer on a national stage.

Steel City FC players and fans celebrating a last-minute winner in a US Open Cup qualifying match.

Be there for a night that matters

Local players.
Professional opposition.
One shared night.

Moments like this don’t belong to one club alone. They belong to the city that shows up for them.

On March 17, Steel City FC represents Pittsburgh in the U.S. Open Cup against the Riverhounds. Whether you’ve followed us for years or are just discovering the tournament, this is an invitation to be part of something that doesn’t come around often.