By Mauricio Segura May 22, 2025
Photo: GBT Graphics
For Sacramento Republic FC, knockout competitions have offered some of the most dramatic chapters in the club’s young history. The second-tier side boasts one of the best U.S. Open Cup records in the modern era, repeatedly punching above its weight on the national stage. From giant-killing upsets to an improbable cup final run, the Republic has cemented a reputation as fearless contenders hungry for silverware.
Early Cup Adventures (2014–2019)
In their inaugural 2014 season, Republic FC wasted no time making a splash in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the nation’s oldest soccer tournament. That year they advanced to the fourth round and narrowly fell 2-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes, an MLS opponent that would become a recurring nemesis. The very next year Sacramento pushed San Jose to the brink, drawing 2-2 before heartbreakingly bowing out in a marathon penalty shootout. Club icon Rodrigo “RoRo” López nearly inspired an upset that night, setting the tone for Sacramento’s fighting spirit in cup play.
Not every chapter was triumphant. In 2016, Republic FC was stunned at home by amateur side Kitsap Pumas in the third round – a reminder that the magic of the cup cuts both ways. Still, Sacramento consistently made noise in this era. The club reached the Open Cup Round of 16 in both 2017 and 2018, only to be halted by Los Angeles’ MLS powerhouses – a 2-0 defeat to LA Galaxy and a narrow 3-2 loss to expansion LAFC. In 2019, the Quails dueled San Jose yet again in a seven-goal thriller, coming up just short in a 4-3 shootout loss. Sacramento had proven it could trade blows with top-flight teams – but its biggest chapter was still to come.
The Cinderella Run of 2022
After a two-year pause of the Open Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sacramento returned in 2022 with a storybook run for the ages. That year Republic FC became the first lower-division side in 14 years to reach the tournament’s final, toppling three consecutive MLS opponents along the way. Led by veteran playmaker Rodrigo López, who was the competition’s leading scorer, the underdogs knocked off the San Jose Earthquakes, stunned the LA Galaxy 2-1 in the quarterfinals, and then triumphed over four-time Open Cup champion Sporting Kansas City in a dramatic semifinal shootout. Heart Health Park erupted as Sacramento won on penalties to earn a spot in the championship match.
Though the final proved a bridge too far, the club did not go down without a fight. In the title match against Orlando City, the Republic held the MLS side scoreless through halftime, igniting hope that an upset was on the cards. Ultimately, Orlando broke through with a trio of second-half goals to defeat Sacramento 3-0, ending the incredible run one victory shy of the trophy. Despite the bittersweet finish, the 2022 “cupset” campaign captivated fans nationwide and etched Sacramento’s name into Open Cup lore.
Renewed Ambitions (2023–Present)
Following the 2022 heroics, Republic FC has continued to embrace cup competitions with its trademark tenacity. In the 2023 Open Cup, Sacramento dispatched local rival Oakland Roots SC before falling 4-2 to MLS side Colorado Rapids in the Round of 32. The next year, they recaptured some magic – ousting San Jose yet again in the 2024 Open Cup Round of 16 – before a narrow 2-1 quarterfinal defeat to the Seattle Sounders ended that run. By then, Sacramento had become a familiar giant-killer that top-flight clubs could no longer take lightly.
In 2025, the Quails’ Open Cup journey was cut short in the fourth round with a 2-1 loss to a motivated Earthquakes side, but another opportunity for glory emerged. This year ushered in the inaugural USL Jägermeister Cup, the first interleague tournament for clubs from the USL Championship and League One. Republic FC has embraced the new competition, kicking off the group stage with a gritty 1-0 victory over League One side AV Alta FC. As the club navigates this tournament alongside its league campaign, the goal is clear: add more silverware to the cabinet. Sacramento’s cup exploits, past and present, continue to showcase a team that lives for knockout drama, slaying giants, delighting fans, and proving that the magic of the cup is alive and well in California’s capital.
