ORLANDO, Fla. (April 17, 2025) – Orlando City SC is set to take on the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Round of 32 of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the 110th edition of the cup competition. The match, reigniting the I-4 Derby, will take place on Wednesday, May 7 at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, with all Round of 32 matches scheduled to take place from May 6-7. City’s match against the Rowdies is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on Paramount+.
Additionally, hosting priorities for the Round of 16 were determined as a part of Thursday morning’s draw live on CBS Sports Golazo Network’s Morning Footy. The Lions hold hosting priorities in the Round of 16 and, should they advance past Tampa, would host the winner of the matchup between Nashville SC and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC.
The Rowdies currently rank 10th in USL Championship through the first five matches of the 2025 campaign, posting a 1-4-0 record for three points. Tampa Bay comes into the Round of 32 after starting its 2025 U.S. Open Cup run in the Third Round, playing to a 1-1 scoreline against USL League One side Naples FC and advancing 9-8 on penalties.
The last time the I-4 Derby was played was in the Third Round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, played at Inter&Co Stadium with Orlando City winning 2-1. The Lions hold a 7-0-0 record all-time against the St. Petersburg-based side.
The Open Cup is the oldest ongoing soccer competition in the United States and had been played 106 consecutive years since 1913 until the cancellation of the 2020 edition. City enters the Round of 32 as one of 16 Major League Soccer sides entering the competition at this stage, following a restructuring of MLS club qualification criteria for official North American cup competitions.
City holds an 18-10-5 record in the competition dating back to the 2011 campaign. The Lions’ have a storied history in the competition, including winning the Club’s first trophy in its MLS era by claiming the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 3-1 win over Sacramento Republic FC in the final, playing all six matches at Inter&Co Stadium, as well as the legendary “Running of the Wall” game against New York City FC at Inter&Co Stadium in 2019.
2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Round of 32:
Orlando City SC at Tampa Bay Rowdies
Weds., May 7 | 7:30 p.m. ET | Paramount+
Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fla.
