It’s been a long time since a pair of local soccer teams played against each other in the U.S. Open Cup.
The event has been staged since 1914, when a club from Brooklyn took the crown. On Tuesday at Highmark Stadium, the defending USL champion Pittsburgh Riverhounds will “host” USL League Two’s Steel City FC as both teams begin their quest to win America’s oldest soccer tournament.
Two area teams haven’t faced each other in this event since 1957, when the Harmarville Hurricanes defeated a team from the Bridgeville area known as Morgan-Strasser, 2-1. The Hurricanes were the defending Cup champions, having won the title in 1956 (as well as 1952). They eventually lost in the semifinals of the 1957 tournament.
For Steel City, this is Year 5 of a merger of sorts between two youth organizations that came about in 2021 when Arsenal FC and the Pittsburgh Hotspurs combined rosters into their current form. This level of soccer is pre-professional and consists of players who are still in college or even high school. In 2025, Steel City played its first season in USL League Two and won its division with an 8-1-3 record.
Tuesday’s game was scheduled to be played on Steel City’s home site in Cheswick at Founders Field, but the ownership group at Steel City contacted the Riverhounds with what they felt was a better solution for this locally historic soccer event.
Steel City FC coach Dan Brower, a West Allegheny and Washington & Jefferson grad, understands the importance of Tuesday’s game.
“We were slated to host, but as our owners have said in the past, it just felt right that the game is played at Highmark.” Brower said. “It’s a great stadium. It’s a wonderful venue, and it is a unique opportunity for the game and for Pittsburgh’s soccer community. So we think it would be best for the game to be on this stage. We’re lucky to work with the Riverhounds to make this happen.”
Steel City will play the role of David as the area’s Goliath stands in its way of advancing. Beginning Year 27 are the defending USL champion Riverhounds, who navigated some new water in Saturday’s 3-2 come-from-behind win at Loudon United. The local 11 won their first match in 25 road trips where they got down early, only to come back and eventually win.
For Rob Vincent, it marked his first official victory as the man in charge. The three-goal barrage is also a rare feat for the Hounds as the club hit that mark just once in 2025, oddly enough under Vincent’s guiding hands Oct. 25 at Monterey Ba.
“I didn’t think we started well enough,” Vincent said Monday at the team’s practice facility in Montour. “We made some silly structural errors, but we keep addressing it. There were some positives, and we did some good things with the ball. It’s better to learn with three points in your pocket.”
As for the history of two local clubs sparring for a chance to advance into the next round of Open Cup play, Vincent offered similar words to his counterpart.
“It’s a great occasion,” Vincent said. “The Open Cup is amazing because it brings everybody together, and it’s been so long since two Pittsburgh teams have competed. It’s great for the rivalry that’s there a little bit. But in terms of our season, we want to continue to get better and make sure we progress into the next round.”
Midfielder Robbie Mertz saw his first action of the season in Saturday’s win. His family is all too familiar with Open Cup play as his brother played on Steel City two seasons ago, participating in the event.
“It’s amazing. From everything I’ve seen, we can expect a good crowd from both sides,” Mertz said. “It’s exciting for the city. Once in a blue moon to have two teams in the same city play in a derby match, it’s a good thing for everyone.”
The game starts just after 7 p.m. and can be seen via U.S. Soccer’s YouTube page. Tickets are still available via both teams’ respective websites and at the Highmark Stadium box office.