Orlando City to play four matches in next two weeks

The Lions face a busy schedule across the U.S. Open Cup and MLS regular season.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:04pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the action of a soccer match, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the vibrant colors of the Orlando City and FC Naples team uniforms.Orlando City's busy schedule ahead will test the team's resilience as they aim to make a deep run in the U.S. Open Cup and climb the MLS Eastern Conference table.Today in Orlando

Orlando City is set to play four matches over the next two weeks, including a U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 match against FC Naples on Wednesday night and three MLS regular season games against Houston, Charlotte, and D.C. United. The team has struggled in the 2026 campaign so far, currently sitting in 13th place in the Eastern Conference with a 1-5-1 record, but is hoping to turn things around during this busy stretch.

Why it matters

Orlando City's upcoming schedule will test the team's depth and resilience as they look to climb the Eastern Conference standings. The U.S. Open Cup match provides an opportunity for the Lions to defend their 2022 title, while the MLS games are crucial for the team to pick up points and improve their position in the table.

The details

Orlando City will first face FC Naples in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday night. The team has had success in the tournament in the past, winning it all in 2022, but lost in the Round of 16 last year. Following the cup match, the Lions will play three MLS regular season games against Houston, Charlotte, and D.C. United over the next two weeks.

  • Orlando City will face FC Naples in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.
  • The Lions will host Houston on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
  • Orlando City will host Charlotte on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
  • The team will travel to face D.C. United on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

The players

Zakaria Taifi

An Orlando City defender.

Marco Pašalić

An Orlando City forward.

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What they’re saying

“It's a big tournament. We already won, and we want to win again. That's the main goal.”

— Zakaria Taifi, Orlando City defender

“I'm happy that the team showed mentality today, that we showed that we can handle things after these big losses. And, I mean, on one side, I say this team didn't deserve these losses in the past, so I'm not going to speak about it anymore. I look to the future, and we can connect the future games to this game today.”

— Marco Pašalić, Orlando City forward

What’s next

Orlando City will look to build momentum from their 1-1 draw against Columbus as they face a busy schedule over the next two weeks. The team's performance in the U.S. Open Cup and MLS regular season matches will be crucial in determining their standing in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

Orlando City's upcoming schedule will test the team's depth and resilience as they aim to climb the Eastern Conference standings and defend their 2022 U.S. Open Cup title. The Lions' ability to navigate this busy stretch and pick up points could have a significant impact on their season.