Columbus Crew Face USL's Richmond Kickers in U.S. Open Cup

Crew look to bounce back from MLS struggles in cup competition

Apr. 15, 2026 at 9:56pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a soccer match, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant green, blue, and orange hues.The U.S. Open Cup provides the struggling Columbus Crew a chance to find success and momentum outside of their MLS campaign.Columbus Today

The Columbus Crew are set to face off against USL League One's Richmond Kickers in the round of 32 of the U.S. Open Cup, their first appearance in the tournament since 2023. After failing to qualify for the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, the Crew are viewing this as an opportunity to rotate in some new players and potentially make a run in the cup competition.

Why it matters

The Crew have struggled in MLS regular-season play so far in 2026, going 1-3-3 and losing striker Wessam Abou Ali to a season-ending ACL tear. The U.S. Open Cup provides a chance for the team to find some momentum and success outside of their league campaign.

The details

The Crew were given an automatic bye for the opening two rounds of the U.S. Open Cup, and will now face off against the Richmond Kickers, a USL League One side. Head coach Henrik Rydstrom says this will be an opportunity to rotate in some players who haven't been regular starters in MLS play.

  • The Crew last appeared in the U.S. Open Cup in 2023, when they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the USL Championship's Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
  • The Crew won their only U.S. Open Cup title in 2002, marking the organization's first major trophy.

The players

Columbus Crew

The professional soccer team based in Columbus, Ohio that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Richmond Kickers

A professional soccer team based in Richmond, Virginia that competes in USL League One, the third tier of the United States Soccer Pyramid.

Henrik Rydstrom

The current head coach of the Columbus Crew.

Wessam Abou Ali

A striker for the Columbus Crew who suffered a season-ending ACL tear.

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What they’re saying

“We need to bring into consideration that we have some players that we are pushing quite hard. So, there will be an opportunity for some players to start, who've haven't been starting games for a while.”

— Henrik Rydstrom, Head Coach, Columbus Crew

What’s next

The winner of the Columbus Crew vs. Richmond Kickers match will advance to the round of 16 in the 2026 U.S. Open Cup.

The takeaway

The Columbus Crew's struggles in MLS this season have them looking to the U.S. Open Cup as a chance to find success and momentum, while also providing opportunities for some lesser-used players to get minutes. A deep run in the cup competition could be a much-needed boost for the Crew.