Pittsburgh Teams Face Off in Historic US Open Cup Clash

Nicky Kolarac, who has played for both the Riverhounds and Steel City FC, discusses the significance of the matchup.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 1:48pm

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Pittsburgh native Nicky Kolarac, who has played for three different teams in the US Open Cup, joined a local podcast to discuss the historic match between the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Steel City FC. The match on March 17 at Highmark Stadium will be the first time two teams from the Pittsburgh area have faced off against each other in the US Open Cup tournament since 1957 - a span of nearly 70 years.

Why it matters

The US Open Cup is a prestigious national soccer tournament that features teams from all levels of American soccer, making this an important local matchup with historical significance. The Riverhounds and Steel City FC are two of Pittsburgh's top soccer clubs, and this clash will showcase the city's rich soccer culture and heritage.

The details

Kolarac, who has played for the Michigan Bucks, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and Steel City FC in the US Open Cup, joined the Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast to provide insight on the upcoming match. The two Pittsburgh clubs will face off on March 17 at Highmark Stadium, the first time in nearly 70 years that two teams from the city have met in the proper US Open Cup tournament.

  • The match between the Riverhounds and Steel City FC will take place on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 7 p.m. local time.

The players

Nicky Kolarac

A Pittsburgh native who has played for three different teams in the US Open Cup: Michigan Bucks, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and Steel City FC.

Pittsburgh Riverhounds

A professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that competes in the USL Championship, the second tier of American soccer.

Steel City FC

A professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that competes in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), a Division III level league in the American soccer pyramid.

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What they’re saying

“The US Open Cup is a prestigious national soccer tournament that features teams from all levels of American soccer, making this an important local matchup with historical significance.”

— Nicky Kolarac, Player (Sounding Off on Soccer Podcast)

What’s next

The winner of the match between the Riverhounds and Steel City FC will advance to the next round of the 2026 US Open Cup.

The takeaway

This historic clash between two Pittsburgh soccer clubs showcases the city's rich soccer culture and heritage, as well as the significance of the US Open Cup tournament in bringing together teams from across the American soccer landscape.