Commerce City, CO– For the first time since 2023, the Colorado Rapids, and not the second team, will be participating in the US Open Cup. Don’t ask how that game went. Back in the most historic competition in the United States, and out of the cash grab Leagues Cup. It’s a good year for the Colorado Rapids. It would be better with a deep US Open Cup run. First, the Rapids have to get past Union Omaha. Let’s take a look at the matchup.
When: Tuesday, April 14th @ 7:30 p.m. MST
Where: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
TV/Streaming: Fubo Sports, Paramount Plus, CBS Sports Network
Red-Hot Start for Omaha
The USL League One (third division) team is off to a hot start in 2026. After starting the year with a 1-0 loss to Spokane Velocity, Union Omaha has rattled off six straight wins. This includes two wins in the US Open Cup already, the most recent against a USL Championship (second division) side, Indy Eleven. Omaha already has a taste for cupsets, and they will be in Colorado with the goal of making it two in a row.
Much like the Rapids, Union Omaha has scored 19 goals in their first seven games. It was much helped by an 8-0 thrashing of semi-pro BOHFS St. Louis. It’s still a mighty impressive stat, coupled with the fact that Omaha concedes an average of one goal per game, and you have a team that’s going to win a lot of games. If that can translate against MLS opponents will be the big question.
Rapids’ US Open Cup History and Lack of Against Union Omaha
The Colorado Rapids and Union Omaha have never played each other. This will be the first matchup between the two sides. This makes sense as Union Omaha made its debut in American soccer in 2020. The six-year-old club has been one of the most successful clubs in USL League One. Omaha has made the playoffs every year since its inaugural season, won the championship twice, and recorded three regular-season first-place finishes.
It’s not going to be an easy game for the Rapids, who have notoriously been disappointing in the US Open Cup. Colorado is the only MLS team to lose a final to a lower-division side, after their 1999 US Open Cup final loss to the Rochester Rhinos. The Rapids have never won the US Open Cup. Colorado will finally get another chance at this historic trophy.
It will be interesting to see how Wells takes this competition. He will not be oblivious to this type of competition. It may remind him of the FA Cup. Hopefully, Wells will take the competition more seriously than previous Rapids managers.
Lineup Prediction:
Hansen / Rosenberry (c), Murphy, Cobb, M. Navarro / Fadal, Wathuta, Harris / Manyoma, Yapi, Jamison
Take these predictions with a grain of salt. There will always be rotation. You would love to give players opportunities while staying competitive and giving key players rest. I would not be shocked if Wells opts for even more rotation, maybe Donavan Philip or Billo Diop for Yapi, or Kimani Stewart-Baynes for Manyoma. It’s a fine line between squad rotation and taking the competition seriously. It’s a tough task for Wells, and one he would like to get right.
Prediction: Colorado takes care of business on the short week, though Union Omaha makes it a good game. The Rapids win this one 3-1.
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Matt Pollard 
Eamon Shaw 