The game itself (LIVE on Paramount+ and on air at CBS Sports Network) is an all-MLS classic, with the two teams – separated by less than 100 miles of Interstate 95 – embroiled in a long-simmering Northeastern rivalry. Both clubs, incidentally, are based in urban centers with deep roots in our historic Open Cup.
The New York Red Bulls – who last reached an Open Cup Final back in 2017, when Sacha Kljestan and Bradley Wright-Phillips were on the pitch instead of the studio coaches of MLS broadcasts – have been hot-and-cold in league play. Their opponents, the Philadelphia Union, have been pretty much exclusively hot and, at the time of publishing, sit top of the 2025 MLS regular season standings.
The Union have reached our Open Cup Final three times in their history, hosting twice, but are still waiting for that first trophy-lift. It may well be this year, with veterans like 38-year-old Alejandro Bedoya and up-and-comers like 15-year-old Cavan Sullivan (and his older brother Quinn of the USMNT) all playing a part to see the team firmly among the favorites to scoop this year’s Open Cup crown.
“Any opportunity to win a Cup with your team is obviously a huge incentive for the players,” said Indiana Vassilev, the Union’s Man of the Match when they knocked out the last remaining non-MLS team (the Pittsburgh Riverhounds) in the Round of 16. “We’re definitely looking to make a deep run.”
“We’re putting all our eggs in the basket and going for it,” said veteran Union and former USMNT midfielder Alejandro Bedoya. “When there’s a trophy on the line, you want to make sure you do everything you can to raise it up.”
The Union will have their hands full when the Red Bulls come to town again. Coach Sandro Schwarz is looking “to build emotions in the Open Cup” and while his RBNY team has been inconsistent in league play this term, they are quite simply unplayable when in the mood.
Big-name stars like Emil Forsberg and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting have combined with young up-and-comers Mohammed Sofo and goalkeeper AJ Marcucci, brought in for his first starts in RBNY’s first two 2025 Open Cup games.
