US Soccer conducted the draw for the fourth round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup today, with D.C. United facing USL side North Carolina FC. United, who have won the competition three times (1996, 2008, 2013), will host North Carolina on June 6th at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Streaming details have not yet been announced, though US Soccer has managed to provide a stream for nearly every game of the tournament thus far.
Before the draw, US Soccer placed each of the remaining 32 teams into groups of four largely based on geography. United was placed in the Mid-Atlantic group along with North Carolina, the Richmond Kickers, and the Philadelphia Union, and per US Soccer’s rules, only groups featuring three MLS sides could have an all-MLS match in this round. If United advances to the fifth round, they will face the winner of the Union’s game against the Kickers, which will be played at Talen Energy Stadium. Fifth round dates have not been finalized, though previously US Soccer has said that games can be played on June 16th, 17th, or 20th.
United has never faced North Carolina in any competition. However, NCFC had some deep runs in the tournament back when they were the Carolina Railhawks. In 2007, they went all the way to the semifinal, taking the New England Revolution to extra time before falling 2-1. Aside from that, they made two separate runs to the quarterfinals, and made a near-annual tradition of knocking the LA Galaxy out (which they did three times).
NCFC’s roster includes former United midfielder Austin da Luz along with several other MLS veterans, and the team is coached by former FC Dallas boss Colin Clarke. The club moved to the USL this season after the demise of the NASL late last year.