U.S. Soccer announced over the weekend that the Flint City Bucks (USL League Two) will host professional club Detroit City FC (USL Championship) for a second-round matchup of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Don Batchelor Field in downtown Grand Blanc.

The match will be played at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 1. Tickets — included with all 2026 Flint City season packages — are available now on the Bucks’ ticketing site: https://tickets.uslleaguetwo.com/events/flint-city-bucks-us-open-cup-2

Don Batchelor Field, a 6,000-seat venue on the Grand Blanc High School campus, also hosted the Bucks’ first-round match. After an eight-year absence, the Bucks returned to Open Cup play Thursday, winning 2-0 over Forward Madison FC of professional USL League One.

Detroit City FC, paired with Flint City based on a draw that factored location, plays in U.S. Soccer’s second professional tier. The winner on April 1 will advance to face a first-division Major League Soccer team on April 14 or 15 during the single-elimination tournament’s round of 32.

The Bucks are among eight remaining Open Division (semi-professional) teams in the tournament. The one that advances furthest will automatically qualify for the 2027 edition.

DCFC began its Open Cup campaign on Tuesday evening, winning 5-1 against Michigan Rangers FC (National Premier Soccer League) at the Legacy Center in Brighton. Last Saturday, the side also won its league opener 3-0 over Brooklyn FC at Keyworth Stadium in Hamtramck.

The Bucks last faced Detroit City in official competition in May 2018, when the latter side still competed in the fourth-division NPSL. DCFC claimed a round-one Open Cup victory in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw at Keyworth Stadium. The teams also played in the 2015 and 2016 cups. In the Bucks’ first friendly at Atwood Stadium in May 2019, newly dubbed Flint City were 1-0 victors.

The Bucks remain the most accomplished semi-professional club in the Open Cup’s modern era — entering 16 editions, playing 31 knockout matches, and winning 16 times, including twice over MLS teams. Thursday marked the side’s 11th cup win against professional opposition.

Flint City has applied to host all tournament matches. Later Open Cup games remain possible at the club’s usual home: Kettering University’s iconic Atwood Stadium in downtown Flint. * Atwood Stadium remains winterized through early April due to aging infrastructure.

About the Flint City Bucks
The Flint City Bucks are the nation’s premiere pre-professional soccer club and compete in fourth-tier USL League Two. The Bucks have reached the USL2 postseason in six consecutive seasons—every year calling Atwood Stadium home. In club history, the Bucks have 26 playoff appearances in 29 chances, four league national titles (including 2019), 12 conference championships (2025), and 17 division crowns (2025). Since their founding in 1996, the Bucks have never had a losing season.

Bucks in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Flint City Bucks returned to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2026 after accepting qualification for the first time since rehoming to Flint. The Open Cup—U.S. Soccer’s oldest competition, dating to 1914—is a single-elimination tournament featuring clubs from all levels across the country.

Now in its 111th edition, the Open Cup has crowned U.S. Soccer’s national champion since 1914. The history-filled tournament is open to all professional and amateur or semi-professional teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The 2025 winner earned a berth in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup and had its name engraved on the Dewar Challenge Trophy—one of the oldest nationally contested trophies in American team sports. The tournament featured a total purse worth $1 million.

The Bucks stand among the most decorated giant-killers in Open Cup history. In 16 tournament appearances since 1997, we have a record 11 wins over professional opponents—including landmark upsets of MLS sides New England Revolution in 2000 and Chicago Fire in 2012.

2026 season tickets: On sale now!
One ticket, two teams, all summer. Season-ticket holders for 2026 will receive admission to every single home match for both the Flint City Bucks (men) and Flint City AFC (women). You’ll be set for any friendlies (international and otherwise) and tournament games (including U.S. Open Cup and league playoffs). Packages start at just $125 for adults and $75 for youth ages 17 and younger. Flint City AFC will open its home slate Saturday, May 16, followed by Bucks opening night Saturday, May 30.

Flint City matchday: What to expect
Flint City matches are fun, affordable, and family-friendly—showcasing some of the best semi-professional soccer talent in the country. Flint, Michigan, is widely recognized as a destination for top NCAA players looking to join MLS, NWSL, and professional leagues worldwide. The Bucks attract top prospects from almost every continent, with more than a dozen countries represented on a typical roster.

Kettering University’s Atwood Stadium is a historic gem of a stadium—worth the price of admission on its own. Game nights feature an energized, outdoor, under-the-lights soccer experience alongside a festival-like environment for all to enjoy. Kids are always welcome to have fun on the pitch at halftime and meet and greet the players post-game for autographs and pictures. Join us today and don’t miss out on elite men’s and women’s semi-professional matches right here in beautiful downtown Flint.

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US Open Cup Second Round | Flint City Bucks vs. Detroit City FC

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US Open Cup Second Round | Flint City Bucks vs. Detroit City FC

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