HUGE SOCCER WEEKEND!!! US OPEN Cup and Champions League

This weekend will be a huge weekend for soccer in the Tennessee Valley.  There are two high quality US Open Cup Qualifying tournaments within a two hour drive from Huntsville and a dream match up in the Champions League Final on TV.


US Open Cup Weekend in NPSL SE Region

The NPSL Southeast Region season will take a break for the week to focus on determining a qualifier for the US Open Cup tournament.  The NPSL has been given four automatic spots in the nearly one hundred year old knockout tournament.  Previously, each NPSL club had to qualify out of its USASA region to gain entry to the tournament (see next section).  Each NPSL region has been given free reign to decide how to determine its qualifier with the Southeast Region electing to hold a mini-tournament over the Memorial Day weekend at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.  Here's the schedule of games.

All times Eastern
Friday, 5:30 PM Knoxville Force v Jacksonville United
Friday, 8:00PM Rocket City United v FC Tulsa
Saturday, 5:30 PM Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves v Winner Friday 5:30 PM Game
Saturday, 8:00 PM Chattanooga FC v Winner Friday 8:00 PM Game
Sunday, 7:00 PM Winner Saturday 5:30 PM Game v Winner Saturday 8:00 PM Game

Tickets are available for $5 per game or $15 for all 5 games.  At this price, it's well worth the short drive up to Chattanooga.


USASA Region III US Open Cup Qualyfying in Tuscaloosa

Of course, if you wanted to drive in the other direction, you could catch some pretty good soccer in Tuscaloosa this weekend, too.  The US Amateur Soccer Association Region III will be holding its tournament over Memorial Day weekend, too.  Eight teams from six states (but none from Alabama) will compete for two slots in the US Open Cup.  The schedule will be published on Thursday night from a blind draw in Tuscaloosa.   Until the NPSL was granted the 4 automatic berths this year, the Region III tournament was the route teams like RCU would take to attempt to qualify.


Champions League Final on FOX!!!

Oh! BTW, there's a little soccer match on TV, too.  Manchester United doesn't often find themselves the underdog, but that's what they are in this match against Barcelona.  The game will be shown on FOX54.  That's right!  For the second year in the row, the UEFA Champions League will be shown over the air on FOX in America.  The broadcast starts a 1PM with the kickoff at 1:45PM.  If I hear of any watch parties, I'll let you all know.