US Open Cup final: Austin FC has eyes on first-ever trophy

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin FC needs one more win to capture the first trophy in franchise history, and they’ll have the opportunity to do it in their home stadium.

The club takes on Nashville SC at 7 p.m. Wednesday for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup championship, with the winner not only hoisting a trophy for the first time, but also a spot in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

First-year Austin FC head coach Nico Estevez said the players are pumped for the chance to win the franchise’s first title, but they also need to temper their excitement and stay the course.

“For us, it’s a balance with the mental excitement and the emotion, along with the plan,” he said. “It’s about how we can control the opponent and how we can play our best version against a team that makes you think a lot.”

With the tournament running concurrently with the Major League Soccer schedule and other tournaments, it has been a long road to the final. Austin FC had to rally from a two-goal deficit in its first match to beat USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive 3-2 on May 7, and two weeks later, they took out the Houston Dynamo 3-1.

In the quarterfinals July 8, Austin needed a huge night from goalkeeper Brad Stuver to beat San Jose in a shootout following a 2-2 draw. Myrto Uzuni equalized the match on a penalty kick in the 115th minute, and then Stuver stopped two shots in the shootout. He made nine saves in regulation and extra time.

Stuver signed a two-year contract extension with the club Sept. 27. The team can add another year to his deal with an option in 2028. Stuver’s guaranteed salary in 2025 is $507,313, according to data provided by the MLS Players Association.

The tournament resumed Sept. 17 for the semifinals, and Austin traveled north to beat Minnesota United 2-1, thanks to a game-winning goal in the 120th minute from CJ Fodrey.

Austin is also in line to make the MLS playoffs, currently in sixth place in the Western Conference with 44 points and three matches remaining. They haven’t officially clinched a playoff spot yet, but any result other than a loss Saturday against St. Louis should solidify the team’s return to the postseason.

After finishing five points out of playoff position last year, the club fired head coach Josh Wolff and brought Estevez in as a fresh perspective and voice. After going through a rough patch early in the season, Austin bounced back by sticking with the process.

“It’s about how we responded in difficult moments,” Estevez said. “We came through the tough moments as a unit, and seasons aren’t all in one direction. You have to be ready in the down moments with how you’re going to respond and what capacity you have to change it.”

The club closes out the MLS regular season with matches against LAFC on Oct. 12 and San Jose on Oct. 18. If Austin hangs on and qualifies for the postseason, it’ll be the first time since 2022, when they lost in the conference finals.