The us open cup brings New England Revolution back to Centreville Bank Stadium on Tuesday night for a Round of 32 rematch with Rhode Island FC. Kickoff is set for 7: 00 p. m. ET, with New England technically listed as the host but making the short trip south for the match. The game comes with the sides meeting for only the second official time, and New England carrying confidence after a home win over D. C. United.
New England Arrive With Momentum
New England enter the us open cup after a 1-0 victory over D. C. United, a result that gave the club its third straight home win and second consecutive shutout. The Revolution sit eighth in the MLS Eastern Conference with a 3-3-0 record and nine points, and Tuesday’s match opens their 2026 Lamar Hunt U. S. Open Cup run.
The Revolution and Rhode Island FC met once before in last year’s Round of 32, when New England won 2-1. With at least four matches left through the end of April, Tuesday night also gives New England a chance to manage minutes for players outside the starting lineup while staying sharp in a busy stretch.
Rhode Island FC Chase Another Cup Breakthrough
Rhode Island FC arrive with mixed league form but a strong Open Cup path. In USL Championship play, they are 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 1-2-2 record and five points, and they earned their first league win of the season on Saturday with a 3-1 result at Lexington SC. Through five matches, Rhode Island have scored seven goals, conceded eight, and posted one clean sheet.
The club reached the Round of 32 with two multi-goal shutout wins in the tournament, beating CD Faialense 4-0 and Hartford Athletic 2-0. Both victories came at Centreville Bank Stadium, which adds another layer to Tuesday’s matchup even though New England are the technical hosts.
Players To Watch In A Tight Rematch
Revolution midfielder Cristiano Oliveira is one name to watch. The 18-year-old signed a Homegrown contract at the start of the 2026 season, made his first-team debut last season against Rhode Island FC in the 2025 Round of 32, and scored the winning goal in the final minutes. He has started all four of his appearances for Revolution II this season and has two assists.
For Rhode Island FC, forward JJ Williams remains a central threat. He is the club’s joint all-time leading scorer with 19 goals, and while he has not scored in league play this season, he leads the team with two assists in USL Championship matches and three across all competitions. In Rhode Island’s last Open Cup outing against Hartford Athletic, Williams had a goal and an assist in the 2-0 win that sent the club into this round.
What Happens Next
Tuesday’s match will offer a clearer read on how both teams handle a compact schedule and a rivalry-like setting at Centreville Bank Stadium. If New England can extend their home run, the us open cup path opens with another controlled step; if Rhode Island FC can force a result, the us open cup will deliver the kind of early-round momentum the club has already shown it can build at home.
