After a historic run in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the Blues are bringing the trophy home to Asheville and preparing for another shot at the national tournament in 2027.
Asheville City SC has had plenty of memorable moments over the years. However, the club’s 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run gave the Asheville soccer community something particularly special.
The Blues hosted two major matchups at Greenwood Field. Both games sold out, and both were featured on a national broadcast. Asheville City also earned its first-ever Open Cup win against a professional team. It made for an unforgettable couple of weeks.
The Blues’ run came to an end against professional side and defending USL League One Champions, One Knoxville SC. Still, the amateur club had plenty to celebrate. Asheville City left the tournament with the John Motta Trophy, awarded to the amateur club that advances furthest in the competition.
The trophy is a significant accomplishment for the club. But the experience was about much more than what happened on the field. The tournament brought some of the biggest games in club history to Asheville. It also introduced the city to a national soccer audience and showed just how much the club has grown.
A Run to Remember
The Blues opened their 2026 Open Cup campaign at home against USL League One side Greenville Triumph.
Asheville City came away with a 3-1 win. Evan Southern opened the scoring, followed by late goals from Ashton Bilow and Ben Assane Fall. Fall’s goal came on the final kick of the game. It also proved to be the difference in the race for the John Motta Trophy.
It was Asheville City’s first-ever Open Cup win and set up another huge night at Greenwood Field.
Next up was reigning USL League One champion One Knoxville SC. The two sides put on quite a show. Simon Carlson converted a second-half penalty to bring the Blues level at 1-1. The match also featured three red cards and plenty of drama before Knoxville won the penalty shootout.
While the result wasn’t what Asheville wanted, the performance was another reminder of what this group could accomplish. The Blues went toe-to-toe with an established professional side. Knoxville would later push an MLS opponent to penalties in the tournament.
For Asheville City, it was another step forward in a competition that has become an increasingly important part of the club’s story.
The Blues first qualified for the tournament in 2024 after their 2023 USL League Two season. They returned in 2025, as well. After falling to Knoxville in 2024 and Greenville on penalties in 2025, the 2026 campaign finally brought that first Open Cup win. It also brought home a trophy.
Asheville Showed Up
One of the biggest takeaways from the tournament wasn’t just what happened on the field. It was what happened around it. – the unique set of circumstances that only Cup completions provide. Both Open Cup matches at Greenwood Field were sellouts. Supporters and fans of all ages turned out for two games that felt bigger than a typical matchday.
For Asheville City, that’s what makes these opportunities so important. The Open Cup brought professional-level competition to a local field. It also gave people in the community a chance to experience something they might otherwise have to travel to see.
The tournament also gave Asheville a chance to reach soccer fans well beyond Western North Carolina.
National coverage of the tournament put Greenwood Field in front of an audience across the country. The timing was especially exciting, with 2026 also being a World Cup year. As attention turned toward the United States and the growth of soccer across the country, Asheville had its own opportunity to be part of that conversation.
Chief Brand Officer Tim Blekicki sees that as one of the biggest benefits of competing in the tournament.
“One of the most exciting things about the Open Cup is the opportunity to bring a national soccer competition to our community. We had crowds at Greenwood Field that were unlike anything we’ve experienced before, and we were able to showcase Asheville to soccer fans across the country,” Blekicki said. “That’s a tremendous opportunity for our club and our city, and we’re looking forward to building on that in 2027.”
The impact also goes beyond the two matchdays. Visiting teams and supporters bring more people to Asheville. That creates opportunities for local businesses and gives visitors another reason to experience the city.
It’s the kind of exposure that benefits more than just the club.
Taking the Trophy to the Final
While players and supporters experienced the excitement in Asheville, Chief Operating Officer, Sporting and Club Operations Mathes Mennell had the opportunity to represent the Blues at the U.S. Open Cup Final in Columbus, Ohio.
Mennell attended the final between Columbus Crew and St. Louis CITY SC. During the event, Asheville City was recognized for its accomplishments and presented with the John Motta Trophy.
“Attending the final and representing ACSC in Columbus was really special,” Mennell said. “The crowd was fantastic, with two highly engaged, enthusiastic fan bases. Columbus is one of the founding MLS clubs, and their fans were awesome; combined with a strong contingent of St. Louis fans, they gave the stadium a great vibe.”
The trip also gave Mennell a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into organizing the final. He had the chance to connect with people involved in running the tournament, too.
“Having behind-the-scenes access and a glimpse of what goes into the final match of the penultimate men’s club trophy competition in this country was a professional highlight, to be sure.”
Mennell came away with a positive impression of the tournament and the people working to grow it. He also appreciated how Asheville City was welcomed and recognized throughout the experience.
And then there was the trophy presentation. “Accepting the trophy in front of 20,000 fans and hearing them cheer our club’s achievements was a really cool moment,” Mennell said.
Ten Years of Asheville City
The 2026 Open Cup run is another milestone in what has been an incredible journey for Asheville City.
The club is getting ready to celebrate its 10th season in 2027. That’s a lot to look back on. From its early years to competing against professional clubs in the nation’s oldest soccer tournament, Asheville City has continued to grow both on and off the field.
That growth wouldn’t be possible without the people who have supported the club along the way.
President Jimmy Wheeler has been part of that journey. He sees the Open Cup accomplishment as a reflection of what the club and the Asheville community have built together.
“As we approach our 10th season, it’s incredible to look back at how much this club and our community have grown together. The Open Cup gave us an opportunity to bring some of the biggest moments in our club’s history to Asheville, and our supporters showed up in a way that made those moments even more special,” Wheeler said. “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built, and we’re excited to continue giving this community something to rally around.”
Community support has been a big part of the club’s identity from the beginning. That includes the South Slope Blues in the stands, families attending their first match, local businesses supporting the club, and fans who have been there since the early days.
Asheville City has always been about more than the 90 minutes on the field.
The Open Cup gave everyone another reason to come together. The response showed what is possible when the community gets behind an event like this.
And We’re Doing It Again in 2027
The best part? Asheville City isn’t done with the Open Cup.
By winning the John Motta Trophy, the Blues have already secured their place in the 2027 tournament. That means another opportunity to welcome professional clubs to Greenwood Field, bring big-time soccer to Asheville, and give the community another matchday to get excited about.
The 2026 tournament showed what can happen when those opportunities come to town. Both matches sold out, Greenwood Field welcomed the biggest crowds in club history, and Asheville became part of a national soccer conversation.
The timing makes the next campaign even more exciting. With the club celebrating its 10th season in 2027, there’s plenty of reason to make the next Open Cup run special.
The John Motta Trophy is a pretty great reminder of how far Asheville City has come. But if this past season showed us anything, it’s that there’s still plenty more to do.
We’ll see you at Greenwood Field.
