Nashville SC vs. Austin FC
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup | Final
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 | 7:00 p.m. CT
Q2 Stadium | Austin, TX
Broadcast Details
Watch | Paramount+, CBS Sports Network
Watch Party: U.S. Open Cup Final
The Boys in Gold play at Austin FC at 7 p.m. CT for the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final. Fans can help cheer on the Boys in Gold while the team seeks to win the first major professional sports championship in Tennessee and club history.
This free event will feature food trucks, games, giveaways and more and allow fans to tune into all the Open Cup Final action at GEODIS Park’s Publix Plaza.
Nashville SC looks to make club, city and state history Wednesday evening by securing its first-ever trophy in the U.S Open Cup Final against Austin FC, itself seeking its inaugural piece of silverware. The final takes place ahead of the last two matches of the MLS regular season, with Nashville’s spot in the playoffs already confirmed.
Key Storylines
A First Title for Tennessee
Tennessee is no stranger to professional sports. The NFL’s Houston Oilers relocated to Music City in 1997 (and rebranded as the Tennessee Titans in 1999), the NHL’s Nashville Predators played their inaugural season in 1998 and the NBA’s Vancouver Grizzlies moved to Memphis in 2001. Nashville SC is the state’s most recent professional debutant, playing its first MLS season in 2020. But while all of these teams are well-established, none have been able to secure a major pro championship … yet.
The Predators have come closest in recent history, winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2018 — awarded to the team with the most points in the regular season — on the back of a six-game Stanley Cup final defeat in 2017. The Titans lost by a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000, their most recent championship appearance, while the Grizzlies have yet to reach the NBA Finals. Nashville SC has made one final previously, the 2023 Leagues Cup, where it lost 10-9 on penalties to Inter Miami.
Wednesday’s Final thus presents a gilt-edged chance for the Boys in Gold. A win in Austin would, first and foremost, secure them the club’s first-ever piece of silverware. But in doing so, Nashville would also snap a nearly three-decade championship drought for the state of Tennessee and bring the state its first taste of major pro sports title glory.
Surridge’s Lead to Lose
Despite only playing two games in Nashville’s run to the Open Cup Final, English striker Sam Surridge is the runaway leader for the competition’s golden boot with a remarkable five goals. Surridge was responsible for all of Nashville’s goals in its dominant 3-1 semifinal win against Philadelphia, as well as two of the Boys in Gold’s five goals in their 5-2 demolition of D.C. United in the quarterfinal.
With Austin’s Brandon Vazquez (four goals, second place) out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery in July, Surridge holds a three-goal buffer on anyone he may face Wednesday. Should he hold the lead at the end of full-time, he would secure the first top-scoring award of his career — and potentially of the season, should he claw back the two-goal gap between him and Lionel Messi for top spot in MLS.
Sticking With Schwake?
With 296 career appearances in MLS across 15 seasons and 76 clean sheets to his name, veteran goalkeeper Joe Willis is as proven a commodity a team could have. He’s been steady as ever in 2025, too, trusted with the starting job in each of Nashville’s 32 regular-season matches, saving nearly 70% of the shots he has faced. But head coach B.J. Callaghan has opted for youth throughout the team’s Open Cup run, starting backup Brian Schwake in every match so far.
The Illinois native has been steady at the back for the Boys in Gold, but Wednesday’s match provides a different test for the young shot-stopper with a trophy on the line. Will Callaghan opt for the proven experience of Willis, or continue to put his faith in the in-form but greener Schwake?
Series History + What's Next
As two of MLS’ more recent additions — Nashville in 2020, Austin in 2021 — history between the two clubs is limited. The teams have only shared a pitch four times in competitive matches, with Nashville holding a 2-1-1 series advantage and an edge in goals scored (five to three). Austin also has yet to beat Nashville at Q2 Stadium, with the only previous match ending in a 1-1 draw in September 2022.
Nashville travels north upon the conclusion of Wednesday’s match to play its final road game of the MLS regular season at Montreal, slated for a 1:30 p.m. CT kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 4.
