MATCH PREVIEW: Quakes return home for Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 clash with Minnesota United FC

The San Jose Earthquakes are back at home to face Minnesota United FC on Tuesday night for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Kickoff from PayPal Park is set for 7 p.m. PT and will be streamed on Paramount+ as well as broadcast on CBS Sports Golazo Network. 

The Earthquakes sit atop both the Western Conference and Supporters' Shield standings after a club-record 9-1-0 league start and 10-1-0 across all competitions, with a thrilling 3-2 comeback road win over St. Louis CITY SC last Saturday the latest notch in the win column. 

Timo Werner scored twice and added an assist to help erase a 2-1 second-half deficit, earning MLS Player of the Week honors for Matchday 10 and extending San Jose's winning streak to six straight league games, matching the club record set during their 2005 Supporters' Shield campaign, while becoming the first team in the post-shootout era to win nine of their first 10 MLS games. The Quakes also made league history by matching the 2022 Red Bull New York team with their fifth straight road win to open the season while beating St. Louis for the first time in seven tries in the process. 

In their last U.S. Open Cup match on April 15 in the Round of 32, San Jose posted a dominant 2-0 home victory over USL Championship side Phoenix Rising FC, with Nick Fernandez and Jack Jasinski each scoring their first career goals. 

Tuesday marks the first time San Jose and Minnesota have met in the U.S. Open Cup. In league play, the Quakes are 5-8-4 all-time against the Loons in the MLS regular season, with Minnesota winning all four of their previous matchups. At PayPal Park, the Quakes are 3-4-2 against MNUFC.  

The Quakes are aiming to reach the final eight for the second consecutive season under second-year Head Coach Bruce Arena, who won the U.S. Open Cup in 1996 with D.C. United. Both the Quakes and MNUFC met their tournament last year against Austin FC, who eliminated both San Jose (Quarterfinals: 2-2, 4-2 PKs) and Minnesota (Semifinals: 2-1) en route to the Final, where they lost to Nashville, 2-1. 

Minnesota United enters the match after advancing past USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC in their Round of 32 matchup, winning a penalty kick shootout 9-8 following a 0-0 draw in regulation and extra time. In league play, the Loons currently sit fifth in the Western Conference (5-2-3), 10 points behind San Jose after a 1-0 home loss to LAFC snapped a six-game unbeaten run across all competitions. 

Spearheading the Loons’ attack is Colombian international James Rodríguez, who Minnesota signed in February on a guaranteed contract through June 2026. The veteran midfielder has made two starts in seven appearances for the club, including the last Open Cup match against Sacramento Republic FC and his first MLS start against LAFC. In addition, Designated Player Kelvin Yeboah leads the team in goals this season with five across all competitions. There is a Bay Area connection on the Loons’ roster: Goalkeeper Drake Callender grew up playing in the Quakes Academy (2013-16) and collegiately at the University of California, Berkeley. 

With momentum firmly on their side and the home crowd behind them, the Earthquakes will look to avenge their recent struggles against Minnesota and advance to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals for the second consecutive season as they march toward that elusive first trophy.