With only six matches left in the group stage of the inaugural USL Jägermeister Cup, the pressure is rising with just four clubs remaining in contention to win their respective groups and 11 still alive to claim the Wild Card spot in Round 8. Detailed below are some high-stakes matches to keep an eye on along with knockout-clinching and elimination details in the tournament's final round.

• MORE: Enter the USL Jägermeister Cup Round 8 Pick 'Ems

As a reminder, the 2024 USL Jägermeister Cup includes a group stage and a knockout round that creates additional matches of consequence in the annual calendar. The three groups - West, Central and East - consist of four clubs each and are built to emphasize regional rivalries.

The competition also includes non-traditional modifications that encourage attacking soccer and provide entertaining moments for fans, including goals scored determining one of four knockout round spots and matches ending level after full time advancing to a penalty kick shootout with the winning team earning an additional point.

There's a lot on the line in the 15th all-time meeting between Madison and Omaha - the first outside of USL League One play. If the 'Mingos avoid defeat against the Owls, they'll punch their ticket to the knockouts and host a Semifinal match on Sept. 11 at Breese Stevens Field. On the other hand, the Owls are out of contention in the West Group but still have just as much to play for. If Omaha can retain its scoring lead among non-group winners, it'll lock up the Wild Card spot and travel to Northern Colorado, Madison or Lexington in the Semifinals. The 'Mingos maintain the all-time advantage in the tight series at 4-3-7, and the pair of in-form sides are getting hot at the right time; Madison - unbeaten across its last four - and Omaha - unbeaten across its last three - have not conceded a goal in either of their last two matches.

It'll come down to the final round in the East Group with a top-of-the-group clash between Carolina rivals Greenville and Charlotte. Both sides control their own destiny, and whichever team earns more points than their opponent on Friday will advance to the knockout round and be treated with a Semifinal road trip to Northern Colorado, Madison or Lexington. An even 5-5-0 all-time series spanning USL League One, USL League One Playoffs and USL Jägermeister Cup play will pit a Greenville side eager to end a four-match winless streak - its longest since June 2023 - against a Charlotte team riding a nine-match unbeaten stretch - its longest since August 2017.