The First Round of the 2025 U.S. Open Cup saw opportunities for some of the young players across the USL Championship and League One to take center stage, and they took full advantage of their opportunity to shine ahead of the weekend’s league action in both leagues.

Here are seven U-22 players you should know that impressed in the past seven days.

Rafael Jauregui, Charlotte Independence – While the 20-year-old showed flashes of what he could do in the USL Championship after graduating from Sacramento Republic FC’s Academy, Jauregui headed east for a fresh start with the Independence and has started brightly in his first two starts.

Facing a tricky road tie in the U.S. Open Cup last week against USL League Two’s Long Island Rough Riders, Jauregui recorded a pair of goals – including the extra-time winner – as he ended the night with three shots and completed 56 of 68 passes in 108 minutes of action.

“We scouted him and thought we saw a guy who is clever with good feet, but has some different ideas in and around the box,” said Independence Head Coach Mike Jeffries. “Tonight, it showed with two great finishes. Even just his movement off [Christian] Chaney and some of his chances and passes he slipped inside the box were really clever. … He is the type of player that you feel can develop into a higher-level player and hopefully have success here.”

Ramiz Hamouda, Birmingham Legion FC – The United States U-17 international is already on overseas radars and put up another solid defensive display on the road against Detroit City FC on Saturday night in Legion’s 2-2 draw at Keyworth Stadium. Hamouda had a team-high eight clearances while winning 7 of 11 duels, but it’s his composure on the ball that stood out against Le Rouge.

Twice in the first half, Hamouda worked his way out of pressure situations with clever pieces of footwork before moving possession onto a teammate. It’s rare to see this from a 16-year-old at this level.

Bryan Romero, El Paso Locomotive FC – The 22-year-old loanee from FC Juarez had a stellar individual week for Locomotive, scoring his first two goals in the U.S. Open Cup against Harpos FC on Wednesday night while also completing 73 of 82 passes and winning 3 of 4 tackles and 4 of 4 duels.

Coming back from an injury last season, the Mexican center back backed that up with another solid display in his side’s clash with New Mexico United on Saturday afternoon, winning 3 of 5 duels and 2 of 2 tackles and logging six clearances while completing 33 of 35 passes. Those were Romero’s first two starts of the season and could put him in line for more as Locomotive moves forward.

Leo Santos, One Knoxville SC – The 18-year-old has seen action as a USL Academy signing each of the past two seasons, and in a tricky road game against amateur side Appalachian FC in the U.S. Open Cup he broke through for his first goal for the club in the professional ranks.

A local product, Santos has been competing for Knoxville since it entered USL League Two in 2022 and this was his most complete performance to day. In addition to his bouncing finish to open the scoring, Santos won 5 of 8 duels and completed 1 of 2 dribbles to help the side to a 3-0 victory.

Tiago Suárez, Birmingham Legion FC – The 19-year-old brought plenty of bite to Legion’s back line in Detroit on Saturday evening, tying for the second-most duels won in a game this season (16 of 19) including going a perfect 10 of 10 in ground duels while also leading the side in winning six tackles in a 2-2 draw at Keyworth Stadium.

Suárez’s loan from the New England Revolution this season is targeted at getting the Republic FC Academy product added experience, and in his first league start of the season he came through with some real positives to his display at right back.

Xavi Gnaulati, Monterey Bay FC – The 20-year-old put up a pair of strong displays over the week, recording a pair of goals in MBFC’s 4-0 victory against International San Francisco in the U.S. Open Cup in midweek – a game in which Gnaulati was unlucky not to pick up an assist in his three chances created – before completing 23 of 26 passes and notching a pair of shots in the side’s win at Orange County SC.

Adewale Obalola, Hartford Athletic – While it came against amateur opposition, the 20-year-old shone brightly in Hartford’s 3-0 victory in the U.S. Open Cup against the New York Shockers last Tuesday, putting up a goal and assist on two chances created and completing 3 of 4 dribbles and 2 of 2 crosses.

As much as Hartford’s attack has looked out of sorts in its opening two games of the regular season, Obalola could be in line for a chance at a bigger opportunity when the side plays its home opener on Saturday afternoon against El Paso Locomotive.