The 2025 USL Jägermeister Cup continues this week with a slate of 17 games between Wednesday and Saturday night as clubs from the USL Championship and League One continue their road to a Shot at Glory.

We’ve picked out a game from each group to watch from Saturday night’s slate as teams look to build on their opening results and position themselves to advance as one of the group winners or two wild cards into the Quarterfinals. Find out why you should tune into each game throughout the night and then make your picks for the correct result in each game.

Group 1 – Sacramento Republic FC vs. Las Vegas Lights FC

Due to the odd number of teams in Group 1, while this will be a return to the scene for Las Vegas Lights FC’s heaviest league defeat this season – a 5-0 loss to Sacramento Republic FC just over a week ago at Heart Health Park – it also offers the visitors a chance to cement their position at the top of Group 1 with a game to play. The Lights picked up a maximum six points from their wins against Orange County SC (3-1) and AV ALTA FC (2-1) to open the group stage to put it in with a chance of either winning the group or advancing as a wild card.

For Republic FC, which had a bye this past weekend after its biggest win under Neill Collins to date, getting not only victory, but a win in regulation to move level with the Lights on points from its second game is a must. They might not be able to produce the same lopsided scoreline as on May 17 this time around – the prior time the Lights were overwhelmed by FC Tulsa on April 19 they responded with a four-game undefeated streak and conceded only twice – but the hosts need to find a way to get the opening goal and make Las Vegas come out of their shell.

Group 2 – El Paso Locomotive FC vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Due to the luck of the draw, this will mark reigning USL Championship title-holder Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC’s debut in the USL Jägermeister Cup, and they’ll head to face El Paso Locomotive FC aiming to at least keep pace with current Group 2 frontrunners New Mexico United and San Antonio FC. With the side off to a slow start to the season overall after its loss to Orange County on Saturday night, this is an opportunity to try and get things moving in the right direction.

Locomotive, meanwhile, have become one of the most attractive teams to watch in the Championship over the past month. One of the club’s hiccups this season, however, came on the road at Texoma FC in the opening round of games. El Paso was held to a 0-0 draw over 90 minutes by the expansion League One side and emerged with a 6-5 win in a penalty shootout to pick up the bonus point. Sitting one point back of New Mexico and San Antonio, getting maximum points here could be essential to their hopes of advancing.

Group 3 – FC Tulsa vs. Birmingham Legion FC

One of the themes for the USL Jägermeister Cup is the opportunity it offers a club that’s off to a slow opening to the season to move things in the right direction. That could easily be said of Birmingham Legion FC, which notched just its second win so far in the Championship this past Saturday but picked off a confident 3-1 victory against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC to open its campaign in late April to sit on top of the Group 3 standings after the opening round.

Now under new Head Coach Mark Briggs, Legion will look to add to that result as it visits a FC Tulsa side that has been one of the better stories so far in the Championship this campaign. One blemish on Tulsa’s current top-three position in the Western Conference, however, was a penalty shootout setback to League One side One Knoxville SC in its opening game of the tournament. The hosts will want to pick up maximum points here to not only peg back Legion but stay in touch for a chance at winning the group with a showdown with Indy Eleven still to come.

Group 4 – Portland Hearts of Pine vs. Detroit City FC

In a short space of time, Portland Hearts of Pine has developed a serious following across Maine, packing fans into Fitzpatrick Stadium as it makes its debut in USL League One while bringing distinctive looks to the field, and some quality performances in both the league and U.S. Open Cup. The first-year side could provide a test in its second game of Group 4 play for Detroit City FC, though, which claimed victory in its opening game against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC but has faltered of late with a four-game winless run in league play.

For Le Rouge, ending that downturn in form on Saturday is the set-up to potential advancement. They visit Hartford Athletic – which defeated Hearts of Pine to open the tournament – in Round 3, a clash that could be pivotal for both teams’ chances, before closing at home to Westchester SC. For Hearts of Pine, meanwhile, this is essentially a must-win. In front of their home support, Portland will be looking for a big performance to give itself a chance to progress.

Group 5 – Charlotte Independence vs. Lexington SC

In not facing Louisville City FC in the group stage, the Charlotte Independence were handed an opportunity to be one of the League One clubs that could advance to the knockout stage of the USL Jägermeister Cup. With the way the side has been playing of late, however, they’re looking like an even bigger threat as they host former League One rival and current Championship side Lexington SC.

The Independence took a 2-1 victory on the road against North Carolina FC to open the tournament, and that result was part of a five-game winning streak across all competitions that came to an end this past Saturday on the road against AV ALTA FC. Hosting a Lexington side that’s been struggling for confidence of late – and that fell late to Loudoun United in its opening game of the group – the Independence have a big opportunity to all-but-extinguish LSC’s chances of advancing and puts themselves in prime position for a showdown against Loudoun United FC in Round 3.

Group 6 – Miami FC vs. FC Naples

It’s unquestionable that Group 6 delivered two of the results of the opening round of the group state last month as FC Naples took a 1-0 victory against current Championship Players’ Shield leaders the Charleston Battery before another rocking crowd at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex and Miami FC rallied from a three-goal deficit to take a penalty shootout win on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Those two results, plus South Georgia Tormenta’s win against Greenville Triumph SC, sets the first meeting between these clubs as a pivotal one for top spot in the group. They enter this clash off differing results, however, with Miami’s five-game undefeated streak across all competitions having come to an end against Birmingham Legion this past Saturday and Naples delivering a big home win against Union Omaha on Sunday. If either side takes victory in regulation, it would be massive for its chances of advancement.