How One Knoxville SC can earn a game against an MLS team: What to know
In less than two years, One Knoxville SC has gone from playing in the highest amateur soccer league in the United States to having a chance to square off against a team in the MLS, the nation's pinnacle of professional soccer.
One Knoxville hosts Memphis 901 at 7 p.m. on April 4 at Regal Soccer Stadium in Knoxville, and the winner advances in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The single-game elimination tournament is open to professional teams at every level, and even has spots for qualifying amateur teams.
Imagine the Tennessee Smokies going head-to-head with the Atlanta Braves. That's what makes the Open Cup tournament unique, a format no other professional sport offers.
Here is everything you need to know about Tuesday's game.
When is the game and how can you watch
One Knoxville plays Memphis 901 on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Regal Soccer Stadium in Knoxville. The game will not be broadcast. Ticket prices range from $12 to $60.
Single-game tickets are available for the Memphis 901 match. Seats options are end line, 18-yard box, benches, midfield and chairback.
One Knoxville also sells season tickets and half-season 'mini plan' packages.
Why is the Memphis 901 game unique
The Open Cup is the oldest national cup competition in the country.
In its first year in 2022, One Knoxville had a 13-3-1 record in the USL League Two, which is an amateur league. This year is its first season in the USL League One, a professional league, and Memphis 901 is in the USL Championship league, one level above the USL League One.
One Knoxville is 1-0 and Memphis 901 is 0-2-1 so far this season.
What would a win mean
McKenna loves the excitement of a match that pits teams from East and West Tennessee against each other.
“Everybody likes the chance to beat Memphis, right? McKenna said. “Trying to make a little 'kings of Tennessee' tour here.”
If One Knoxville defeats Memphis 901, it advances to the next round that includes 18 MSL teams. With a win, One Knox could be facing the likes of MSL's Atlanta United or Nashville SC.
“For us to be able to go up against a team a league above us and come out victorious would just show that we've got a side that can really be competitive this year,” One Knoxville partner Drew McKenna told Knox News. “But also to have that opportunity in that next round of possibly pulling a game against an MLS team … could be a really cool community opportunity.”
YEAR TWO: Get ready for pro soccer, Knoxville! What to know about One Knoxville's second season
YOUNGEST PLAYER: Why a professional soccer team wanted this Knoxville-area 16-year-old on the roster
Players to watch
One Knoxville has 17 new players out of 22 on its roster. Two exciting additions who will be important for Tuesday’s game are midfielder Jimmie Villalobos and forward Jake Keegan. Both scored in their season debut, a 2-1 victory over Lexington SC on March 18.
Villalobos is a “great offensive weapon” McKenna said and Keegan is a 32-year-old who is a veteran of the USL.
Memphis 901 signed goalie Bill Hamid last month. He is a 12-year pro from the MLS, where he was a goalkeeper of the year in the league in 2014. He also played for the U.S. men’s national soccer from 2012-20.
One Knoxville also has veteran James Thomas, the team’s captain. He was the man of the match in the team’s 2-1 win over Lexington SC on March 18.
Community impact
In the first game of the season, McKenna said 2,500 people turned out to watch One Knoxville on a 35-degree night. He said that the players notice the passion and appreciate it.
“We're only able to do this good because we’ve had awesome support across Knoxville,” McKenna said. “We're lucky, not all USL teams have that type of support we have and we know that we're just at the starting line.”
Toyloy Brown III is a Knox News sports reporter. Email tbrown@usatoday.com. Twitter @TJ3rd_.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One Knoxville SC plays Memphis 901 FC on April 4 in the US Open Cup
