Celebrating the Magic of the U.S. Open Cup with the Hearts of Pine

Host Alejandro Bedoya checks in from the Philadelphia Union’s clash with Nashville SC in the first semifinal matchup in the 2025 Lamar Hunt Open Cup; an exclusive interview from head coach & sporting director Bobby Murphy and forward Jake Keegan of Portland Hearts of Pine, the USL League One club that made their Open Cup debut in 2025 

We’re celebrating all things U.S. Open Cup on this week’s episode! As the 2025 semifinals kick off in Nashville and St. Paul this week, the first round of qualifying is already underway for the 2026 edition. 

We dial in host Alejadro Bedoya straight from Philadelphia Union’s semifinal clash with Nashville SC at GEODIS Park. Later, our hosts David Gass and Meghan Klingenberg speak to one of the darlings of this year’s tournament, Portland Hearts of Pine. The head coach and sporting director Bobby Murphy and forward Jake Keegan talk about the magic of the tournament, the soccer community in Maine and what it meant for their club to make their first appearance in the historic competition. 

Learn more about the U.S. Open Cup: https://www.ussoccer.com/us-open-cup 

View the 2026 Qualifying Round Schedule: https://www.ussoccer.com/us-open-cup/qualifying-round-schedule 

The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast tells stories in service to soccer and the people who live it, amplifying player voices and the stories behind the game. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays. 

Hosts: Alejandro Bedoya, David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg 

Guest: Bobby Murphy, Jake Keegan 

Producer: Matthew Nelson 

To learn more, visit ussoccer.org/podcast  

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