The US Open Cup will be back in Chester next month for the first time since 2018 and on Thursday we learned the opponent: Indy Eleven. The 2024 semifinalists will come to town during a congested month of May that already has 7 league games and would include one more home game against NYCFC or Pittsburgh Riverhounds if the Union win.

In the email today:

1. 🏆 Indy Eleven to Face the Union on May 7

How long has it been since the Union hosted a US Open Cup game? It’s been so long the stadium in Chester was still known as Talen Energy Stadium the last time the Philadelphia Union hosted a US Open Cup. They won that game over the Chicago Fire to advance to the 2018 final, which they later lost to Houston Dynamo.

To get back to that stage this year - after one and done road defeats in 2019, 2022 and 2023 - the Union will need to defeat the 2024 semifinalists.

Indy Eleven will be the first lower division side the Union have played in a competitive game since they played Richmond Kickers in the first round of the 2018 competition. The Union played Harrisburg City Islanders in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017, Rochester Rhinos in 2012 and 2015, New York Cosmos in 2014 and Ocean City Nor’easters in 2013, all at home.

Philadelphia Union Academy grad and former Bethlehem Steel FC defender Ben Ofeimu and 2014 Philadelphia Union draft pick Aodhan Quinn are among the notable names on Indy Eleven’s roster. The USL Championship side beat Miami FC 1-0 on a 123rd minute goal from Hayden White to advance to the Round of 32.

2. 🌲 One Planet Pre-Match Jersey Unveiled

Major League Soccer and adidas have unveiled the 2025 One Planet jerseys, which will be worn during warm-ups to celebrate Earth Day.

The Union will have the green option. Like last year’s jersey, it will just be worn pre-match and not during the game.

The One Planet Kit release is part of the league’s Greener Goals Week of Service.

The kit “celebrates taking a step towards carbon neutrality while raising awareness of climate transformation and the need to change human behavior. Frontprints symbolize the vital connection to embracing a more conscious way of life. The rings of ancient trees woven into the design convey the passage of time and illustrate the profound impact of climate change through the years.”

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3. 🏎️ Social Post of the Day: Indy in the Open Cup

4. 💧 Water Cooler: Earth Day Jerseys

The new One Planet jerseys the Union will be wearing before tomorrow’s match are the third released by the league. Prior to the One Planet tops the league had Parley for the Ocean kits for every team worn during matches in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022.

Choose your favorite

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• There will be no three-peat for the Philadelphia Union Academy in the Generation adidas Cup. The U-18s fell in the quarterfinals to Chicago Fire 1-0 and the U-16s on penalties to Charlotte FC.

• FC Delco forward Lilah Helwig is among the call-ups to the April training camp for the U.S. Under-16 Girls’ National Team in Alicante, Spain.

• Lancaster, Pa. native Russell Canouse officially announced his retirement earlier this week. Canouse played for PA Classics and the New York Red Bulls Academy before going to Germany at age 15 and after playing for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and VfL Bochum spent 8 seasons with D.C. United.

• Anthony Fontana’s first goal for the Switchbacks was a U.S. Open Cup game-winner while MD Myers doubled his career Open Cup goal tally with a hat trick in a 4-0 win for Charleston.

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