News

EL PASO, TEXAS (December 4, 2025) – MountainStar Sports Group announced today a change of leadership at El Paso Locomotive FC with the appointment of Mike DiGiulio as the new President and General Manager.

MountainStar President Alan Ledford said, “bringing Mike on board marks an exciting new era for Locomotive. His proven track record and passion for building winning cultures will be invaluable as we continue to grow. We look forward to the energy and innovation Mike brings to the organization and to our supporters.  Mike’s commitment to excellence and community engagement aligns perfectly with MountainStar’s and Locomotive’s values.”

Stepping into the role of Locomotive President and General Manager, DiGiulio brings extensive leadership experience and a deep understanding of USL Championship. He joins El Paso Locomotive FC after serving in a similar role with Monterey Bay FC, where he played a key role in launching the club and establishing its competitive and operational foundation. During his tenure, DiGiulio oversaw the development and renovation of Cardinale Stadium and led the club’s branding and community initiatives, fostering meaningful local partnerships and building a strong organizational identity.

DiGiulio noted, “coming to El Paso is an incredible opportunity, both professionally and personally. I believe deeply in the power of sports to strengthen communities, enhance quality of life, and support local economic development. I’m excited to partner with the city, our business community, and our fans to continue to grow Locomotive and create lasting impact for the region.”

DiGiulio’s appointment begins a new era of leadership for Locomotive FC as the club continues to pursue on-field success, strengthen its community presence, and advance plans for a future soccer stadium. In his role, he will oversee all business and technical operations, including the First Team, Academy and youth programs, corporate partnerships, marketing and sales, community engagement, and long-term strategic growth and planning.

DiGiulio will begin his role immediately as the club prepares for the upcoming 2026 USL Championship season. He will be stepping into the role formerly held by Andrew Forrest.  Forrest joined El Paso Locomotive before its inaugural 2019 USL Championship season and played an integral role in building the club’s foundation. During his tenure, the club reached historic milestones on the field, including back-to-back Western Conference finals appearances, launched and established the Locomotive Academy, and helped develop top talent, including current Major League Soccer and USMNT player Diego Luna, and multiple Academy players who have signed professional contracts with the First Team.

Forrest also oversaw the establishment of important club infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and the continued growth of the Locomotive brand within the El Paso Community. He is leaving the organization as he relocates to be closer to his family.  We are grateful for his contributions, passion for Locomotive, and wish him the very best.

ABOUT MOUNTAINSTAR SPORTS GROUP

MountainStar Sports Group’s focus is on the acquisition, development, and operation of professional sports and entertainment opportunities to improve the quality of life and promote economic growth in the Borderplex region. Currently, MSSG owns and operates the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball, and El Paso Locomotive FC, a soccer club in the USL Championship. For more information, visit mountainstarsportsgroup.com.

ABOUT EL PASO LOCOMOTIVE FC

Founded in 2018, El Paso Locomotive FC is the region’s premier professional soccer club, competing in the USL Championship since 2019. As part of MountainStar Sports Group (MSSG), the club is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life throughout the Borderplex while delivering world-class sports entertainment to the community. Locomotive FC is equally dedicated to growing the game at the grassroots level, investing in the development of youth through its Academy, youth programs, and community-based soccer initiatives that help cultivate the next generation of players in the region.

ATLANTA, Georgia (December 4, 2025) – El Paso Locomotive FC will participate in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after their furthest run in tournament history this past season.

Los Locos qualified for the tournament by securing a playoff spot in the Western Conference of the USL Championship this season. Last year, they advanced to the Round of 32 before falling 3-2 at Austin FC in the club’s first-ever competitive match against a MLS side.

Locomotive will begin in the First Round of the tournament scheduled to take place between Tuesday, March 17 and Thursday, March 19. The draw for the first two rounds will take place in January.

2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Information

U.S. Soccer has announced the format, schedule and participating teams for the tournament proper of the 111th edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. U.S. Soccer’s historic national club championship, that celebrates elite amateur and pro soccer in communities across the country, begins in mid-March and will conclude with a showpiece final on October 21.

A field of 80 teams will contest for a $1 million purse with a place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup also up for grabs. CBS Sports will return as the multi-media rights partner for the 2026 competition. 

The U.S. Open Cup format will feature seven rounds – one fewer than recent editions – to avoid overlap with the FIFA Men’s World Cup™ calendar. Because the competition features one fewer round than recent editions, the field of professional teams has been reduced from 64 to 48, with slots for each professional division allocated as evenly as possible. League standings will serve as qualifying criteria to determine which professional teams are eligible, therefore all teams participating in 2026 U.S. Open Cup must have played a league season in 2025. 

In addition to the qualifying criteria for the professional divisions, the competition has adjusted two rules to align with the current ecosystem for professional and amateur clubs.  First, a one-club, one-entry rule applies to all divisions. Under this rule, a professional club must enter its highest-level professional team. For the Open Division, the National League qualifying track was eliminated and all amateur teams are entered directly via U.S. Soccer. Second, all numerical limits to the number of players that can be eligible for a competition roster have been removed across all divisions. All players from a club are eligible to participate, and players can be added up to one day prior to a match — subject to league and U.S. Soccer player registration regulations as well as competition eligibility rules related to cup-ties, length of loan and disciplinary action.

The First Round will be played on March 17, 18 & 19 and will continue its format of 32 matches featuring teams from the Open Division facing off against a professional opponent. The amateurs will face off against one of 17 professional teams from Division II or 15 professional teams from Division III. The 32 winners from the First Round will then face off in a SecondRound matchup on March 31 or April 1. Each of the 16 teams that advance from the Second Round will face one of the 16 Division I professional teams from Major League Soccer in the Round of 32 on April 14 or 15. Eight of the MLS teams will be seeded as home, and eight will be seeded as away ahead of this draw based on the qualifying criteria. The final 32 teams will play down to a field of four semifinalists in May before the competition breaks until the semifinals on September 15 or 16. The final match is slated for Wednesday, October 21. 

2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Schedule

First Round: Tuesday, March 17 – Thursday, March 19 

Second Round: Tuesday, March 31 – Wednesday, April 1 

Round of 32: Tuesday, April 14 – Wednesday, April 15 

Round of 16: Tuesday, April 28 – Wednesday, April 29

Quarterfinals: Tuesday, May 19 – Wednesday, May 20

Semifinals: Tuesday, Sept. 15 – Wednesday, Sept. 16 

Final: Wednesday, October 21

First and Second Round draws and schedule will be announced by U.S. Soccer in January. The first live draw will be held Tuesday, April 2, when the Round of 32 and subsequent round pairings will be determined. 

The overall format, draw groups and pairings will be based on geography, along with the basic mathematic principles of a single-elimination competition. Random selection will be used to solve a lack of logical geographic fit. Draw groups may be created to account for venue availability in any round, based on the league schedule of competing teams or other conditions per tournament regulations. 

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is U.S. Soccer’s Club Championship and has crowned a Champion annually since 1914 (with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19). The historic tournament is conducted on a single-game, knockout basis and open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. 

It is the longest running national soccer competition in the United States and the world’s third longest continuously run national cup tournament. It is the only competition in USA-based team sports where amateurs have the chance to play professionals in direct competition.

Division I – 16 Teams entering in the Round of 32

Major League Soccer

Qualifying Criteria:

• Teams participating in Concacaf Champions Cup are excluded from the Open Cup
• Teams not participating in the 2026 Leagues Cup qualify for the Open Cup. The top four teams from this list from each conference will be seeded as home teams based on 2025 league standings for the Round of 32 draw (pending venue availability at a primary or approved secondary venue).
• The next best teams in the Supporters’ Shield Standings that are not in the Concacaf Champions Cup will enter the Open Cup.

Atlanta United 

Austin FC 

Charlotte FC

Chicago Fire FC 

Colorado Rapids 

Columbus Crew 

D.C. United

Houston Dynamo FC 

Minnesota United FC

New England Revolution 

New York City FC 

Orlando City SC 

Red Bull New York 

San Jose Earthquakes

St. Louis CITY SC 

Sporting Kansas City

Division II – 17 teams entering in First Round  

USL Championship

Qualifying Criteria:  

• 2025 League Standings will be used to determine Open Cup qualifiers. 
• Positions allocated evenly between East & West Conferences based on conference standing, with total points serving as a tiebreaker in the case of an odd number of teams. 

Charleston Battery

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

Detroit City FC

El Paso Locomotive FC

FC Tulsa

Hartford Athletic

Indy Eleven

Lexington SC

Loudoun United FC

Louisville City FC

New Mexico United

Orange County SC

Phoenix Rising FC

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Rhode Island FC

Sacramento Republic FC

San Antonio FC

Division III – 15 teams entering in the First Round

MLS NEXT Pro

Note: Players from 15 MLS NEXT Pro teams affiliated with Division I entrants may appear in the competition for their MLS Division I affiliate in the Round of 32 (subject to competition roster regulations).  

Qualifying Criteria: 

• MLS NEXT Pro teams that are part of a club that plays in Division I Major League Soccer are not eligible based on the one club, one entry principle.
• Because fewer than 16 teams participating in 2026 Division III leagues have results in the 2025 League Standings, all returning, eligible teams will qualify. 

Carolina Core FC

Chattanooga FC

USL League One

Qualifying Criteria: 

•    Because fewer than 16 teams participating in 2026 Division III leagues have results in the 2025 League Standings, all returning, eligible teams will qualify.

AV ALTA FC

Charlotte Independence

Chattanooga Red Wolves SC

FC Naples

Forward Madison FC

Greenville Triumph SC

One Knoxville SC

Portland Hearts of Pine

Richmond Kickers

South Georgia Tormenta FC

Spokane Velocity FC

Union Omaha

Westchester SC

Open Division/Amateur  

32 teams entering in the First Round

Qualifying Criteria: 

• Half of the Open Division slots have been allocated to teams advancing from the Qualifying Rounds played in Fall 2025. 
• Half of the Open Division slots have been filled with teams awarded byes into the First Round based on strong performance in 2025 competitions. 

2026 Qualifying Rounds Participants (16)

ASC New Stars (Houston, Texas; Houston Football Association)

Azteca FC (Denver, Colo.; Colorado Premier League)

Badgers FC (Boynton Beach, Fla.; UPSL)

BOHFS St. Louis (Saint Louis, Mo.; Midwest Premier League)

CD Faialense (Winthrop, Mass.; Bay State Soccer League)

FC America CFL Spurs (Orlando, Fla.; UPSL)

Kalonji Pro-Profile (Dacula, Ga.; UPSL)

Laguna United FC (Laguna Niguel, Calif.; UPSL)

NY Renegades FC (Jericho, N.Y.; UPSL)

Red Force (Miami, Fla.; Premier Futbol League)

San Ramon FC (San Ramon, Calif.; The League for Clubs)

SC Vistula Garfield (Garfield, N.J.; APSL)

Southern Indiana FC (Corydon, Ind.; UPSL)

Steel City FC (Pittsburgh, Pa.; USL League Two)

Valley 559 FC (Fresno, Calif.; UPSL)

Virginia Dream FC (Arlington, Va.; UPSL)

Earned Byes to First Round via League/Competition Play (16)

Asheville City SC (Asheville, N.C.) – USL League Two Qualifier

Des Moines Menace (Des Moines, Iowa) – USL League Two Qualifier

El Farolito (NPSL – San Francisco, Calif.) – 2025 John Motta Trophy Winner

FC Motown (Morristown, N.J.) – USL League Two Qualifier

Flint City Bucks (Flint, Mich.) – USL League Two Qualifier 

Flower City Union (Rochester, N.Y.) – NPSL Qualifier

Hickory FC (Hickory, N.C.) – NPSL Qualifier

Laredo Heat SC (Laredo, Texas) – USL League Two Qualifier

Little Rock Rangers (Little Rock, Ark.) – USL League Two Qualifier

Michigan Rangers (Hudsonville, Mich.) – NPSL Qualifier

Northern Virginia FC (Leesburg, Va.) – USL League Two Qualifier

Ristozi FC (Baltimore, Md.) – NPSL Qualifier

Tennessee Tempo FC (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) – UPSL Spring Champion

Ventura County Fusion (Ventura, Calif.) – USL League Two Qualifier

Vermont Green FC (Burlington, Vt.) – USL League Two Qualifier

West Chester United SC (West Chester, Pa.; United Soccer Leage of Pennsylvania) – 2025

USASA National Amateur Cup Champion

About the U.S. Soccer Federation 

Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the official governing body of the sport in the United States. Our vision is clear; we exist in service to soccer. Our ambition, working across the soccer ecosystem, is to ignite a national passion for the game.  We believe soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good.  We are focused in three areas:  Soccer Everywhere, ensuring everyone, everywhere experiences the joy of soccer; Soccer Success, our 27 National Teams and pro leagues winning on the world stage; and Soccer Investment, maximizing and diversifying investments to sustainably grow the game at all levels.  For more information, visit ussoccer.com/ourvision.

About the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup    

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has crowned U.S. Soccer’s national champion since 1914. The history-filled tournament is conducted on a single-game-knockout basis and is open to professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. In 1999, the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. was renamed to honor American soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.  The 2026 U.S. Open Cup winner will earn a berth in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup and have its name engraved on the Dewar Challenge Trophy – one of the oldest nationally contested trophies in American team sports – now on permanent display at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas. Nashville SC of MLS is the defending U.S. Open Cup Champion. The 110th edition of the tournament concluded on October 1, 2025, with NSC defeating Austin FC to claim the Tennessee club’s first piece of major silverware. 

The official website of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is ussoccer.com/us–open–cup. Fans can also follow the competition on X/Twitter and Instagram @OpenCup and Facebook @OfficialOpenCup.

EL PASO, Texas (November 3, 2025) – El Paso Locomotive FC announced today that the contract of head coach Wilmer Cabrera will not be renewed for the 2026 season. Assistant coach Gerson Echeverry departs the club as part of the change.

El Paso Locomotive FC expresses its sincere gratitude to Cabrera and Echeverry for their dedicated service to the club and wishes them and their families the best in their future endeavors.  

Cabrera compiled a record of 20-22-20 with Locomotive over 62 matches and four competitions since his arrival in May 2024.

Details regarding the club’s next head coach will be announced at a later date.

___________________

El Paso Locomotive FC Anuncia la Salida del Director Técnico Wilmer Cabrera

EL PASO, Texas (3 de noviembre de 2025) – El Paso Locomotive FC anunció hoy que el contrato del director técnico Wilmer Cabrera no será renovado para la temporada 2026. El asistente técnico Gerson Echeverry también dejará el club como parte del cambio.

El Paso Locomotive FC expresa su más sincero agradecimiento a Cabrera y Echeverry por su dedicado servicio al club, y les desea a ellos y a sus familias lo mejor en sus futuros proyectos.

Cabrera acumuló un récord de 20-22-20 con Locomotive a lo largo de 62 partidos y cuatro ligas/torneos desde que asumió el cargo en mayo de 2024.

Los detalles sobre el próximo director técnico del club se anunciarán en una fecha posterior.

EL PASO, Texas (October 25, 2025) – With Phoenix Rising FC’s draw against Pittsburgh Riverhounds FC, El Paso Locomotive FC have secured a home playoff match at Southwest University Park for the first time since 2021. They will take on Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday, November 1 at 7:30 p.m. MT with the winner taking on FC Tulsa or Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

Locomotive’s opening round playoff match is presented by GECU. The match can be streamed on ESPN+, KVIA.com and the KVIA News App.

To secure your ticket for next Saturday’s match and other potential home playoff matches, click here to find out more information.

Los Locos have enjoyed a successful 2025 campaign scoring the most goals in a single season in club history (60). They now hope to carry this momentum into the postseason and advance for the first time since 2020.

Phoenix Rising FC enter the playoffs as the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Locomotive earned two draws against Phoenix this season with both featuring three-goal comebacks for the road team.

For the best prices and priority seating to every Locomotive home match in 2026, become a Season Ticket Member today! Season Ticket Memberships for the 2026 Season are available now and can be secured online at eplocomotivefc.com/seasontickets or calling (915) 235-GOAL.

EL PASO, Texas (25 de octubre de 2025) – Con el empate de Phoenix Rising FC sobre Pittsburgh Riverhounds FC, El Paso Locomotive FC ha asegurado un partido de playoffs en casa en Southwest University Park por primera vez desde 2021. El equipo se enfrentará a Phoenix Rising FC el sábado 1 de noviembre a las 7:30 p.m. MT, y el ganador se medirá ante FC Tulsa o Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.

El partido de la primera ronda de playoffs de Locomotive es presentado por GECU. El encuentro podrá verse en ESPN+, KVIA.com y la aplicación de noticias de KVIA.

Para asegurar tus boletos para el partido del sábado, haz clic aquí para obtener más información.

Los Locos han disfrutado de una exitosa campaña en 2025, marcando la mayor cantidad de goles en una sola temporada en la historia del club (60). Ahora esperan llevar este impulso a la postemporada y avanzar por primera vez desde 2020.

Phoenix Rising FC entra a los playoffs como el quinto sembrado en la Conferencia del Oeste. Locomotive obtuvo dos empates contra Phoenix esta temporada, y ambos incluyeron remontadas de tres goles para el equipo visitante.

Para obtener los mejores precios y asientos preferenciales para todos los partidos en casa de Locomotive en 2026, ¡conviértete hoy en Abonado de Temporada! Las membresías de abono para la temporada 2026 ya están disponibles y pueden adquirirse en línea en eplocomotivefc.com/seasontickets o llamando al (915) 235-GOAL.

EL PASO, Texas (October 17, 2025) – With Lexington SC’s draw against Sacramento Republic FC, El Paso Locomotive FC have secured a postseason berth for the first time since 2023.

There is still seeding to be determined for Los Locos in the final two matches of the regular season. Locomotive are currently in fourth place in the Western Conference and are three points ahead of San Antonio FC, their final opponent in league play. The magic number for playoff soccer in El Paso currently stands at four points.

Locomotive can clinch a home playoff match this weekend with a win over FC Tulsa and a draw or loss from San Antonio. If the gap between the two teams is three or less points after this weekend, things would come down to the result in October 25’s Copa Tejas clash in the Alamo City.

To secure a spot for a potential home playoff match, click here to find out more information. Tickets for El Paso Locomotive FC’s home regular season finale against FC Tulsa on Saturday, October 18 are also available for purchase online at eplocomotivefc.com/tickets.

For the best prices and priority seating to every Locomotive home match in 2026, become a Season Ticket Member today! Season Ticket Memberships for the 2026 Season are available now and can be secured online at eplocomotivefc.com/seasontickets or calling (915) 235-GOAL. 

EL PASO, Texas (October 6, 2025) – El Paso Locomotive FC is coming down the stretch of the USL Championship regular season with prospective playoff tickets beginning presale in the coming days.

Below is the schedule for playoff ticket presale and on sale dates:

Date	Day of Week	Time	Description
10/2/2025	Thursday	10 a.m.	2025 Season Ticket Member claims begin
10/6/2025	Monday	10 a.m.	2025 Season Ticket Member presale
10/7/2025	Tuesday	10 a.m.	2025 Mini Plans presale
10/7/2025	Tuesday	2 p.m.	2025 Groups and 2026 Season Ticket Member presale
10/8/2025	Wednesday	10 a.m.	2025 Single Match Purchasers presale
10/8/2025	Wednesday	2 p.m.	2025 Playoff Waitlist Sign Ups presale
10/9/2025	Thursday	10 a.m.	Playoff Tickets on sale

Locomotive’s 3-1 win on Wednesday against Oakland Roots SC moved them into fifth place in the Western Conference, tied on points with San Antonio FC in fourth. Their magic number to clinch a postseason berth is six points with three matches remaining.

Tickets for El Paso Locomotive FC’s home regular season finale against FC Tulsa on Saturday, October 18 are available for purchase online at eplocomotivefc.com/tickets.

For the best prices and priority seating to every Locomotive home match in 2026, become a Season Ticket Member today! Season Ticket Memberships for the 2026 Season are available now and can be secured online at eplocomotivefc.com/seasontickets or calling (915) 235-GOAL.