With Soccer’s Popularity on the Rise, U.S. Open Cup Rolls Out Largest Production in Tournament History

U.S. Soccer, CBS Sports, NEP team up for the final and the 95 matches leading up to it

As the longest-running soccer competition in the U.S., the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has a special place in the hearts of the country’s soccer fans. The 110th edition of the tournament, which concluded last week with Nashville SC topping Austin FC at Q2 stadium in Austin, TX, offered the magic of the sport in its purest form: open competition where anyone can dream of lifting the trophy. Only at the U.S. Open Cup can an amateur team face off against Lionel Messi’s squad.

“The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is truly the embodiment of our mission to grow the game at every level, from local community clubs all the way to the professionals,” says Kelsie Hawkins, director, media operations, U.S. Soccer. “By elevating the profile of this tournament, we’re advancing our long-term goal to make soccer more accessible, visible, and culturally relevant across the country.”

Commentary team prior to the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship Final on Oct. 1: Mike Grella (second from right) holds an armadillo while (from left) Poppy Miller, Jimmy Conrad, Austin FC’s Brandon Vazquez, and Charlie Davies look on. (Photo: Elizabeth Kreutz/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

With the world’s attention shifting to North America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) believes soccer’s momentum in the U.S. has never been stronger and sees this as the perfect moment to invest in how the sport is presented and experienced. With that in mind, USSF partnered with CBS Sports to stream every match on Paramount+ and carry selected matches on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

“The U.S. Open Cup is our version of March Madness: unpredictable, emotional, and unifying,” says Hawkins. “It deserves a broadcast that reflects that scale and energy. Fans expect an immersive experience with high-quality storytelling, behind-the-scenes access, and moments that reflect the cultural heartbeat of the sport. Delivering that kind of production not only honors the tournament’s legacy but helps convert casual viewers into lifelong supporters of American soccer.”

Ninety-Five Games Over Eight Months: REMI All the Way

With 95 games spanning the country from March to October, production of the U.S. Open Cup presents a complicated logistical challenge, and USSF and CBS Sports relied on NEP Group, the exclusive producer/packager of the tournament since 2019, to pull it off.

The U.S. Open Cup Final capped a seven-month tourney at Q2 Stadium in Austin, TX, with a 12-camera game production.

“NEP has great familiarity working with partners like U.S. Soccer and CBS,” says Mike Freedman, VP/executive producer, NEP Connected Solutions. “It has been a seamless collaboration not only leading into this final but throughout the entirety of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. We’re incredibly proud of the production and engineering experts who have supported the coverage over the past eight months.”

All games, with the exception of the final, were produced REMI-style from NEP Production Hub South Florida. The productions ranged from single-camera shows to a full range of production solutions on display in Austin for the final.

During the U.S. Open Cup Final, a gimbal Steadicam was allowed on the field for goal celebrations.

“NEP is not just a vendor,” says Hawkins. “They’re an extension of our broadcast team. Whether they’re working from smaller community venues in the early rounds or MLS stadiums for the final, their technical precision and commitment to excellence ensure that every match meets the highest production standards. Together with CBS, they’re helping us redefine what a U.S. Soccer broadcast can look and feel like.”

While Paramount+ streamed all games live and CBS Sports Network aired selected games, Golazo Network played a major role in U.S Open Cup coverage. The FAST channel carried multiple games, along with a tournament edition of The Golazo Show, a whip-around program featuring every goal while multiple games were taking place.

CBS Sports’ Open Cup presence was also bolstered by studio coverage across Paramount+, Golazo Network, and CBS Sports Network throughout the tournament, as well as by original multiplatform shoulder content.

“Our partnership with CBS has been instrumental in elevating the U.S. Open Cup,” says Hawkins. “From hosting the tournament draws in their studios to producing original content and delivering robust pre- and post-match and halftime coverage, CBS has treated this property with the care and creativity it deserves. Their storytelling expertise and ability to connect soccer to broader culture have helped position the tournament as both a competitive and a cultural event.”

The Final: Game Is Produced Onsite; Studio Show Is REMI Production

After the months-long trek through venues big and small, the U.S. Open Cup culminated in Austin with a $600,000 award on the line for the champion. With that in mind, USSF, CBS Sports, and NEP rolled out a historically large-scale production.

“CBS Sports delivered the most expansive live studio and match coverage in U.S. Open Cup tournament history through our partnership with U.S. Soccer and NEP, culminating with unprecedented onsite presence for the final,” says Mike Nastri, senior director/coordinating producer, CBS Sports. “The viewership experience was elevated to new heights, bringing fans closer to the action with authentic, informative, and entertaining coverage.”

Most notably, CBS Sports produced its studio show onsite in Austin for live pre/postmatch and halftime coverage on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+. The studio team welcomed several high-profile guests to the set, including USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino, Matthew McConaughey, Brandon Vazquez, JT Batson, and even Speedbump the Armadillo.

NEP Group supplied the trucks for CBS Sports’ production of the U.S. Open Cup Final at Q2 Stadium.

“The broadcast delivered a championship-caliber experience through a combination of immersive production enhancements,” says Hawkins. “CBS’s decision to bring its studio show onsite added a dynamic layer of storytelling, showcasing the electric atmosphere of Q2 Stadium. The segments with high-profile guests provided viewers with a deeper connection to the event and its cultural significance.”

NEP NCP2 served as the main game truck. M12 housed the studio production, a five-camera REMI operation that also featured a Steadicam. The 12-camera game production deployed super-slo-mo robos in both nets, and a gimbal Steadicam was permitted to go on the field for goal celebrations.

“The use of a gimbal Steadicam allowed fluid, cinematic coverage of game action and goal celebrations, giving fans a different immersive look,” Hawkins explains. “Additionally, the super-slo-mo POVs positioned in the net offered dramatic replays and unique angles that elevated the visual storytelling, reinforcing the high-stakes feel of a championship game.”

CBS Sports’ live U.S. Open Cup studio show was onsite for the final.

More than 100 crew members were on hand for the game and studio productions in Austin, according to Hawkins. NEP provided all above- and below-the-line crew; CBS provided the on-air talent in the booth and on the set. Producer Mackenize Pearce and director Gage Tillotson were at the front bench for the game broadcast, and Jennifer Calhoun and Brian Kozlowski served as producer and director, respectively, for the studio show.

NEP Director, Production, Erick Falero; Director, Live Events, Steven Kravitz; and VP, Production Services, Larry Tiscornia were key in development and implementation of the plan, along with NEP Group Director, Operations, Audio/Video Production, Event Management, Hildie Gonzalez; NEP Connected Solutions & Media Services Broadcast Manager Ariel Garcia; and NEP Group Production/Project Manager Victor Bague.

In addition to Hawkins, key members of the USSF team included Commissioner, USOC/Director, Competitions David Applegate; Manager, Competitions Jaime Garzon; Senior Coordinators, Competitions, Sofia Rivero and Nicholas Corley; Communications Consultant John Koluder; Content Consultant Jonah Fontela; Judy Matthew, VP, Media; Coordinator, Media Operations, Paola Reyes; and Manager, Media Operations, Leslie Silva. Countless more personnel were involved in the massive year-round undertaking of coordinating the dozens of games across different leagues, teams, venues, and partners.

SVG Director of Digital Brandon Costa contributed to this article.