Iowa is known for corn, caucuses, and Caitlyn Clark, but this Wednesday, the American soccer world will be watching as Des Moines Menace plays Union Omaha in the US Open Cup Second Round. Usually, this round doesn`t get much attention, but the Menace are doing something unique. This lower division club has recruited many retired American and Major League Soccer stars, hoping their experience can help them compete against top-tier teams.
Des Moines Menace midfielder Benny Feilhaber, formerly of the US national team, said, “We are always the underdogs. Our average age is over 35, so we are definitely underdogs. We may have played at a high level in the past, but now we are amateurs. This isn`t our full-time job anymore. The pressure is on the other team, not us. We want to win, but we also want to enjoy playing together again with former teammates in front of our families.”
Remember Some Guys FC
USL League Two teams usually play league games between May and July with mostly college players. After qualifying for the US Open Cup, Des Moines needed to quickly assemble a team. That`s where the veterans came in. Led by Sacha Kljestan, a former US international and current MLS broadcaster, the Menace are like a “Remember some guys FC” team. With players like Dax McCarty, A.J. DeLaGarza, Benny Feilhaber, and Bradley Wright-Phillips, they have lots of top-level experience. However, most of the team is between 35 and 40 years old and they are balancing day jobs with these Open Cup games.
This situation shows the magic of the competition, where every team is different and has a unique story. Amateur players like Leroy Enzugusi, Kyle Owen, and Enzo Carvalho are still involved, but this will only be the second game this particular squad has played together.
Feilhaber noted the challenge of limited preparation time, “Not having time to prepare between games is a big issue, even more than age and fitness. Soccer is a team sport, and we don`t get to train together. Before our first game, we had a light practice with about half the team a few days before, and then the full team only the day before. This time, we`ll only have one practice session and maybe a walk-through on game day to discuss tactics. As a former player and coach, I know that time together as a team is incredibly valuable, and that`s our biggest challenge. We`re figuring things out as we go.”
The Menace are coming off a win against Sporting Kansas City II in the first round, which will help them decide their lineup for this match. However, the lack of training time remains a challenge. This lack of familiarity is also a factor for Union Omaha, who also don`t have much information to prepare for this unusual Menace team.
Union Omaha head coach Dominic Casiato said, “It`s a bit difficult to plan for a team that doesn`t play together often. But for every game, our focus is on playing our best, while understanding how the other team might attack and how we can attack them. We only have one Des Moines game to watch, and I`m sure they will add more players for this game. So, focusing on our own game and playing at our best is the best plan.”
Union Omaha plays together weekly, so they have a more typical preparation. They are also on a two-game winning streak in all competitions to start the new season.
Notable Des Moines Menace players
| Name | Nationality |
|---|---|
| Bradley Wright Phillips | England |
| Sacha Kljestan | United States |
| Dax McCarty | United States |
| Osvaldo Alonso | Cuba |
| Benny Feilhaber | United States |
| Justin Meram | Iraq |
| Victor Ulloa | Mexico |
| Matt Hedges | United States |
| A.J. DeLaGarza | United States |
Omaha is a USL team on the rise
Union Omaha has a history in this competition, including beating the Menace with some of these same retired players last season. They know Open Cup success, even defeating two MLS teams in their 2022 run. Now, under coach Casiato, they are building a strong and consistent team while also performing well in their league. Union Omaha isn`t taking this game lightly. Their past success makes them want more, and they have a proven approach for important matches.
Casiato said, “Winning a championship together – our third title in two seasons after back-to-back regular season titles in 2023 and 2024 – gives the team confidence. They know what it takes to succeed in big games. Winning consistently year after year, even with changes in players, gives them belief that they can win no matter the situation, competition, or opponent.”
This consistent success is why Nebraska soccer is thriving. Omaha will be the away team on Wednesday, April 2, but their recent win will give them momentum against the experienced Menace. There`s also some familiarity because Feilhaber coached against Casiato in preseason when he managed SKC II, showing how connected the soccer world is.
Even with the changing landscape of the Open Cup, Feilhaber can play in front of his family, something his kids rarely saw during his pro career. Casiato will test his team against experienced former pros in a knockout game.
Feilhaber said, “It`s like our version of March Madness. Each round, you play a higher-level team. We played an MLS Next Pro team, now a USL League One team, and if we win, we play a USL Championship team, and then maybe an MLS team. It`s like a dream, and we`ll go as far as we can.”
Both teams are looking forward to Wednesday`s game, but only one will advance to the third round.
