Republic FC Eyes Momentum Shift in Jägermeister Cup Campaign
A new chapter in American soccer begins this weekend as Republic FC kicks off its campaign in the expanded USL Jägermeister Cup—a groundbreaking interleague tournament bringing together all 38 clubs from the USL Championship and League One. It is the first time a professional soccer league in the United States has introduced its own interleague cup competition, and Sacramento is poised to make its mark.
The 2025 edition of the Jägermeister Cup builds on last year’s League One-only tournament, introducing a new format designed to inject midseason drama and reward attacking ambition. Group stage matches will run parallel to the regular season calendar, beginning April 26 and continuing with key matchdays through May, June, and July. Each club will play four group matches—two at home, two on the road—with home venues determined by random draw.
Republic FC has been placed in Group 1, a tightly packed West Coast bracket that includes fellow Championship sides Las Vegas Lights FC, Monterey Bay FC, Oakland Roots SC, and Orange County SC, along with League One newcomers AV Alta FC and Spokane Velocity FC. Only the group winner will advance to the knockout rounds, where a draw will determine the path to the Cup Final, scheduled for the weekend of October 4.
“This tournament adds another layer of intensity to our season,” said Republic FC President and General Manager Todd Dunivant. “It’s another opportunity to win a trophy and create more historic moments for our club.”
That opportunity feels especially meaningful right now. After a slower-than-expected start to the league campaign, Republic FC is still searching for consistent form. While the talent and pedigree are there, early-season results have not met the high standards the club has set in recent years. The Jägermeister Cup offers more than just another set of matches—it provides a fresh, competitive outlet and a potential turning point for a team eager to kick into gear.
In keeping with that urgency, the USL has introduced fan-forward tweaks to the format: group-stage matches will feature penalty shootouts in the event of a draw, with shootout winners earning an extra point. Group standings will prioritize goals scored as the first tiebreaker, encouraging teams to play bold, attacking soccer— something Sacramento may welcome as they look to build momentum.
For a club with a rich history in knockout competitions, the Jägermeister Cup feels like familiar territory. Since its inaugural season in 2014, Republic FC has consistently punched above its weight in tournament play. The club has 22 wins in 32 U.S. Open Cup matches—the second-highest win percentage of any team in the competition’s Modern Era and made national headlines with a Cinderella run to the 2022 Final, becoming the first lower-division side in nearly 20 years to reach that stage.
While the Jägermeister Cup does not yet carry the legacy of the Open Cup, it represents something new—and potentially transformative—for clubs across the USL. It’s a chance to lift silverware, test depth, and build legacy within the evolving structure of American soccer.
And for Sacramento Republic, it is more than a new tournament. It is a reset. A rallying point. And another chance to prove what this club has always believed: trophies are there to be won.