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Philadelphia Union would travel to D.C. United or Richmond Kickers in U.S. Open Cup fourth round

The draw for the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup is out, and the Philadelphia Union will be hitting the road if they beat Rochester at PPL Park next Tuesday.

The draw for the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup is out, and the Philadelphia Union will be hitting the road if they beat Rochester at PPL Park next Tuesday.

The Union will face either D.C. United or the Richmond Kickers if they on Tuesday, June 5 if they advance to the fourth round. If it's D.C., it would be the second straight year that those two teams have met in the Open Cup.

And like last year, the game would be played at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md., not at RFK Stadium.

If Richmond upsets D.C. in the third round, the Union would travel to the Richmond City Stadium. It is a venue with quite a bit of history.

The stadium was opened in 1929 and seats around 22,000 people. The Kickers have played there since 1993, and the University of Richmond's football team played there from 1929 to 2009.

Richmond has hosted the U.S. men's national team twice, including a 1996 World Cup qualifier against Trinidad and Tobago, and it has hosted the U.S. women's national team three times.

That said, it's more than likely that the Union will be headed to the northern Washington exurbs for a second straight season. Last year, Philadelphia lost to D.C. on penalty kicks, 4-2, after regulation and extra time ended in a 2-2 draw.

Below you'll find all of the fourth-round Cup matchups. Times and venues can be found here.

I had been under the impression that the competition is played in a straight bracket from the fourth round on, but I've been told there will be a draw for the fifth round.

That said, I suspect it's pretty likely that the Philly/Rochester-DC/Richmond winner will play the New England/Harrisburg-New York/Charleston winner. It would not happen if Harrisburg and Philadelphia advance, because affilated teams can't play against each other until it's absolutely necesray.

So as you read the list below, don't be surprised if the winner of matchup 3 plays the winner of matchup 4, and so on. It's not official, but it's not a coincidence that the order is the way it is.

1a. Philadelphia Union (MLS)/Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) Winner at D.C. United (MLS)
1b. Philadelphia Union (MLS)/Rochester Rhinos (USL PRO) Winner at Richmond Kickers (USL PRO)

2a. New England Revolution (MLS) at New York Red Bulls (MLS)
2b. New England Revolution (MLS) at Charleston Battery (USL PRO)
2c. New York Red Bulls (MLS)/Charleston Battery (USL PRO) Winner at Harrisburg City Islanders (USL PRO)

3a. Columbus Crew (MLS)/Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) Winner at Chicago Fire (MLS)
3b. Columbus Crew (MLS)/Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) Winner at Michigan Bucks (PDL)

4a. Colorado Rapids (MLS)/Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) Winner at Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
4b. Colorado Rapids (MLS)/Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) Winner at Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO)

5a. Real Salt Lake (MLS)/Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) Winner at San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
5b. Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) at Real Salt Lake (MLS)

6a. Houston Dynamo (MLS) at FC Dallas (MLS): FC Dallas Stadium; Frisco, Texas; 7:30 p.m. CT
6b. FC Dallas (MLS)/Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) Winner at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL)
6c. Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) at Houston Dynamo (MLS)

7a. Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)/Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) Winner at Portland Timbers (MLS)
7b. Cal FC (USASA) at Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
7c. Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) vs. Cal FC (USASA), Venue TBD

8a. Chivas USA (MLS)/Ventura County Fusion (PDL) Winner at LA Galaxy (MLS)
8b. Chivas USA (MLS)/Ventura County Fusion (PDL) Winner at Carolina RailHawks (NASL)