Miami FC vs Naples United
This 2025 season, we’ve made it one of our primary missions to cover as many US Open Cup games as possible. It’s the oldest and most historic competition in America, giving opportunities for lower-league teams to slay giants and for communities to be swept up in the excitement of what only a true open tournament can bring.
On a brisk evening at FIU Stadium, USL Championship side Miami FC hosted NPSL club Naples United in the first round of this year’s Open Cup. Miami FC gained control of the match in the first half and pulled off a convincing 4-1 victory against the visiting semi-pro side. It was a dominant win in the end, and one that should inspire confidence in the squad heading into the next round.
This is what photographer Calvin Hernandez had to say about this Florida showdown:
What were some of the most notable things you saw in the stands or around the stadium in general?
I was not prepared for the amount traveling fans for Naples United that came out. I know it's only an hour and a half, but on a random Thursday in mid March, plenty of fans showed out. Decked out with drums for club and blankets to keep the chill from sinking in. The sun started falling at kick off but still hung around to leave a fiery sky for the opening 20-25 minutes of the match as it set behind the bleachers.
How did the club you were covering experience this game? How did the players react? What about the fans?
Miami FC has a swagger and a confidence to them, but Naples didn't care and they came ready to play and they were physical. Between the drums changing from one beat to another, I could hear the chatter, and, louder still, the chirping on the pitch.
Naples came out knowing they were underdogs but ready to give it everything. They held off MFC for most of the first half but the lion's share of possession eventually gave way to pressure just breaking them down.
What approach/mindset did you go with to cover this game?
My approach was to give this game the same measure of respect I gave to events like the Copa America final. This could be the biggest game in these players career and they deserve to have it documented as such. I wanted to get the small interactions though between the fans and the players, or watching the ball boys take the game in sitting on the touchline envisioning themselves out there, playing for a cup.
What was your favorite thing about the night? Describe it for someone who wasn’t there.
My favorite thing, other than having much more access around the field, was watching players go hang out with their families after at the fence line while kids came up and asked for autographs.
Another favorite moment was pregame and watching the mascots line up with their player and just chatting with them. And one of Miami's players comes out to lineup and said, "I need someone that's short because I'm short!" Just seeing how down to earth players at this level are is definitely something I appreciate.
Why is the Open Cup important to you?
The Open cup is important to me because being the oldest football tournament in the US notwithstanding, it's a glimpse into the gritty play during a weekday, away from the weekend chaos of matches. It’s where football is in, I think, it's truest form. There's glory to be had, but the journey begins in the trenches, on the dark nights without the eyes of the weekend crowds, where a player can hear his thoughts with far less distractions.
