Republic FC looks to make history this weekend. Here’s what’s at stake
Sacramento Republic FC has chance this weekend to do something it hasn’t done since 2014: lift a trophy in front of its home fans.
Republic FC on Saturday night will host Hartford Athletic in the final of the USL Jägermeister Cup at Heart Health Park in the first year of the tournament’s new format.
While the Jägermeister Cup might sound like a special at a college watering hole, it’s a tournament created by the USL that features 38 teams from all three of the league’s levels, similar to other older soccer tournaments throughout Europe and the recently adopted NBA In-Season tournament.
Saturday will mark Republic FC’s seventh Jägermeister Cup game of the season. The tournament is in a similar format to the World Cup with group stages before a knockout round. Sacramento beat Rhode Island FC in penalty kicks Sept. 10 to earn the right to host Saturday’s final.
The Jägermeister Cup does not count towards USL regular season standings. Republic FC on Wednesday clinched its 11th playoff appearance in 12 seasons with a 2-1 victory over Orange County FC while resting the majority of it’s top players in preparation for Saturday’s cup final.
“I’m expecting a fantastic night,” manager Neill Collins said after Wednesday’s win. “We were able to rest guys tonight. Some guys have done themselves a lot of favors, in terms of we know that they’re ready to come in. I think the short rest will help. We’ve been thinking about tonight and that’s shown. We’ll wake up tomorrow morning and we’ll start thinking about a cup final.”
Republic FC (12-8-6) is currently No. 2 on the Group West table of the USL Championship standings and just three points behind top-seeded FC Tulsa (13-8-5). There are four games left for Republic FC to try to get the No. 1 seed while eight teams from each conference reach the playoffs.
In addition to trying to win the Jägermeister Cup Saturday, Republic FC is hoping to win its first USL Championship title since 2014.
Winning two trophies would make 2025 arguably the most successful season in the team’s history. Republic FC is trying to build momentum toward the opening of the new $175 million stadium in the downtown Railyards in 2027 with a long-term vision jumping to Major League Soccer — or USL’s new Division One league, designed to complete with MLS directly.
Tickets for Saturday’s cup final are available on Republic FC’s website.
