Iowa is often recognized for its corn, caucuses, and Caitlyn Clark, but on April 2, it will attract attention from the American soccer scene. The Des Moines Menace will compete against Union Omaha in the Second Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, showcasing retired MLS stars in an unexpected twist.
Benny Feilhaber, a Des Moines Menace midfielder and former U.S. men’s national team player, noted, “I think we’re the underdogs every time we step on the field. We’ve got an average age of 35 plus, so there’s no doubt we will be the underdog…”
Notable Players for Des Moines Menace:
| 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 |
Feilhaber emphasized the significance of collaboration and practice time, citing, “[Not having prep time between games], that’s huge… it’s a team sport and we don’t get to train together.”
The Menace face strong competition from Union Omaha, who have a history of success in this tournament. Omaha’s head coach, Dominic Casiato, remarked, “…what it takes to pull through and be successful in big games.”
The match between Des Moines Menace and Union Omaha will take place on Wednesday, April 2 at 8:30 p.m. ET at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines, Iowa.
