- Oct 16, 2026
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SportsMafia Wire graphic. Team logos and player headshots via ESPN.
Columbus Crew will face St. Louis City SC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. The match will air on Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network.
The Crew, who have captured nine trophies in MLS history with their most recent being the Leagues Cup in 2024, seek their first silverware since Wilfried Nancy's departure. St. Louis City SC enters unbeaten in 22 consecutive matches and will appear in their first final in club history.
Forward Josef Martinez, who joined Columbus in summer 2024 from Club Tijuana, aims to lead by example. The 33-year-old Venezuelan has played for five teams over the past three years. Martinez previously won the 2018 Open Cup with Atlanta United, also claiming the Golden Boot, MLS Cup and MVP honors that season.
The Crew sit 11th in the Eastern Conference and risk missing the postseason. Martinez and Mendez are expected to set the example for the team. "We have to recognize that this is an opportunity to turn on the little bit of a struggle season," Martinez said. He noted that the side making fewer mistakes will have the chance to prevail.
Source: CBS Sports - Mon Oct 19, 9:02 PM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).