Founded in 2021, Vermont Green FC of USL League Two captured national attention with their beautiful jerseys, rabid fan base, and commitment to community.
Fans pack Virtue Field on the University of Vermont's campus during the summertime, creating a loud, smoke-filled atmosphere – with the occasional tifo – that rivals what’s seen in Europe.
Four years later, Portland Hearts of Pine followed a similar roadmap, making games at Fitzpatrick Stadium a must-have ticket in Maine.
The two teams will face off for the first time on Tuesday in a marquee U.S. Open Cup match. Nearly 11,000 ticket requests were made for the game, which will be played in Vermont on a field that holds 2,500 spectators.
“If you're in the know, then we're both these darlings of New England soccer, or whatever,” Hearts head coach Bobby Murphy said. “I think this matchup will put two really young, successful clubs with really smart, visionary leadership at the forefront of that first week of the Open Cup.
“It's a great showcase for what small clubs and small markets like ours can be.”
There’s a lot of respect between the two clubs, with Murphy saying, “They’ve done fantastic.”
Not only did the Green win the USL League Two title last year in an undefeated season, but they’ve consistently been a stop for players looking to play professionally.
Green head coach Chris Taylor shares a similar affinity for Hearts, explaining, “They’re a brilliant team; love the way they play, love the way they’re coached.”
Hearts finished the 2025 season with a +10 goal differential, playing an aggressive brand of soccer that captivated fans at their 18 sold-out games. They nearly made the league championship, but were ousted in the semifinals by Spokane Velocity in penalties.
But the club might be proudest of its 150 community events, which included hospital visits, school clinics, and more. Their fans are on board, with the Dirigo Union hosting Binho tournaments to raise money for local children's hospitals.
One group created union-made sweatshirts emblazoned with “Neat.” in response to recent ICE activities. Proceeds go to a local charity.
The Green, meanwhile, have committed themselves to social and environmental justice, hoping to be a net-zero club. In 2025, a fan-organized fundraiser raised over $25,000 for Migrant Justice and the Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund.
“I think we’ve both captured community and captured the imagination,” Taylor said.
A Desire To Win
The pleasantries will end when the whistle blows at 7 pm on Tuesday. Advancement in the oldest domestic soccer tournament is on the line.
Vermont knows the power of the cup, as their 4-3 win over Lexington SC of USL League One in 2024 created pandemonium among the sold-out crowd, which seemed unaffected by the 30-degree weather.
They nearly captured a second “cupset” one month later, but lost 2-1 to Carolina Core FC of MLS Next Pro despite taking the first lead in a game that featured rain, sleet, and snow.
Hearts’ Open Cup magic took place in Lewiston, ME, as a last-minute extra-time goal by Jake Keegan forced penalties against Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship. The lower-division side won the shootout, prompting a celebration that carried into the locker room, where Hearts banged on metal lockers in the high school's locker room.
A win in the cup can bring notoriety.
“The magic,” Taylor said. “We’ve seen it in England this year in the FA Cup, in some of the unbelievable stories that have happened, and we want to be a story ourselves.”
Murphy knows all about it, having been a part of multiple U.S. Open Cup runs. In 2022, he served as an assistant coach for the Union Omaha team that defeated the Chicago Fire and Minnesota United of Major League Soccer to advance to the quarterfinals.
“We want to win [on Tuesday],” Murphy said. “I've been on MLS clubs who've lost to USL clubs in the Open Cup, and I've been on USL clubs that have beaten MLS clubs, and you never want to be on the side of the ‘bigger club' losing. You know what I mean?”
Obstacles
Tuesday’s game won’t be easy for either team, as both face their own set of challenges.
Hearts opened their season on Saturday at 2 pm, defeating the New York Cosmos 3-1 at Hinchliffe Stadium. The game carried additional weight as approximately 600 Hearts supporters were in attendance. The Open Cup game, three days later, will be followed by a cross-country weekend trip to the opposite coast to face AV Alta.
The Green, meanwhile, aren’t in season, so a lot of labor goes into assembling the best-possible roster. They will have three days of training, but only one of those days will have every player. Taylor admitted that the roster was still evolving as of Thursday, five days before the game.
So many factors are at play. Can the player make it? How much will it cost to get him to Virtue? When can he arrive?
“We’ve got the core of it, but still trying to add some pieces, and you’re also trying to make it balanced,” Taylor said. “You’re trying to get the right profile for this style.”
A roster of young, hungry college players was announced on Monday.
Taylor faces a unique challenge: identifying tactics he can quickly convey during the limited time. In 2024, the Green had three set-piece goals against Lexington, an approach specifically selected because of the team’s height.
“This squad is a little bit different,” Taylor said. “We have to pick and choose exactly what we can cover, because if we try to go for everything, we won’t get anywhere.
“We’ll have the talent, that’s not the worry. It’s can we get the talent performing together in a cohesive nature in such a short period of time?”
Hearts have been together for approximately six weeks, preparing for their sophomore campaign. They also return 13 players, including Hunter Morse, Mikey Lopez, Ollie Wright, Masashi Wada, and Titus Washington.
Taylor said that Hearts play a “really fun style,” adding, “There’s no wavering in how they play.” He knows it will take a lot to advance on Tuesday.
“We’re anticipating a beast of a match where we’re going to have to have everything right to be successful,” Taylor said.
But elimination games are unpredictable, especially when played on the road. The Green’s supporters, headlined by the Green Mountain Bhoys, are ready to will their team to victory after they have some corned beef and Guinness stew during their St. Patrick’s Day pregame.
“Vermont fans have never let us down,” Taylor said. “When we’ve needed that atmosphere, we’ve gotten it.”
Murphy, who has been coaching professionally since 2016, preached the value of patience, especially during the game’s early moments.
“Weather the crowd, weather their excitement, their enthusiasm, and then hopefully impose ourselves on it,” Murphy said. “But be prepared to go about it the right way. I mean, 90% of these upsets happen because of a mentality thing. That's the reality.”
The Beginning of a Rivalry
Taylor would love to play Hearts regularly, not just because it would mean his team had enough success to qualify for the U.S. Open Cup.
“There’s a New England rivalry,” Taylor said. “I think that’s a healthy thing, out of total respect. I think it’s good for the game. I think it’s good for the culture. I think it’s good for the fans.”
Currently, the teams would only meet in the U.S. Open Cup or in a friendly. That could change one day if the Green decide to join USL League One.
This is not an easy decision. For every Hearts of Pine, who has proven to be wildly successful, there’s a South Georgia Tormenta, who just folded weeks before the start of the season.
Taylor admits that jumping up a level is appealing, going as far as saying, “It’s probably in our future at some point.”
“I think everyone feels like we have a great product that would thrive at any level we go to, but it’s got to be right for everyone,” Taylor said. “We definitely look at Hearts of Pine. I think they took maybe five years to launch, but that’s credit to them, that they had the patience and they had the big picture and did it right. Look at the product they put out there.”
For now, Taylor is looking forward to Tuesday’s game, just like everyone else around the country.
“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for New England to show that we’re the hotbed for football at the moment,” Taylor said.
