We are well and truly back.  It’s a quick turnaround for RIFC and us here at Tide Talk, as the boys are set to take on CD Faialense in the US Open Cup on Tuesday night.  With the format of the Open Cup constantly changing, it can get a bit confusing.  Last year, RIFC entered the competition in the second round and defeated Portland Hearts of Pine before falling to the New England Revolution in the following round.  So, how does this all work in 2026?

This year, the first round consists of 64 teams.  That 64 is made up of 17 USL Championship teams, 13 USL League One teams, 2 MLS Next Pro teams, and 32 amateur teams.  The amateur teams have all been paired with the other 32 professional teams geographically.  The 32 teams that advance from this round then get redrawn against each other for the second round.  Then, the 16 winners of the second round get paired with one of 16 MLS teams that enter the competition at that stage. 

Got it?  Good.  If not, it doesn’t really matter at this point anyway.  We can readdress it when RIFC hopefully advance.  And on that note, let’s focus on the task ahead of us on Tuesday night.

Last Time Out

RIFC come into this one having drawn their season opener 1-1 against Sporting Jax.  For detailed coverage of that game, check out the Player Ratings and Riptide Report.  What I will say here is that the performance was very encouraging (outside of missed chances) and we got to see four players make their RIFC debut.  We will likely see even more on Tuesday night, as it’ll be a good opportunity for some reserve players to get some minutes.

Players to Watch

• Jacob Castro (GK)
  • I’d be very surprised to see Koke Vegas out there on Tuesday.  This should be the debut for new backup GK Castro.  I’m looking forward to seeing how he does out there, with RIFC having lost a very dependable backup in Jackson Lee who is now in Brooklyn
• CJ Williams (DF)
  • I would love to see Williams get the start on the left side of the back 3.  I already have a soft spot for him, probably because his arrival was one of the two blogs I did this offseason.  Still, I’m really intrigued to see what he can do as a left-footer out there.  Something you always need in your back line
• Kevin Vang (MF)
  • As a local RI guy, Vang holds a special place in our hearts.  He obviously isn’t suited for minutes in the league or league cup, but this should be a good opportunity to get him out there on the field at Centreville Bank Stadium.  Hopefully he gets his chance

Key to the Game

• Get the right mix of starters and reserves
  • For Khano Smith and RIFC, you need to get the right balance in the starting 11 Tuesday night.  As I already mentioned, this game is a good opportunity to give minutes to backups/reserves.  But you also need to make sure you have some starting quality players in there to make sure the game doesn’t become a fight.  Hopefully RIFC can put the game to bed early and give their starters some early season rest

Club Background

CD Faialense were founded in the early 1970s in Cambridge, Massachusetts and currently play in the Bay State Soccer League (BSSL).  The club was started by a group of immigrants from Faial, one of the islands in the Azores.  There is a long history of Azorean immigration to New England and in particular Massachusetts.  In the case of Faial, volcanic eruptions that started in 1957 led to the Azorean Refugee Act of 1958, which provided opportunities for those affected by the disaster to immigrate to the US. 

While the club still holds on to their strong Portuguese roots, they’ve opened themselves up to players of all different nationalities.  In recent years, they’ve built the squad through word of mouth with players from local colleges and universities.  While it’s difficult to get information on the current squad, especially since the BSSL season hasn’t kicked off yet, I’m going to try my best here.

Players to Watch

• Lucas Rezende (GK)
  • Played at Merrimack in the late 2010s.  Started in goal in last year’s loss to Portland Hearts of Pine
• Mirko Nufi (DF)
  • Played with Rezende at Merrimack.  Captained Faialense in the Open Cup last season.  Currently an assistant coach at Merrimack
• Damian Attidore (FW)
  • Wide attacker who played at UMass Lowell.  Came on as a second half substitute in last year’s Open Cup.  Currently a high school English teacher

Key to the Game

• Stay in it as long as possible
  • For CD Faialense, the key here is the same as it pretty much always is when an amateur team takes on a professional one.  If they want to have any chance of advancing, they need to hope they can hang in the game as long as they can.  Faialense will be hoping that RIFC players still haven’t found their shooting boots and that their inability to take their chances carries over from this weekend

Analysis and Prediction

For the second prematch blog in a row, I don’t have much analysis to provide here.  I promise it’ll get better as the season goes on.  But what I can say is that it would be a complete disaster if RIFC don’t advance Tuesday night.  You’re coming up against an amateur team, who despite being very good for their level, shouldn’t have a real chance of winning.  Faialense lost 4-0 to Portland Hearts of Pine last year in this competition.  RIFC are a level above that.  Even with some reserve players likely getting a lot of playing time in this one, it should be relatively straightforward.

Final Thoughts

After the season opener on Saturday, my excitement for RIFC is through the roof.  I am so glad to be back watching this team play and blogging every game.  And I really can’t wait for Tuesday night.  Midweek cup games in the cold are for the real sickos out there.  Attendance should be low in number but just as passionate as always.  I’m sure I’ll see many of you there.  As always, UP THE TIDE!