EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — At this stage of the 2026 USL Championship season, only two clubs remain unbeaten — the Tampa Bay Rowdies and El Paso Locomotive FC.
The Locos are coming off a dominant 4-0 win over Hartford Athletic on April 11, improving to 4-0-1 on the year. Their only dropped points came in the season opener, and since then, El Paso has been in top form.
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Now, a pivotal week awaits.
El Paso begins with a midweek test in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32, traveling to face MLS side Houston Dynamo FC on Wednesday. It marks the second consecutive year the Locomotive have drawn an MLS opponent at this stage of the tournament.
Last season, El Paso jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Austin FC before surrendering three unanswered goals in a 3-2 loss, ending the club’s deepest run in the competition. This time around, the Locos will look to finish the job and break through against top-flight opposition.
Following the cup match, El Paso returns home for a high-stakes USL Championship showdown against in-state rival San Antonio FC on Saturday night.
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The Locomotive enter the weekend aiming to protect their unbeaten run, while San Antonio sits just behind them in the Western Conference standings — adding even more importance to an already heated rivalry.
Kickoff for Saturday’s match at Southwest University Park is set for 7 p.m., while Wednesday’s Open Cup clash in Houston begins at 8 p.m.
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