Once underdogs, Indy Eleven are now one step away from the CONCACAF Champions Cup

If I’d told you a year ago that Indy Eleven would be one game away from the U.S. Open Cup final, you probably would’ve laughed right in my face, thinking I’d lost my mind. And hey, I wouldn’t blame you. But here we are, August 27, 2024, and Indy Eleven is gearing up to take on the powerhouse that is Sporting Kansas City in a semifinal that, let’s be honest, no one saw coming.

Indy Eleven is your classic underdog, the team that flips the script and leaves all those fancy predictions in the dust. This is a squad that, until now, hadn’t even sniffed a U.S. Open Cup semifinal, let alone beaten a Major League Soccer (MLS) team. But guess what? They did it this time. That’s why I’m telling you, it’s high time you start paying attention to this team. They’re no longer just some footnote in American soccer history. They’re writing their own chapter—a damn good one, too.

Follow MLS Multiplex on X (Twitter).

Indy’s journey to this semifinal is the kind of story you’d tell your grandkids, assuming soccer ever becomes more popular than the NFL here (hey, a guy can dream, right?). They kicked off their campaign by knocking out Chicago Fire FC II, 1-0. Now, you might say, “Yeah, whatever, they’re just an MLS NEXT Pro team, that’s expected.” Fair enough. But hold on. Then they took down San Antonio FC, a solid USL Championship squad, 2-0. That’s when eyebrows started to rise. And trust me, the show was just getting started.

Things really got serious when they smashed Detroit City FC, another big USL team, with a solid 3-0 win. By then, anyone paying attention knew Indy Eleven wasn’t messing around. But the real magic happened in the quarterfinals when they went down to Atlanta and stunned Atlanta United, 2-1. It was the first time Indy had ever beaten an MLS team. And let me tell you—it was epic.

Coaching this squad is Sean McAuley, and even though it’s his first time in the role, he’s already proven he knows how to get the best out of his players. And this roster? Oh man, it’s packed with nine former MLS guys. These aren’t nobodies. They’ve got the experience, and more importantly, they’re hungry for a win. It’s like they’ve got something to prove, not just to the fans, but to themselves.

Now, let’s talk about the giant that stands in their way. Sporting Kansas City is a beast, no doubt. They’ve got four U.S. Open Cup titles under their belt and a rock-solid history in this competition. Plus, they haven’t lost at home in this tournament in 15 games. But here’s the thing—Indy Eleven has already shown they’re not scared.

This matchup against Sporting KC is, hands down, the biggest game in Indy Eleven’s history. We’re not just talking about a spot in the final; we’re talking about a real shot at making history. It’s about proving that lower-division teams can stand toe-to-toe with the country’s best. Winning the U.S. Open Cup wouldn’t just mean a shiny trophy and a fat $300,000 check. Nope. This tournament is also the golden ticket to the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they’d get to face off against some of the biggest teams across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

And here’s the kicker—Indy Eleven is just one win away from clinching a spot in that continental tournament, even if they don’t end up lifting the U.S. Open Cup trophy. If Indy beats Sporting Kansas City and LAFC takes down the Seattle Sounders, Indy’s in. Why? Because LAFC already locked in their Champions Cup spot by finishing runners-up in the Leagues Cup last weekend. That means the Open Cup winner’s spot goes to the other finalist. So, even if Indy Eleven doesn’t win the whole thing, they could still find themselves mixing it up with the big dogs of North and Central American soccer.

Remember when no one thought Leicester City would win the Premier League back in 2016? And look what happened. So, who am I to say Indy Eleven can’t pull off something historic here in the States too?

They’ve defied the odds, shut down the naysayers, and now they’ve got a shot at cementing their legacy in American soccer. But more than that, they’re sparking a whole new generation of fans. People who maybe never heard of Indy Eleven until now, but who are starting to believe that anything—literally anything—is possible.

So next Tuesday night, when Indy Eleven steps onto the field against Sporting Kansas City, remember this: it doesn’t matter what the numbers say, it doesn’t matter what the experts predict, the only thing that matters is what happens out there on the pitch. And let’s be real—who doesn’t love a good underdog story?