Tampa Bay Rowdies Jagermeister Cup vs. The Miami FC Preview
Written by James Knowles
Date: Saturday April 26, 2025
Kickoff Time: 7:30 pm EST at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, FL
Records: Tampa Bay Rowdies (0 pts 0W-0D-0L); The Miami FC (0 pts 0W-0D-0L)
Standings: This is the first game for both teams in the 2025 Jägermeister Cup
After a long week with two games and 210 minutes total played, the Rowdies will be looking forward to a game in which the points on the line are not immediately going toward a playoff race. The Jägermeister Cup starts with its own group stage, and a local rival is coming to town. They’re surprisingly playing well suddenly, and could cause problems for a team in transition. Get to Al Lang this Saturday to cheer the team on as they begin a new competition!
Will there be experimentation here?
The first thing to say in relation to the Jägermeister Cup is that any trophy is a trophy. Far more than a tautology, this is to say any trophy worth prestige and prize money is worth chasing. Just ask Newcastle who won their first in 70 years. (As an aside, this is doubly true for the US Open Cup - and I hope we make every effort to best Orlando next month.)
Putting silverware in the club’s display case can paper over a lot of problems. Managers have kept or lost jobs based on trophies. Fans can't afford to take this one lightly just because it’s new. The same goes for the team, of course, who haven’t been performing up to their usual standards. Everyone needs a W just to help get things back on the right course.
All of that being said, it should also be noted how USL League 1 clubs approached the Jager Cup last year - back when only they could take part. It was certainly a secondary competition to the league. Managers rested players and gave others more minutes than usual. All of that is understandable, too. It’s even likely from both the Rowdies and their opposition.
While that might sound a little disappointing, it should rightly be viewed as an opportunity. As stated above and elsewhere, Tampa Bay are going through a tough period. The 2024 season showed signs of promise that were never fulfilled. They don’t look to have turned a corner yet through April of 2025. Injuries are already causing problems, and it’s not even that hot.
To get out of the group stages, especially with a game against Charleston on the horizon, this is probably a must-win scenario. There are other considerations, though. Woobens Pacius and Manuel Arteaga likely need a break. They should probably not start at the very least. This would be a good chance to play Endri Mustali from the outset and give him some real minutes.
Along those same lines, Nate Worth has only started in the Open Cup this season. With depth in the attacking corps running thin, new signing Alex Rodriguez might be another recipient of some game time. If not from the start, it would at least be worth seeing what he could do against other USL Championship opposition. Of course, it’s not like Miami don’t have these same considerations.
They’re likely to rest the players who’ve been racking up miles so far through 2025. They may turn to their own youth or academy players as well. As the Rowdies have experimented with their midfield options, Miami will likely do the same. Getting that right has been an issue for the coaching staff in south Florida. It’ll be a match to test out new ideas in a competitive setting.
But, while the Green and Gold have dropped, their in-state rivals are finding their stride. They bring much better form to Al Lang Stadium, and they’ll be looking to carry it over regardless of any other changes. Preventing them from doing so should be a matter of pride for Tampa Bay. Miami’s last win in this fixture came almost exactly three years ago - also in St. Pete. Giving up this streak would be the exact opposite of everything listed above: a complete de-motivator. It should be avoided if at all possible.