New York City FC and the Red Bulls will kick off their 2019 Major League Soccer on the road Saturday, March 2 before returning home to host their respective open openers later in the month.
City will open up at Orlando City SC at 2:30 p.m. that Saturday, prior to the Red Bulls visiting Columbus Crew SC at 4:30 p.m. the same day.
NYCFC returns home to Yankee Stadium to welcome D.C. United for its fifth home opener at Yankee Stadium Sunday, March 10 at 3 p.m.
As it turns out, NYCFC also will inaugurate Minnesota United FC’s Allianz Field Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m.
The Red Bulls will host the San Jose Earthquakes in their home opener at Red Bull Arena Saturday, March 16, time TBA.
MLS Thursday revealed the home openers for all 24 clubs for its 24th season – a year that will feature the highly anticipated launch of an expansion club in the Midwest and opening of the league’s 20th stadium built for soccer, and culminate with the debut of the league’s single-elimination playoff format.
When the season opens on March 2, FC Cincinnati, the league’s 24th club, will play its first MLS regular season game when visits Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field. Eightteen other clubs will begin their seasons that Saturday, including an Eastern Conference Semifinals rematch as Columbus hosts the Red Bulls.
Opening weekend also is highlighted by a Sunday doubleheader. On March 3, D.C. gets a visit from 2018 MLS Cup champions Atlanta United at Audi Field. In the final game of the weekend, the Los Angeles Football Club — coming off a highly successful inaugural season — host Western Conference finalists Sporting Kansas City.
In Week 2, FC Cincinnati will be the visitors when reigning champions Atlanta holds home opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Sunday, March 10. Coming three months after United’s triumph at MLS Cup before more than 73,000 fans, the club’s home opener is expected to be a night to remember.
The moment southern Ohio supporters have been waiting for arrives Sunday, March 17 at Nippert Stadium, when FC Cincinnati hosts first MLS home opener — against 2018 MLS Cup finalist Portland Timbers.
The 2019 season also brings the opening of Allianz Field, the stadium for Minnesota United FC, which already sold out all season tickets and have started a lengthy waiting list. Allianz Field, which becomes the 20th stadium built or renovated for soccer in MLS, will open on Saturday, April 13, when Minnesota hosts NYCFC.
The re-opening of Providence Park, which is undergoing a 4,000-seat expansion, will take place on Saturday, June 1, when the Timbers hold their home opener against LAFC.
Each club will play 34 games, including 17 home games and 17 away games. Teams will face each of their conference opponents twice during the season, with one game at home and one game away. All teams will face each non-conference opponent once.
The complete regular season schedule, along with the national television schedules for the U.S. and Canada, will be announced in January.
2019 Major League Soccer Regular Season Home Openers
All times are ET. Home teams listed first. Schedule is subject to change.
WEEK 1
Saturday, March 2, 2019
1 p.m. – Philadelphia Union vs. Toronto FC (Talen Energy Stadium)
2:30 p.m. – Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC (Orlando City Stadium)
4:30 p.m. – Columbus Crew SC vs. New York Red Bulls (MAPFRE Stadium)
4:30 p.m. – FC Dallas vs. New England Revolution (Toyota Stadium)
6 p.m. – Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake (BBVA Compass Stadium)
6 p.m. – Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park)
6 p.m. – Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Minnesota United FC (BC Place)
8 p.m. – LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire (Dignity Health Sports Park)
10 p.m. – Seattle Sounders FC vs. FC Cincinnati (CenturyLink Field)
10 p.m. – San Jose Earthquakes vs. Montreal Impact (Avaya Stadium)
Sunday, March 3, 2019
6 p.m. – D.C. United vs. Atlanta United (Audi Field)
8 p.m. – LAFC vs. Sporting Kansas City (Banc of California Stadium)
WEEK 2
Saturday, March 9, 2019
1 p.m. – Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City SC (SeatGeek Stadium)
2 p.m. – New England Revolution vs. Columbus Crew SC (Gillette Stadium)
6 p.m. – Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Rio Tinto Stadium)
Sunday, March 10, 2019
3 p.m. – New York City FC vs. D.C. United (Yankee Stadium)
3 p.m. – Sporting Kansas City vs. Philadelphia Union (Children’s Mercy Park)
5 p.m. – Atlanta United vs. FC Cincinnati (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
WEEK 3
Saturday, March 16, 2019
TBD – New York Red Bulls vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Red Bull Arena)
Sunday, March 17, 2019
1:30 p.m. – Toronto FC vs. New England Revolution (BMO Field)
5 p.m. – FC Cincinnati vs. Portland Timbers (Nippert Stadium)
ALSO…
Saturday, April 13, 2019
1 p.m. – Montreal Impact vs. Columbus Crew SC (Saputo Stadium)
5 p.m. – Minnesota United FC vs. NYCFC (Allianz Field)
Saturday, June 1, 2019
10:30 p.m. – Portland Timbers vs. LAFC (Providence Park)
