New York City Football Club Thursday announced its seven-game preseason schedule prior to the 2023 Major League Soccer season.

The team kicks off training camp in Orlando, Fla. departing on Thursday, Jan. 12. City will open its preseason slate against Minnesota United on Wednesday, Jan. 18 before returning home.

Preseason continues in California where the club takes on the San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday, Jan. 24 in Santa Barbara. The Citizens will travel to Los Angeles to face 2022 MLS Cup champion Los Angeles FC on Saturday, Jan. 28, in a battle of the two most recent league champions. NYCFC will face LA Galaxy on Saturday, Feb. 4.

For the final leg of the preseason NYCFC will participate in the Coachella Valley Invitational at Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif.

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, City will play against expansion side St. Louis CITY as part of the invitational, followed by a friendly against USL Championship side San Diego Loyal SC. To close out its Coachella Valley participation, NYCFC will face off against the Portland Timbers on Saturday, Feb. 18 for the first time since defeating the Oregon side in the 2021 MLS Cup.

Preseason key dates 

Wednesday, Jan. 18 – Friendly v. Minnesota United 11 am ET

Tuesday, Jan. 24 – Friendly v. San Jose Earthquakes 2:30 pm ET

Saturday, Jan. 28 – Friendly v. LAFC 3 pm ET

Saturday, Feb. 4 – Friendly v. LA Galaxy 10 pm ET

Wednesday, Feb. 15 – Coachella Valley Invitational Match v. St. Louis CITY 3:30 pm ET

Wednesday, Feb. 15 – Friendly v. San Diego Loyal SC 6 pm ET

Saturday, Feb. 18 – Coachella Valley Invitational Match v. Portland Timbers 3 pm ET

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.