Major League Soccer announced the 2017 home openers for all 22 clubs on Wednesday, with newcomers Minnesota United visiting the Portland Timbers in the opening match of the season on Friday, March 3.
The complete regular season schedule, along with the national television schedules for the US and Canada, will be announced next month, prior to the 2017 SuperDraft presented by adidas on Jan. 13.
The season’s opening weekend features the debut of two new expansion teams, the christening of a new, world-class soccer stadium in Orlando and a packed slate of seven matches on Saturday, March 4.
After Minnesota get the season underway in Portland on Friday, Saturday kicks off when five-time MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy host 2016 double winners FC Dallas at StubHub Center in Carson, California. Elsewhere, the newly-crowned league champions Seattle Sounders drop in on the Houston Dynamo and 2016 MLS Cup finalists Toronto FC visit Real Salt Lake.
The Sunday slate on March 5 will see Kakà and Orlando City SC welcoming their 2015 expansion brethren New York City FC, led by 2016 MVP winner David Villa, to the first league match at the Lions’ glittering new downtown home. Later that day, Atlanta United will make their MLS bow by hosting the New York Red Bulls at Bobby Dodd Stadium, their temporary home until Mercedes-Benz Stadium opens later in the season. Opening weekend concludes with Philadelphia’s visit to the Vancouver Whitecaps at 9:30 pm ET.
Week 2 will feature both 2017 expansion sides facing off in Minnesota United’s home opener on March 12 as Atlanta United visit TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota. MNUFC will play all 2017 home matches at TCF Bank Stadium until their soccer stadium opens in 2018.
Week 3 is highlighted by Seattle’s home opener at CenturyLink Field, as 2016 MLS Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Philips and the Red Bulls visit on Sunday, March 19.
Toronto FC will be the last MLS club to open at home on Friday, March 31, when they host Sporting Kansas City at BMO Field.
Each club will play 34 games, 17 home and 17 away. Teams will face each of their 10 conference opponents twice during the season, playing one game at home and one game away. Clubs will also play three of their conference opponents for an additional game and then face each of the 11 non-conference opponents once to round out the 34-game slate.
2017 MLS Home Openers
Friday, March 3, 2017:
- 9:30 PM ET Portland Timbers vs. Minnesota United FC (Providence Park)
Saturday, March 4, 2017:
- 2:00 PM ET Columbus Crew SC vs. Chicago Fire (MAPFRE Stadium)
- 4:00 PM ET LA Galaxy vs. FC Dallas (StubHub Center)
- 4:30 PM ET Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto FC (Rio Tinto Stadium)
- 6:00 PM ET Colorado Rapids vs. New England Revolution (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park)
- 7:00 PM ET D.C. United vs. Sporting Kansas City (RFK Stadium)
- 8:30 PM ET Houston Dynamo vs. Seattle Sounders FC (BBVA Compass Stadium)
- 10:00 PM ET San Jose Earthquakes vs. Montreal Impact (Avaya Stadium)
Sunday, March 5, 2017:
- 5:00 PM ET Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC (Orlando City Stadium)
- 7:00 PM ET Atlanta United vs. New York Red Bulls (Bobby Dodd Stadium)
- 9:30 PM ET Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Philadelphia Union (BC Place)
Saturday, March 11, 2017:
- 2:00 PM ET New England Revolution vs. Orlando City SC (Gillette Stadium)
- 2:00 PM ET Chicago Fire vs. Real Salt Lake (Toyota Park)
- 4:00 PM ET New York Red Bulls vs. Colorado Rapids (Red Bull Arena)
- 4:30 PM ET Philadelphia Union vs. Toronto FC (Talen Energy Stadium)
- 7:00 PM ET Montreal Impact vs. Seattle Sounders FC (Olympic Stadium)
- 9:00 PM ET Sporting Kansas City vs. FC Dallas (Children’s Mercy Park)
Sunday, March 12, 2017:
- 2:00 PM ET New York City FC vs. D.C. United (Yankee Stadium)
- 5:00 PM ET Minnesota United FC vs. Atlanta United (TCF Bank Stadium)
Saturday, March 18, 2017:
- 8:00 PM ET FC Dallas vs. New England Revolution (Toyota Stadium)
Sunday, March 19, 2017:
- 7:00 PM ET Seattle Sounders FC vs. New York Red Bulls (CenturyLink Field)
Friday, March 31, 2017:
- 7:30 PM ET Toronto FC vs. Sporting Kansas City (BMO Field)
RELATED: 2017 schedule of matches (including Champions League and international matches) | Sync to your calendar
