Mexico National Team Stars to Clash in Inter Miami CF South Florida Debut - This Week in MLS

Top Things to Know in MLS This Week
MLS clubs continue Champions League quest in CCL Quarterfinals this week:
Four teams get set for Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals, including LAFC and Atlanta United going up against two of the top ranked LIGA MX clubs. NYCFC faces Tigres UANL and the Montreal Impact take on Olympia. 
View CCL Bracket
Vela scores in MLS-record 12^th consecutive home game:
Carlos Vela scored in an MLS-record 12th consecutive home game on Sunday while notching his 50
^th
MLS goal, placing himself among the three fastest players to reach the mid-century scoring mark.
Mexico international teammates face off on FOX:
Inter Miami’s inaugural home opener will bring South Florida fans the marquee matchup of Mexican National Team stars Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez of the LA Galaxy against Rodolfo Pizarro of Inter Miami CF.
Young talents with Olympic-sized dreams: T
he U.S. U-23s called up 15 current MLS players and 16 MLS academy products for the 2020 Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Championship, which begins on March 20. Complete roster available
here
.
Inter Miami CF Get Set for South Florida Home Debut as Mexico International Teammates Brace for a Clash on the Field
Amid a backdrop of Inter Miami CF celebrating the club’s inaugural home match in front of the
South Florida faithful,
Mexico international teammates, Javier “Chicharito” Hernández of the LA Galaxy and Roldolfo Pizarro of Inter Miami CF get set to faceoff for the first time in MLS league play live on FOX / FOX Deportes this Saturday (2:30 p.m. ET). 
The excitement building across South Florida has even caught the attention of the NBA’s Miami Heat, which last week in the nation’s capital,
saw all 12 traveling players spend their off day supporting Inter Miami CF against D.C. United at Audi Field
.
Adding fuel to the fire, Inter Miami CF host the LA Galaxy, a club remarkably familiar to co-owner David Beckham. As a six-year member of the Galaxy, Beckham led the Galaxy to three MLS Cup finals, winning the final two (2009, 2011, 2012).
A product of the league’s explosive growth, Inter Miami CF Stadium is the sixth new stadium to open since 2017 as nearly $5 billion have been invested in stadiums throughout the league’s 25-year history.
The venue also houses the permanent training facility for the club, including the Inter Miami CF Academy U12s-U19s, and becomes the 10th training ground in MLS to open over a four-year span. 
On the field in the South Florida spotlight this weekend, the battle between Mexican National Team stars Chicharito and Pizzaro will test two highly touted newcomers, each seeking his first MLS victory. Chicharito might have the edge in national team experience with 109 caps and 52 goals for El Tri, but Pizarro – with his 25 caps and five goals for Mexico – has already tallied in MLS league play,
nailing the historic first goal in Inter Miami history
last week.
15 MLS Players to lead U.S. Olympic Qualifying Roster
U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team head coach Jason Kreis has selected the 20 players that will compete for a spot at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. A total of 15 MLS players (16 MLS club academy products) make up the talented squad that will travel to Mexico for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship from March 20-April 1.
FC Dallas, Philadelphia Union and Real Salt Lake each released three players, featuring young academy products who have been rewarded for standout MLS play with lucrative second contracts in recent months.
Among the players include an FC Dallas trio in defender
Reggie Cannon
, midfielder
Paxton Pomykal
, and forward
Jesús Ferreira
, RSL defenders
Aaron Herrera
and
Justen Glad
, and Philadelphia defender
Mark McKenzie
. Additionally,
Brenden Aaronson
will represent the U.S. after a breakout rookie year with the Union in 2019, a run of form that has extended to this season including a
crucial goal in Sunday’s draw
against LAFC.  
The U.S. opens play on Friday, March 20 vs. Costa Rica (7 p.m. ET; FS2 / TUDN), will then face Dominican Republic on Monday, March 23 (7 p.m. ET; FS1 / TUDN), and wrap up the group stage vs. Mexico on Thursday, March 26 (11 p.m. ET; FS1 / TUDN).
MLS-LIGA MX showdown highlights Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals
The four remaining MLS clubs will face tough opposition in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals this week, with three clubs hosting the first leg. Three of the clubs will play LIGA MX opponents, looking to build upon a strong Round of 16 result for the MLS sides.  
Tuesday, March 10
Montreal Impact vs. Olimpia (8 p.m. ET, FS1 / TUDN / TSN1 / RDS) – Olympic Stadium, Montreal

• Montreal is in search of its first appearance in the CCL semifinals since their magical 2014-2015 run that saw them finish as runners-up. In order to get there, Montreal will have to defeat an Olimpia side that bested defending MLS Cup champions Seattle Sounders FC in the Round of 16.
  
• Thierry Henry’s team is undefeated through four combined matches in MLS and CCL play, led by current MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi leader Maxi Urruti.
  

Wednesday, March 11
New York City FC vs. Tigres UANL (8 p.m. ET, FS2 / TUDN) – Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ

• New York City FC is set to face a Mexican opponent in a competitive match for the first time in club history and is led by CCL Golden Boot leader Héber who has three goals.
  
• Tigres is among the top Mexican clubs, winning four of the last nine LIGA MX titles, including the 2019 Clausura, the only club to have won multiple in that span.
  

Club América vs. Atlanta United (10:30 p.m. ET, FS2 / TUDN) – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

• Atlanta United will face Club América in a rematch of the 2019 Campeones Cup that saw the MLS side prevail. Club América, looking for revenge against Atlanta, currently sits in third place in LIGA MX and has won two of the past five CCL titles.
  
• Pity Martínez leads MLS with two assists while ranking second in CCL play with two goals scored. Ezequiel Barco and Emerson Hyndman, who each have two goals in MLS play, along with Pity are lifting Atlanta following the injury of Josef Martínez.  
  

Thursday, March 12
Los Angeles Football Club vs. Cruz Azul (10:30 p.m. ET, FS2 / TUDN) – Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles

• LAFC faces Cruz Azul, the top team in the LIGA MX standings after defeating Club Leon, the second-place team in the Round of 16.
  
• Reigning MLS MVP Carlos Vela powered LAFC to victory with two goals in the Round of 16 comeback, helping his club become the first in MLS to defeat a Mexican opponent in CCL play after trailing by two goals. Vela has scored four times this season and is also tied for second in MLS with two regular season goals scored.
  

Catch The Beckham Effect on FOX Sports
As the Inter Miami CF chapter of David Beckham’s story begins,
The Beckham Effect
sets the stage, revealing both his legacy and opportunity by examining the ups and downs of Beckham’s six-year tenure with the LA Galaxy and its impact on the sports landscape.
The documentary premiered on Friday, March 6, and will re-air in several additional time slots across FOX Sports properties this week ahead of the Inter Miami CF Stadium opener on Saturday. 
The film features exclusive interviews with MLS Great Landon Donovan, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, New England Revolution Head Coach Bruce Arena, NBA All-Star and Vancouver Whitecaps FC part-owner Steve Nash, MLS Great Kyle Martino and more, as they shed new light on how Beckham eventually defied his critics -- again.
The list of scheduled air dates is below.
Watch trailer here
.
*Note: Air dates and times subject to change. All times Eastern.

Week 3 Game Notes
Saturday, March 14
New York City FC vs. FC Dallas, 12:30 p.m.

• NYCFC suffered a second consecutive defeat to open the season, both coming by 1-0 scorelines, falling to Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday afternoon.
  
• FC Dallas remained undefeated on the new season, getting some late heroics from 17-year-old Ricardo Pepi to snatch a 2-2 draw with the Montréal Impact at Toyota Stadium. Pepi’s stoppage-time equalizer made him the second-youngest player to score a goal in FCD club history (at 17 years, 58 days), the 12th-youngest in MLS history.
  
• The teams met once a season ago, reaching a 1-1 draw at Toyota Stadium on Sept. 29.
  
• NYCFC won the last meeting between the teams at Yankee Stadium, a 3-1 win April 29, 2018, their only win in five meetings in the all-time series. FCD has won once – that in the first meeting between the clubs, Sept. 12, 2015, a 2-1 win in Frisco.
  

Inter Miami CF vs. LA Galaxy, 2:30 p.m. (FOX; TVA Sports)

• Rodolfo Pizarro scored the first goal in Inter Miami club history, giving his side the lead after just two minutes, but they eventually fell to a second loss to start the season, dropping a 2-1 decision to D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday afternoon.
  
• The Galaxy began the home portion of their 2020 season with a defeat, falling by the game’s lone goal to Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday evening.
  
• This is the return to South Florida for Major League Soccer, the last MLS game there coming Oct. 17, 2001, when Miami Fusion FC played host to the San Jose Earthquakes in the third game of the MLS Cup Playoffs Semifinals at Lockhart Stadium (a game won 1-0 by San Jose).
  

Toronto FC vs. Nashville SC, 4 p.m. (TSN / CTV)

• Toronto FC remained undefeated on the new season, Ifunanyachi Achara scoring the game’s only goal in the 81st minute in his full professional debut for the victory against New York City FC at BMO Field on Saturday evening.
  
• Nashville SC suffered a second setback to begin their inaugural campaign, falling to the Portland Timbers by the game’s only goal at Providence Park on Sunday evening.
  
• The teams are meeting for the first time in their histories. They will also face each other July 5 at Nissan Stadium.
  

Columbus Crew SC vs. Real Salt Lake, 5 p.m.

• Gyasi Zardes netted his first goal of the season as Columbus Crew gained a second result in two games on the new campaign, playing to a 1-1 draw with Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Saturday evening.
  
• Damir Kreilach hit for the equalizer in stoppage time to give Real Salt Lake a share of the points for a second time in their second game of the year, a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
  
• The teams met once a year ago, Real claiming a 1-0 win July 3 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real are undefeated in the past four meetings between the clubs on their home ground, dating back to 2013.
  
• RSL have not won in Columbus in league play since 2006, the Crew having won eight of the past nine regular-season meetings there, including a 2-1 win in the last matchup at Mapfre Stadium on June 30, 2018. Real did win the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series between the teams in 2009 in Columbus, on their way to an MLS Cup title.
  

FC Cincinnati vs. D.C. United, 5:30 p.m.

• FC Cincinnati fell to a second reversal to open their second campaign, dropping a 2-1 decision to Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Yuya Kubo scored his first career MLS goal for the FCC tally.
  
• D.C. United reversed the script and overcame an early deficit for their first victory of 2020, defeating Inter Miami CF 2-1 at Audi Field on Saturday afternoon. Yamil Asad (from the penalty spot) and Fredéric Brillant scored goals two minutes apart in the second half for the win.
  
• The teams met twice a year ago in FC Cincinnati’s inaugural season. D.C. United claimed a 4-1 win July 18 at Nippert Stadium; they reached a scoreless draw in the season finale on Decision Day, Oct. 6 at Audi Field.
  

Atlanta United vs. Sporting Kansas City, 7 p.m.

• Atlanta United made it two wins from two starts to open the season, taking a 2-1 victory against FC Cincinnati at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday evening. Ezequiel Barco and Emerson Hyndman also both made it two goals from two games with the ATLUTD tallies; Pity Martínez assisted on both goals.
  
• Sporting Kansas City rolled to a second victory in a row on the young season, defeating the Houston Dynamo 4-0 at Children’s Mercy Park. Alan Pulido scored for a second consecutive game to send Sporting on their way; Gadi Kinda gained an assist on the Pulido goal before scoring his second goal in as many weeks.
  
• The teams met once a season ago, Atlanta United taking a 3-0 win May 5 at Children’s Mercy Park, their first victory in three meetings all-time between the clubs.
  
• Sporting won the last matchup between the teams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a 2-0 win May 9, 2018. The clubs played to a 1-1 draw in their first-ever meeting, in 2017 in Kansas City.
  

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 7 p.m. (TSN)

• Whitecaps FC won their first game of the new season, defeating the LA Galaxy by the game’s only goal at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday evening. Tosaint Ricketts scored the game-winner 16 minutes from full time.
  
• The Rapids won their second game in two outings to open the season, coming back from a goal down to defeat Orlando City SC at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Younes Namli scored his first MLS goal to pull the Rapids level, then Drew Moor headed home his first MLS league goal since 2017 for the victory, the first time since 2012 Colorado has started a season with back-to-back wins.
  
• The teams met twice a season ago. Whitecaps FC hit for the game-winner three minutes from full time for a 3-2 win on May 3 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; they then reached a 2-2 draw June 22 at BC Place.
  
• The Rapids last won at BC Place on July 1, 2018, a 1-0 victory, their first win over the previous six trips to Vancouver, the first since 2014. Whitecaps FC have come away with points on each of their last four trips to Commerce City, winning in each of the last three years.
  

Orlando City SC vs. Chicago Fire FC, 7:30 p.m.

• Orlando City SC fell to their first defeat of the new season, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday evening. Chris Mueller scored the OCSC goal, the club’s first on the year.
  
• Jonathan Bornstein netted the late equalizer to give Chicago Fire FC a share of the points, reaching a 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. For Bornstein, it was his first goal in MLS since Oct. 19, 2008; at 11 years, 140 days, it’s the second-longest period between goals in MLS history (DaMarcus Beasley, 11 years, 294 days).
  
• The teams met twice a season ago. They reached a 1-1 draw on March 9 at SeatGeek Stadium, then in the season finale on Decision Day on Oct. 6, the Fire rolled to a 5-2 win at Exploria Stadium.
  
• The Fire now have a eight-game undefeated streak in the series, over the past four seasons. Orlando City’s last win vs. Chicago came Sept. 19, 2015, a 1-0 win at Bridgeview, Ill.; the Fire have won four meetings since, with four draws.
  

Philadelphia Union vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m.

• The Union grabbed their first point of the season in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Los Angeles Football Club at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday evening. Sergio Santos and Jakob Glesnes each hit wonder goals from long range (Glesnes a direct free kick from all of 40 yards), while Brenden Aaronson also added a second-half goal.
  
• The Quakes suffered their first loss on the new season, falling 5-2 to Minnesota United FC at Earthquakes Stadium on Saturday evening. Magnus Eriksson and Vako Qazaishvili netted the Quakes goals, each their first of the season.
  
• The teams met once a season ago, the Union coming away with a 2-1 win Sept. 25 in San Jose. The win ended a streak of three consecutive draws in the series.
  
• The Union have a six-game undefeated streak alive in the series, over the last five years, with three wins and three draws in that time. The last Quakes win came on Sept. 8, 2013, a 1-0 win at Buck Shaw Stadium. The last two matches at Subaru Park have ended in draws; the Quakes last won there in 2012.
  

Houston Dynamo vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 8:30 p.m.

• The Dynamo fell to defeat for the first time in the 2020 campaign, dropping a 4-0 decision to Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday evening.
  
• Sounders FC remained undefeated on the new season in their second match, gaining a 1-1 draw with Columbus Crew SC at CenturyLink Field on Saturday evening. Raúl Ruidíaz scored the Sounders FC goal from the penalty spot 11 minutes from full time.
  
• The teams met twice a season ago and Sounders FC won both, each by a 1-0 scoreline, on May 11 at CenturyLink Field and July 27 at BBVA Stadium. Sounders FC have a five-game winning streak alive in the series in league play, and seven wins in a row including the MLS Cup Playoffs.
  
• Sounders FC have won the last two meetings between the teams at BBVA Stadium, their first ever in Houston in league play. In the first eight meetings there, the Dynamo won four, with four draws.
  
• Sounders FC have never lost to the Dynamo in Seattle. In 10 league meetings all-time, Seattle has won eight, with two draws, outscoring Houston 16-3. Sounders FC have a win and a draw in two home meetings in the MLS Cup Playoffs; they also won a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match at home vs. Houston.
  

Sunday, March 15
New England Revolution vs. Portland Timbers, 1:30 p.m.

• The Revolution claimed their first point of the new season, reaching a 1-1 draw with Chicago Fire FC at Gillette Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Adam Buksa netted his first MLS goal for the New England tally.
  
• The Timbers rebounded from an opening day defeat for their first win in 2020, defeating Nashville SC by the game’s only goal at Providence Park on Sunday evening. Diego Valeri scored for a second consecutive week, now with both Timbers goals on the new season.
  
• The teams have played to four consecutive draws in the series, including a 2-2 result last Sept. 25 at Providence Park in the lone meeting between the teams.
  
• The Timbers have a seven-game undefeated streak alive in the all-time series, with six draws, undefeated in five meetings all-time in Portland. The Revolution have never lost to the Timbers at Gillette Stadium in five meetings all-time, their lone win in the series coming there in 2012; the last meeting there was a 1-1 draw Sept. 1, 2018.
  

Minnesota United FC vs. New York Red Bulls, 7 p.m. (FS1)

• Minnesota United FC rolled to a second impressive victory on the road in the new season, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 5-2 on Saturday evening. Ike Opara netted a pair of goals, Luis Amarilla scored for a second consecutive week and Jan Gregus scored one goal and set up two others; MNUFC leads MLS with eight goals scored through the opening two weeks.
  
• The Red Bulls remained undefeated on the new season, playing to a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Cristian Casseres Jr. netted the Red Bulls goal, his first of the year.
  
• Minnesota United FC claimed the victory in the lone meeting between the teams a year ago, a 2-1 win April 6 at Red Bull Arena, their first win in three meetings all-time.
  
• The Red Bulls had won the first two encounters, both by 3-0 scorelines, once in each locale, winning in 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, then March 24, 2018 in Harrison.