Wondering when your Major League Soccer team kicks off the 2016 campaign? Look no further.
MLS will start its 21st season on Sunday, March 6, when all 20 clubs will face off in a record 10 matches on the first match day of the season.
The first day of the season will feature five matches broadcast on national TV. A rematch of the 2015 MLS Cup finalists highlights the slate of games, as the Portland Timbers and Columbus Crew SC face off at Providence Park in a rematch of MLS Cup 2015 at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
The defending Supporters’ Shield winners will kick off the MLS season: The New York Red Bulls host 2015 MLS Landon Donovan MVP Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley and Toronto FC at Red Bull Arena. The match will be broadcast live on TSN at 1:30 pm ET.
The other national TV matches will pit the Vancouver Whitecaps against the Montreal Impact in an all-Canadian matchup at BC Place (5:30 pm ET; TSN and RDS), the Seattle Sounders against Sporting Kansas City at CenturyLink Field (7:30 pm ET; FS1 and FOX Deportes) and the LA Galaxy against D.C. United at StubHub Center (10 pm ET; UniMas).
The Portland-Columbus and Seattle-Kansas City matchups will both feature expanded pregame shows on ESPN and FS1, while the LA-D.C. contest will be preceded by an hour-long highlight show on Univision Deportes. Select games will also be broadcast internationally to more than 140 countries and territories through the League’s global broadcast partners.
At 2 pm ET, Orlando City SC will host Real Salt Lake and the Chicago Fire will host New York City FC. Three matches will kick off at 3 pm ET, with FC Dallas hosting the Philadelphia Union, Houston Dynamo hosting the New England Revolution and the San Jose Earthquakes welcoming the Colorado Rapids to Avaya Stadium.
Seven teams will hold their home openers in Week 2, with New England, Columbus, Colorado, Kansas City, RSL and Montreal opening their home schedules on Saturday, March 12 before NYCFC opens up Yankee Stadium on Sunday, March 13. D.C. and Philadelphia will both hold their home openers in Week 3, while Toronto FC will once again open their home schedule late – this time in Week 12 – due to renovations at BMO Field.
Sunday, March 6 - WEEK 1
- 1:30 pm ET – NY Red Bulls vs. Toronto FC (Red Bull Arena) – TSN
- 2 pm ET – Orlando vs. Real Salt Lake (Orlando Citrus Bowl)
- 2 pm ET – Chicago vs. NYCFC (Toyota Park)
- 3 pm ET – FC Dallas vs. Philadelphia (Toyota Stadium)
- 3 pm ET – Houston vs. New England (BBVA Compass Stadium)
- 3 pm ET – San Jose vs. Colorado (Avaya Stadium)
- 4:30 pm ET – Portland vs. Columbus (Providence Park) – ESPN / ESPN Deportes
- 5:30 pm ET – Vancouver vs. Montreal (BC Place) – TSN and RDS
- 7 pm ET – Seattle vs. Sporting KC (CenturyLink Field)– FS1 / FOX Deportes
- 10 pm ET – LA Galaxy vs. D.C. United (StubHub Center) - UniMas
Saturday, March 12 - WEEK 2
- New England vs. D.C. United (Gillette Stadium)
- Columbus vs. Philadelphia (MAPFRE Stadium)
- Colorado vs. LA Galaxy (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park)
- Sporting KC vs. Vancouver (Children’s Mercy Park)
- Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle (Rio Tinto Stadium)
- Montreal vs. NY Red Bulls (Olympic Stadium)
Sunday, March 13 - WEEK 2
- NYCFC vs. Toronto FC (Yankee Stadium)
Saturday, March 19 - WEEK 3
- D.C. United vs. Colorado (RFK Stadium)
Sunday, March 20 - WEEK 3
- Philadelphia vs. New England (Talen Energy Stadium)
Saturday, May 7 - WEEK 12
- Toronto FC vs. FC Dallas (BMO Field)
