Major League Soccer announced the details for the 2018 home openers for all 23 clubs on Tuesday, unveiling some juicy early-season matchups beginning on Saturday, March 3.
Defending MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield and Canadian Championship winners Toronto FC will play the first match of the 2018 season, when they take on Columbus Crew SC at BMO Field in a rematch of the Eastern Conference Championship series on March 3 at 1 pm ET.
Incoming expansion club LAFC will have a tough test in their inaugural MLS match, as they’ll face the reigning Western Conference champs Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field on March 4 in their opener. LAFC won’t play their first home match until April 29, when they open under-construction Banc of California Stadium against the same Sounders.
The Portland Timbers will also have to wait to open their home schedule. They won’t play at home until April 14 against Minnesota United as Providence Park undergoes some offseason renovations.
D.C. United won’t open brand new Audi Field until the summer, but they’ll play their first home match on March 17, when they’ll host the Houston Dynamo at a to-be-determined location in the Washington area.
Other intriguing home opener matchups include reigning attendance king Atlanta’s date with D.C. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 10 and Montreal’s 401 Derby rivalry duel with TFC at Olympic Stadium on March 17.
The New York Red Bulls are the only team that won’t play on opening weekend. They’ll kick off their season on March 10 against Portland at Red Bull Arena.
The complete regular season schedule, along with the national television schedules for the US and Canada, will be announced next month.
2018 MLS Home Openers
Saturday, March 3, 2018:
- 1:00 PM ET - Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew SC (BMO Field)
- 3:30 PM ET - Houston Dynamo vs. Atlanta United (BBVA Compass Stadium)
- 7:30 PM ET - Orlando City vs. D.C. United (Orlando City Stadium)
- 8:00 PM ET - FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake (Toyota Stadium)
- 9:00 PM ET - Colorado Rapids vs. Chicago Fire (Dick's Sporting Goods Park)
- 10:30 PM ET - San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United (Avaya Stadium)
- TBD - Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution (Talen Energy Stadium)
Sunday, March 4, 2018:
- 5:00 PM ET - Seattle Sounders vs. LAFCLos Angeles Football Club (CenturyLink Field)
- 6:00 PM ET - Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Montreal Impact (BC Place)
- 7:30 PM ET - Sporting KC vs. New York City FC (Children's Mercy Park)
- 10:00 PM ET - LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers (StubHub Center)
Saturday, March 10, 2018:
- 1:00 PM ET - Columbus Crew SC vs. Montreal Impact (MAPFRE Stadium)
- 1:30 PM ET - New England Revolution vs. Colorado Rapids (Gillette Stadium)
- 3:30 PM ET - Real Salt Lake vs. LAFCLos Angeles Football Club (Rio Tinto Stadium)
- 7:00 PM ET - NY Red BullsNew York Red Bulls vs. Portland Timbers (Red Bull Arena)
- TBD - Chicago Fire vs. Sporting KC (Toyota Park)
Sunday, March 11, 2018:
- 3:00 PM ET - Atlanta United vs. D.C. United (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
- 5:00 PM ET - NYCFCNew York City FC vs. LA Galaxy (Yankee Stadium)
Saturday, March 17, 2018:
- 3:00 PM ET - Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC (Olympic Stadium)
- TBD - D.C. United vs. Houston Dynamo (location TBD)
- TBD - Minnesota United vs. Chicago Fire (TCF Bank Stadium)
Saturday, April 14, 2018:
- 10:30 PM ET - Portland Timbers vs. Minnesota United (Providence Park)
Sunday, April 29, 2018:
- 9:00 PM ET - LAFCLos Angeles Football Club vs. Seattle Sounders (Banc of California Stadium)
