FRISCO, Texas - There was a welcome return to a semblance of normalcy as FC Dallas unveiled a 34-game schedule, running from April 17 to Nov. 7 for its 2021 MLS season. Due to travel considerations, 32 of FCD's 34 matches will be against fellow Western Conference teams with its only Eastern Conference opponents being New England Revolution and New York City FC.
Here's a breakdown of FCD's schedule month by month.
April
1. Colorado Rapids – April 17, 7PM at Toyota Stadium
2. San Jose Earthquakes – April 24, 2:30PM at Earthquakes Stadium
FC Dallas gets its 2021 MLS campaign underway at home against the Colorado Rapids on April 17. This season-opening matchup is especially enticing as it could see the return of former FCD player and fan favorite Michael Barrios who’d be making his competitive debut for the Rapids after his offseason trade. Dallas faced Colorado just once last season, registering a 4-1 win thanks to a Santi Mosquera hat-trick. FCD then goes on the road to take on the San Jose Earthquakes who – because of the shortened 2020 season – Dallas hasn’t faced since a 2-2 draw back in June of 2019.
May
3. Portland Timbers – May 1, 7PM at Toyota Stadium
4. Houston Dynamo – May 8, 2:30PM at Toyota Stadium
5. Minnesota United – May 15, 7PM at Allianz Field
6. Real Salt Lake – May 22, 7PM at Toyota Stadium
7. Colorado Rapids – May 29, 8PM at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
The first two games in May carry extra meaning for FC Dallas as the club hosts the Portland Timbers and Houston Dynamo in the space of a week. Last year, FCD defeated the Timbers in the first round of the playoffs in dramatic fashion and Portland will likely be looking for some revenge when they visit Toyota Stadium. Dallas then takes part in the first Texas Derby of the MLS season against Houston, one of three scheduled matches against the club’s biggest rival. The club finishes out the month with two away games against Minnesota and Colorado Rapids sandwiched by a home match with Real Salt Lake—who Dallas drew 0-0 in their solitary meeting last year.
June
8. Minnesota United – June 19, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
9. Los Angeles FC – June 23, 9:30PM at Banc of California Stadium
10. New England Revolution – June 27, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
June is a relatively slow month as FCD only plays three times. Luchi’s men host Jacori Hayes’ Minnesota United before traveling to face LAFC for the first time in over two years. They close out the month against the New England Revolution, another side Dallas hasn’t faced since 2019. The relative lack of games in June should hopefully serve as a sort of rest period as FCD plays six games per month over the next three months.
July
11. Vancouver Whitecaps – July 4, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
12. LA Galaxy – July 7, 9:30PM at Dignity Health Sports Park
13. Portland Timbers – July 17, 9:30PM at Providence Park
14. Colorado Rapids – July 21, 8PM at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
15. LA Galaxy – July 24, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
16. Sporting KC – July 31, 7:30PM at Children’s Mercy Park
Dallas hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps on Independence Day before traveling to face the LA Galaxy just three days later. The team then returns to Providence Park for the first time since defeating the Timbers in their own home on penalties in last year’s postseason. After another away match against the Rapids, Dallas hosts the Galaxy just over two weeks after facing the club at Dignity Health Sports Park. The months ends with an away matchup against SKC, giving Luchi a chance to extend his five-game unbeaten streak against Sporting (4-1-0).
August
17. Seattle Sounders – Aug. 4, 9PM at Lumen Field
18. Austin FC – Aug. 7, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
19. Sporting KC – Aug. 14, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
20. Seattle Sounders – Aug. 18, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
21. Houston Dynamo – Aug. 21, 7:30PM at BBVA Stadium
22. Austin FC – Aug. 29, 7PM at Q2 Stadium
FC Dallas begins a crucial month with a trip to the Seattle Sounders at Lumen Field, the venue where Dallas’ previous two postseason campaigns have come to an end. The club then hosts Austin FC in the clubs’ first-ever meeting in MLS play, making it a definite must-watch event. After hosting Western Conference rivals Sporting KC and Seattle back-to-back, Dallas travels south to face Houston in the second of three Texas Derbies. FCD then closes out the month with its inaugural trip to the new Q2 Stadium in Austin, a match that will be broadcast on FS1.
September
23. Real Salt Lake – Sept. 4, 7PM at Rio Tinto Stadium
24. San Jose Earthquakes – Sept. 11, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
25. New York City FC – Sept. 14, 6:30PM at Yankee Stadium
26. Houston Dynamo – Sept. 18, 7:30PM at BBVA Stadium
27. Vancouver Whitecaps – Sept. 25, 9PM at Rio Tinto Stadium
28. Sporting KC – Sept. 29, 7PM at Toyota Stadium
September includes a busy travel schedule as FCD visits Real Salt Lake, NYCFC, Houston and Vancouver over a 21-day span. It’ll also be the first time Dallas plays at Yankee Stadium since a 3-1 defeat back in 2018. The team’s only home games over the month see San Jose and Sporting KC travel for the first and second times respectively.
October
29. Minnesota United – Oct. 2, 7PM at Toyota Stadium
30. Los Angeles FC – Oct. 20, 7PM at Toyota Stadium
31. LA Galaxy – Oct. 23, 3PM at Dignity Health Sports Park
32. Real Salt Lake – Oct. 27, 7PM at Toyota Stadium
33. Austin FC – Oct. 30, 7PM at Toyota Stadium
The last full month of the regular seasons starts with a single home match against Minnesota as part of Dallas' 2021 Hall of Fame Weekend. The busy latter half of October sees FCD play four games over 10 days. Dallas hosts LAFC, travels to play the Galaxy and then hosts RSL and Austin FC in back-to-back games at Toyota Stadium just three days apart. October also includes four home matches for FCD, the most of any month during the season.
November
34. San Jose Earthquakes – Nov. 7, 5PM at Earthquakes Stadium
FC Dallas closes out its regular season on the road against San Jose Earthquakes. A fellow Western Conference team, this Decision Day matchup could have major playoff implications depending on where both teams find themselves in the standings come November. If, hopefully, FCD has already locked up a playoff spot, this final outing could be its last tune-up game heading into the postseason.
