It’s the day every MLS fan has been waiting for since the final whistle blew at MLS Cup in December. It’s schedule release day! The whole 34-game slate is out and here are a few highlights from the 2016 FC Dallas schedule:
Early games against the East
FC Dallas opens the season with four out of the first five games against Eastern Conference opponents. Dallas went 7-2-1 against teams from the opposite conference in 2015 and with three of these first five at home, it gives Dallas an opportunity to get out of the gates quickly like they did last season.
Road trip!
The FC Dallas traveling faithful will no-doubt have Saturday, March 12 circled on the calendar as Dallas makes their first of two trips to Houston this season. For the first time in years, the Texas Derby will be contested on a Saturday night, giving Dallas fans an opportunity to arrive in big numbers. Make your road trip plans now for that one!
Mid-season breather
As expected, MLS will take a two-week break as the Copa America Centenario hits stateside in early June. After 15 games to open the year, FCD will take a break from June 3rd to June 18th for the international tournament, though there will likely be a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup game in there before the Sunday, June 19th visit to Sporting Kansas City.
New York, New York
After hosting both New York teams in 2015, FC Dallas will head to the Big Apple twice in the 2016 season with a Friday, April 29th visit to Red Bull Arena and a late-season trip to Yankee Stadium to face NYCFC on Saturday, September 17th.
Home Sweet Home
In the last three months of the MLS season, FCD will be staying in-state for the vast majority of the time. In the last 11 games of the year from July 31 to October 23, Dallas leaves the state just three times which will certainly be a welcome sight given a pair of CONCACAF Champions League away games will be scheduled later this year for that same period. However…
Year-end Gauntlet
Things are going to get pretty series for Dallas in October. Oscar Pareja’s side ends the year with a Galaxy, Seattle, Galaxy finish in games that will no-doubt have a huge impact on who finishes at the top of the Western Conference and potentially Supporters’ Shield. Those are going to be some really fun ones.
So there you have it, the schedule is now set and we begin the countdown to opening day against Philadelphia on March 6th! Which games are you most excited about?