FRISCO, Texas - Earlier this week, FC Dallas announced nine additional games which make up the remainder of its 2020 regular season schedule. With one more game (against Orlando City SC) left in its Phase 2 schedule and one match makeup game against Nashville SC (which hasn't been scheduled yet), FCD will play 11 more games in the regular season.
Let's take a closer look at the six busy weeks ahead for FC Dallas:
1. Orlando City SC — Sept. 27, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
2. Columbus Crew SC — Oct. 3, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
3. Houston Dynamo — Oct. 7, 7PM at BBVA Stadium
Dallas' next three outings are probably the most difficult run of games remaining in its 2020 schedule. The first match up sees former head coach Óscar Pareja return to Dallas with his new club Orlando City. Pareja has transformed Orlando from a team who last year finished second to last in the East into a competitive outfit that reached the final of the MLS Is Back tournament. It'll be a tough challenge for FCD with its former boss leading the second-place Lions into Toyota Stadium. Next up, Dallas takes on Supporters' Shield favorites Columbus Crew at home. The Crew have only lost one match this season and are averaging a whopping 2.31 points per game. However, their road form isn't quite as daunting with a 2-1-3 record on their travels. Still, it'll be among FCD's most difficult games left in the regular season. Finally, Dallas plays the third Texas Derby of the season as they travel down to Houston to take on the Dynamo at BBVA Stadium. FCD earned a 0-0 tie when they played Houston away earlier this year before defeating the Dynamo 2-1 at Toyota Stadium in the most recent Derby.
4. Minnesota United FC — Oct. 11, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
5. Sporting Kansas City — Oct. 14, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
6. Nashville SC — Oct. 20, 7PM at Nissan Stadium
FC Dallas' next three matches take place over nine days. Dallas has already faced each of these teams twice, meaning there's plenty of subtext surrounding each matchup. First up is Minnesota United, a team that has both won and lost against Dallas in the last 30 days. However, FCD earned a 3-1 win over the Loons when they last played at Toyota Stadium and Luchi will be looking for a repeat performance come Oct. 11. Next, Dallas hosts Sporting KC who they've played twice at Children's Mercy Park already--earning a 1-1 draw and dramatic 3-2 win (much to Peter Vermes' chagrin). It'll be a very spicy matchup at Toyota Stadium this time around. Lastly, FCD travels to Nissan Stadium for the first time to take on Nashville SC in its third of four matches this year against the expansion side. Nashville earned a scoreless draw and 1-0 victory over Dallas in back-to-back matchups at Toyota Stadium back in August.
7. Nashville SC - TBD
8. Real Salt Lake — Oct. 24, 7:30PM at Rio Tinto Stadium
9. Inter Miami CF — Oct. 28, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium
10. Houston Dynamo — Oct. 31, 2:30PM at Toyota Stadium
11. Minnesota United FC — Nov. 8, 5:30PM at Allianz Field
Dallas completes its regular season with five matches (one against Nashville that has yet to be scheduled) beginning with Real Salt Lake on the road. It'll be the only regular season meeting with RSL, a team that currently sits in 8th in the Western Conference. FCD then hosts expansion team Inter Miami for the very first time. While Miami are currently below the playoff line with 11 points, the recent addition of Argentine international Gonzalo Higuaín means it could be a very different team that travels to Toyota Stadium in a month's time. Dallas then plays the fourth and final Texas Derby of the year when Houston visits Toyota Stadium on Halloween. Spooky. FINALLY, Decision Day sees FC Dallas close out its hectic regular season away to Minnesota United at Allianz Field, a venue where Dallas fell 3-2 on Sept. 19.
