FC Dallas 30th Anniversary: Top 5 Community Moments

The 2025 season is FC Dallas and MLS’s 30th campaign since the league was introduced in 1996. As one of the league’s original clubs, FC Dallas will honor its 30th season by looking back at 30 top moments from the past three decades.

Together, we’ll review five top moments in the following six categories: goals, landmark moments, rivalry moments, community moments, players and kits. We will release the five moments from a new category once a month from March to August, and fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite.

March: Top 5 Goals

April: Top 5 Landmark Moments

May: Top 5 Rivalry Moments

Now in June, we’ll look back at some of the best moments of FC Dallas and its local community.

Chris Seitz Named MLS Humanitarian of the Year | 2012

In 2012, FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz was voted MLS’s Humanitarian of the Year for sacrificing his season and jeopardizing in service of others. Midway through that season, Seitz underwent surgery in order to donate bone marrow to anonymous cancer patient battling leukemia – a process that meant he missed the backend of FC Dallas’ season. Seitz, who played 87 games for FCD between 2011-17, eventually met the patient, Phil Richiuso, three years after his recovery—made possible by Seitz’s donation and sacrifice.

Ryan Hollingshead Named MLS Humanitarian of the Year | 2017

FC Dallas defender Ryan Hollingshead was named the 2017 MLS Humanitarian of the Year after risking his life in January of that year to help a stranded motorist in Irving, Texas. While on his way to assist a friend involved in a car accident due to icy conditions, Hollingshead stopped at a separate crash site and was struck by an oncoming vehicle, suffering three fractured vertebrae. Although the crash and subsequent injury risked Hollingshead’s life and career, he remarkably returned to action just 128 days later and finished the season with 19 appearances, including nine starts. Hollingshead went on to play 222 times for FCD across all competitions between 2014 to 2021.

Ten-year-old Brynn Moore Captains FC Dallas | 2019

In 2019, FC Dallas had the pleasure of meeting 10-year-old Brynn Moore, a local soccer fan battling Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer. Moore, who was an avid soccer player, signed a two-day contract with the club and attended practice to meet the team and take part in a few soccer drills. She also served as the club’s team captain for its match that week, a 3-1 win over FC Cincinnati. Later that year, Moore traveled to Seattle to support FC Dallas in its playoff match against the Seattle Sounders. Although she tragically lost her cancer battle and passed away in 2022, Moore, her family and her memory remain a beloved part of the FC Dallas family.

FC Dallas Unified Player Caden Benson Makes ESPN Top 10 | 2019

The FC Dallas Unified Team, a program that unites individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to create a unified soccer team, enjoyed a special moment in 2019. Sixteen-year-old midfielder Caden Benson made both headlines and the ESPN Top 10 Plays with an outstanding free kick. Facing Real Salt Lake’s Unified Team at Toyota Stadium, Benson stepped up to a free kick 30 yards from goal and smashed a shot off the underside of the crossbar and into the goal. In addition to making the ESPN Top 10, Benson’s goal went viral on social media and will live long in the memory of the FC Dallas faithful.

Paul Arriola and Erik Tillisch Share Full-Circle Moment | 2023

Former FC Dallas captain shared a full-circle moment with Season Ticket Member Erik Tillisch in 2023. The season before, Arriola wore an undershirt with the words “F* Cancer” in honor of his mother-in-law who was battling the disease at the time. He’d often take of his jersey to reveal the message during goal celebrations. Tillisch, a longtime FCD fan who was set to begin chemotherapy towards the end of 2022, attended the team’s playoff game against Minnesota United and held a sign asking for Arriola’s undershirt for good luck. That following February, having successfully completed chemo, Tillisch and Arriola reconnected at team training so Tillisch could return the shirt, now with the added message: “Be sad for a moment, be inspired and fight for a lifetime.”