FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas. Is. Back.
The club kicks off the 2023 MLS season against Minnesota United FC this Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium. Here's everything you need to know before the game.
How to Watch
Saturday's match will be available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, along with all MLS matches all season long. The game kicks off at 7:39PM with the great Mark Followill on the call alongside Danielle Slaton providing color commentary. Matches will also be available in Spanish on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
LISTEN
English: If you can't watch the match, you can listen to all the action on iHeartMedia 1190AM and the FC Dallas App. Host Sam Hale will provide pregame and postgame coverage beginning at 7PM. Veteran FCD broadcasters Owen Newkirk and Steve Davis will provide in-game commentary with Garrett Melcer giving updates from the sideline.
Spanish: Carlos Alvarado and Rafa Calderon will call the game in Spanish on 1270AM, starting at 7:30PM.
Match Overview
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- FCD record: 0-0-0 (0 points - 3rd in West)
- MIN record: 0-0-0 (0 points - 7th in West)
- FCD vs. MIN all-time: 6-6-2 (21 goal scored, 19 goals conceded)
- FCD vs. MIN all-time home: 4-1-2 (14 goal scored, 7 goals conceded)
STORY LINES
Estévez: Year 2
FC Dallas begins its second season under head coach Nico Estévez. The Spaniard led the club back to the postseason last year, while setting a franchise record for the largest year-over-year turnaround with 20 more points gained than 2021. Estévez's debut campaign was a success by nearly every measure. But there’s still room to grow. Dallas won its opening playoff match (against Minnesota, coincidentally) but fell in the conference semifinals to in-state foes Austin FC. Estévez and Dallas will hope to do one better this time around and make their mark on the league. First, they’ll have to take care of business in the season-opener against Minnesota United FC.
Backline Shakeup
There could be a handful of FCD debutants Saturday night. The club added seven new players in the offseason while saying goodbye to a further 11. But the biggest area of flux was undoubtedly the backline. After 11 seasons, FCD and Matt Hedges parted ways, leaving a club legend-sized gap in central defense. The free agent signing of MLS champ Sebastien Ibeagha was Dallas' main attempt to fill that gap but Hedges' boots are not easily filled. There could also be another new face on the backline: Geovane Jesus. Dallas added the 21-year-old Brazilian right back to challenge Ema Twumasi for a starting position. And it looks like Jesus may have the edge to begin the season (he started FCD's final preseason game in Houston). Dallas' main strength in 2022 was its defensive solidity. Can Estévez's team maintain that despite the fluidity across the backline? It's a big and important question.
Minnesota's Reynoshow
By complete happenstance, Dallas' opening game at Toyota Stadium is against Minnesota United--the same team it faced last October in the playoffs (its most recent league home game). This iteration of Minnesota looks quite different from the one FCD toppled in the Fall, however. Emanuel Reynoso, the Loons' all-important playmaker, didn't show up to the club's preseason (for personal reasons) and won't be making the trip to North Texas. The Argentine's absence makes this matchup more difficult to predict. It's possible Minnesota's attack could sputter without its talisman pulling the strings, making it easier for FCD to sweep them aside. It's also possible that the entire team is galvanized and Adrian Heath's men play with with a chip on their shoulder, both from last year's playoff exit and their teammate's absence. We'll have to wait and see which Minnesota side we get. Hopefully Nico Estévez has planned for all possibilities.
