SET THE STAGE: FC Dallas vs. Philadelphia Union | 8.17.22

FRISCO, Texas - Third-place FC Dallas hosts the Eastern Conference's top team Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, Aug. 17 at 8PM at Toyota Stadium.

Here's everything you need to know before the game.

How to Watch

TV (English): Mark Followill and Steve Davis will be on the call for the midweek match on TXA 21 and the FCDTV Network. Coverage begins at 7:30PM CT. Fans local to the DFW market can stream online at fcdallas.com/stream while fans outside DFW may catch the game on ESPN+.

LISTEN

English: If you can't watch the match, you can listen to all the action on FCDallas.com/Radio hosted by Sam Hale beginning at 7:30PM.

Spanish: Carlos Alvarado and Rafa Calderon will call the game in Spanish on 1270AM, starting at 8PM CT.

Match Overview

HEAD-TO-HEAD

• FCD record: 10-7-9 (39 points - 3rd in West)
• PHI record: 13-3-9 (48 points - 1st in East)
• FCD vs. PHI all-time: 7-2-4 (23 goals scored, 13 goals conceded)
• FCD vs. PHI all-time home: 6-0-1 (14 goals scored, 3 goals conceded)

STORY LINES

Home Playoff Push
FC Dallas' barnstorming 4-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday put the club in third place in the West outright (albeit with one more game played than chasers Minnesota United and Real Salt lake). With a 3-1-1 record in their last five games, it appears that Nico Estévez's men have arrested the dreaded summer slump. Now it's about maintaining their top four position in the West, a goal that would give them home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs at the very least. But it doesn't get any easier with one of MLS's hottest teams coming to town in the Philadelphia Union, who is fresh off their own 4-1 battering of the Chicago Fire.

Top Team
The Philadelphia Union comes to Toyota Stadium at the top of the Eastern Conference with 48 points and just three losses on the season, the fewest in MLS. They're also riding high after a 4-1 win over the Chicago Fire over the weekend, which was their SIXTH victory in the last seven games. It's safe to say this will be among FCD's toughest home tests of the season. Dallas will need to keep a particularly close eye on the Union's Dániel Gazdag. The Hungarian playmaker leads the team with 12 goals and six assists on the season, including a goal in five of his last six matches.

Velasco Rising
FC Dallas' record signing Alan Velasco is starting to hit stride at the right time. The 20-year-old recorded both a goal and an assist in the same match for the first time in his Dallas career during the team's 4-1 over San Jose, bringing his total to a respectable four goals and six assists on the year. But it isn't just statistical. The good ol' fashioned eye test tells you the talented Argentine is beginning to come to terms with the speed and physicality of MLS. He's working harder and smarter on the defense side and is using his considerable dribbling ability in better areas of the field. While it was Paul Arriola and Jesús Ferreira carrying the bulk of the attacking responsibility over the first half of the season, the load is becoming much more balanced with Velasco's game-on-game improvement. Now, he'll look to continue that trajectory against Philadelphia's league-best defense that's only conceded 19 goals in 25 games.

Around Toyota Stadium

Welcome to FC Dallas’s 14th home match of the 2022 season against the Philadelphia Union. Wednesday night marks the return of 3 Points Wednesday which means that select beers at all locations throughout Toyota Stadium are only $3 while hot dogs are only $1.

 We also invite you to enjoy the following:

Kenny Cooper Lights the Shield

FC Dallas Ambassador Kenny Cooper will light the shield on the north stage before the game to kick off the night. Cooper is an FC Dallas legend. He played for the club from 2006 to 2009 and again in 2013. He scored 18 goals in 2008, tying him with Jason Kreis for the franchise record for the most goals scored in a season.

Human Hamster Ball Races

Burn some energy with our hamster ball races on the north concourse. Hop inside the large hamster balls and race your friends on the 75’ track.

Flex Your AR Game

Visit the artwork at the northwest, northeast or southwest corners of Toyota Stadium. These are our Augmented Reality Murals which are explosive AR experiences that are new in 2022. Paul Arriola, Jesús Ferreira and Paxton Pomykal come to life off the wall and onto your phone to create a video or photograph that you can experience and share on social media.  

Do It for the ‘Gram and Enter to Win

Throughout the 2022 season, you have a chance to win exclusive team swag signed by your favorite player as part of our ongoing Fan Gram Sweepstakes.

Here’s how to enter:

• Post a shot of yourself at the FC Dallas match on social media (Twitter, Instagram or Facebook)
• Tag @FCDallas
• Use the hashtag #FCDSweepstakes
• That’s it! You’re entered. We will select winners randomly after each match.

There are several Instagrammable spots at Toyota Stadium:

• At Sweet Tooth Motel’s immersive pop-up on the northwest concourse
• Near the Augmented Reality Murals throughout the stadium
• With the Lamar Hunt statue on the north concourse
• From your seats!

Learn more at FCDallas.com/Fan-Gram-Sweepstakes.