In the past I have criticized Major League Soccer for their tardiness in publishing their schedule for the next season. So imagine my surprise today when MLS announced the dates and opponents for the 2013.
The 18th MLS season will kick off on Saturday, March 2, 2013, with six matches and continue that same weekend with three games on Sunday, March 3. All MLS clubs will play in front of their home fans by the end of Week 4.
Week one sees an all-Canadian match-up in Vancouver when the Whitecaps will host Toronto. There are a couple of rivalry games for week three, as the Red Bulls host D.C. United, Real Salt Lake entertain the Colorado Rapids and Toronto travels to Montreal.
The last team to play a home game is the New England Revolution, who play will play FC Dallas on March 23.
Dates and matchups for the 2013 MLS regular-season home openers are below:
Major League Soccer Week One Schedule
Saturday, March 2:
Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City (PPL Park)
FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids (FC Dallas Stadium)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC (BC Place)
Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United (BBVA Compass Stadium)
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Montreal Impact (CenturyLink Field)
Chivas USA vs. Columbus Crew (The Home Depot Center)
Sunday, March 3:
LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire (The Home Depot Center)
Portland Timbers vs. New York Red Bulls (JELD-WEN Field)
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake (Buck Shaw Stadium)
WEEK 2
Saturday, March 9:
Toronto FC vs. Sporting Kansas City (TBD)
D.C. United vs. Real Salt Lake (RFK Stadium)
Colorado Rapids vs. Philadelphia Union (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park)
Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution (Toyota Park)
WEEK 3
Saturday, March 16:
New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United (Red Bull Arena)
Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire (Livestrong Sporting Park)
Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids (Rio Tinto Stadium)
Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC (Olympic Stadium)
Columbus Crew vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Crew Stadium)
WEEK 4
Saturday, March 23:
New England Revolution vs. FC Dallas (Gillette Stadium)
