FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas today announced the team's complete preseason schedule as it begins preparation for the 2007 MLS season. FCD will travel, train, and play 11 preseason games in Brazil, Puerto Rico, Phoenix, Ariz. and Oklahoma City, Okla. in addition to Dallas and Frisco. Most of the team has already arrived, and will be undergoing medical and fitness tests this week, with the first full training session scheduled for Monday, Feb. 12.
NOTES ON PRESEASON TRAINING:
After one week of training at Pizza Hut Park, the team will see its first competition - the Columbus Crew - in Phoenix on Feb. 18.
Will play SMU in Dallas on Feb. 23
Travel to Curitiba, Brazil from Feb. 26 - March 9 and stay at Club Atletico Paranaense's world-class training center. Will play three games in Brazil before facing Atletico Paranaense in the first leg of the USA-Brazil Challenge on March 7 at Kyocera Arena.
Will play the Columbus Crew again, this time at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday, March 11 in the inaugural Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup, honoring the late owner of each club and serving as a fundraiser for Dallas SCORES. Go to www.fcdallas.net for more on the Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup and how to contribute.
Will return to Oklahoma for the third time in four years on March 17 to face the Chicago Fire.
Will travel to Bayamo, Puerto Rico for games versus the Puerto Rico Islanders (United Soccer Leagues - 1st Division) and the Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS). Also playing in the two doubleheaders is the Rochester Rhinos (USL-1st Div).
For the second consecutive year, FCD will finish the preseason with a home game against a foreign opponent, this time facing Atletico Paranaense in the second-leg of the USA-Brazil Challlenge. Season ticket holder should use Bonus Game A for this game.
Twenty one players were joined by draft picks Scott Jones, Tommy Krizanovic, Sandi Gbandi, Andrew Daniels, and Anthony Wallace this week for fitness and medical tests. Kenny Cooper and Marcelo Saragosa will join the team later this week.
Three draft picks will not be attending preseason: Chase Wileman has elected to finish school at SMU prior to joining the team; Ryan Guy has chosen to explore opportunities overseas; 15-year old Abdus Ibrahim will remain with the U.S. U-17 residency class in Bradenton, Florida until he finished school in May.
Also joining the team in preseason camp will be Eddie Santeliz (Guatemala) and Sebastian Letoux (France), who were invited after being seen at last weekend's FC Dallas invite-only player combine.
PRESEASON TRAINING SCHEDULE (Subject to change)
Feb. 5-10: Players reports for fitness assessments
Feb. 12-16: Training at Pizza Hut Park
Feb. 17-19: Training / Game in Phoenix, Arizona
Feb. 19-25: Training at Pizza Hut Park
Feb. 26-Mar. 9 Training / Games in Brazil
Mar. 10-16: Training at Pizza Hut Park
Mar. 21-26: Training / Games in Puerto Rico
Mar. 26-Apr. 6 Training / Game at Pizza Hut Park
PRESEASON GAME SCHEDULE (Subject to change)
Sun. Feb. 18 vs. Columbus Crew at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Ariz. - 7:30 p.m. CT
Fri. Feb. 23 vs. SMU at SMU Stadium - 6:30 p.m. CT
Thur. Mar. 1 vs. Atletico Paranaense Reserves at CAP Training Center Stadium
Sat. Mar. 3 vs. TBD
Mon. Mar. 5 vs. Atletico Paranaense U-20's at CAP Training Center Stadium
Wed. Mar. 7 vs. Atletico Paranaense at Kyocera Arena, Curitiba, Brazil
Sun. Mar. 11 vs. Columbus Crew at Pizza Hut Park in the inaugural Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup
Sat. Mar. 17 vs. Chicago Fire at University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla. - 7:00 p.m. CT
Thur.Mar. 22 vs. Puerto Rico Islanders at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium, Puerto Rico
Sat. Mar. 24 vs. Los Angeles Galaxy at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium, Puerto Rico
Sat. Mar. 31 vs. Atletico Paranaense at Pizza Hut Park - 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Apr. 7: 2007 MLS Season opener: at Real Salt Lake
