FRISCO - FC Dallas announced today that the team will travel to Monterrey, Mexico to face Mexican-partner Tigres UANL in a preseason game on Wednesday, February 20 (8:45 p.m. CT). The game, which will be played at Tigres' Estadio Universitario, will serve as the first-leg of the third-annual Rio Grande Plate, a friendly home and away series between the two clubs which began in 2006. The return leg will be announced a later date.
FC Dallas won the inaugural Rio Grande Plate in 2006, winning 5-4 on penalty kicks in Monterrey after tying on aggregate 2-2, with each team winning their home game 2-0. Tigres won the Plate in 2007, winning the series 3-0 on aggregate. FCD will depart for Monterrey on Feb. 19 and return on Feb. 21.
Following the return from Mexico, FCD will travel to Curitiba, Brazil to train at Brazilian-partner Clube Atletico Paranaense's training center and play three additional preseason games in early March, before returning to Pizza Hut Park for two home preseason contests: the FC Dallas Foundation Charity Game on March 15 vs. the Los Angeles Galaxy and the return-leg of the USA-Brazil Challenge versus Atletico Paranaense on March 22.
Dallas begins the 2008 regular season against Chivas USA on Sunday, Mar. 30 at Pizza Hut Park (2 p.m. CT).
UPDATED PRESEASON SCHEDULE (Subject to change)
Jan. 31-Feb. 2: Players report for physicals, and fitness, medical, and other tests.
Feb. 4-19: Training at Pizza Hut Park
Feb. 19-21: Training and game in Monterrey, Mexico
Feb. 29-Mar. 10 Training in Curitiba and Florianapolis, Brazil
Mar. 12-28: Training at Pizza Hut Park
PRESEASON GAMES SCHEDULE (Subject to change)
Feb. 9: Centro America (2007 Copa Coors Champion) - 10:30 a.m. - Pizza Hut Park: adidas Field
Feb. 16: University of Memphis - 4 p.m. - Pizza Hut Park Field: adidas Field
Feb. 20: Tigres UANL (Mexico First Division) - 8:45 p.m. - Estadio Universitario, Monterrey, Mexico
Feb. 23: West Texas A&M - 10 a.m. - Pizza Hut Park: Stadium Field
Feb. 26: SMU - 7:30 p.m. - Pizza Hut Park: Field # 4
March 3: Atletico Paranaense "B" Team - closed door - CAP Training Center, Curitiba, Brazil
March 5: Atletico Paranaense - TBD - Kyocera Arena, Curitiba, Brazil -1st Leg of USA-Brazil Challenge
March 8: Avai Futbol Clube (Brazil, Serie B) - Estádio Adolfo Gonder, Florianópolis, Brazil
March 13: University of Tulsa - TBD - Pizza Hut Park: adidas Field
March 15: Los Angeles Galaxy - 7:30 p.m. - Pizza Hut Park: Stadium Field - FC Dallas Foundation Charity Game
March 22: Atletico Paranaense - 7:30 p.m. - Pizza Hut Park: Stadium Field - 2nd Leg of USA-Brazil Challenge
