Toronto FC will open the 2009 MLS season with an away game at Kansas City Wizards on Saturday March 21 at 8:30 p.m. followed by a trip to Columbus Crew on March 28 at 4:00 p.m. The 2009 home opener is against the newest team in the league Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, April 4.
Toronto FC will be looking to win at Kansas City for the first time. The Reds were beaten 2-0 in 2008, and played at Kansas twice in the inaugural season in 2007. They lost 3-0 in the first game at Arrowhead Stadium and then tied 1-1 later in the season with a goal from Danny Dichio.
Toronto FC will renew rivalry with Columbus Crew in the second game of the 2009 season. In 2008, over 2,500 TFC supporters made the trip to Columbus to support the team in the opening game of the season.
The home opener for each MLS club is included below. Games could be added to Weeks 2 and 3 at a later date. Major League Soccer's complete 2009 schedule, including local and national broadcast details, will be announced by early February 2009.
Each team will play a 30-game regular season. Of the 15 teams that will compete in 2009, seven will be in the Eastern Conference and eight will be in the Western Conference, where Seattle Sounders FC is the newest addition. Each team will play every other MLS team home and away, for a base of 28 games. Two additional games against intra-conference rivals will complete each team's 30-game schedule. The regular season ends on Oct. 25.
The complete opening weekend schedule, as well as the home opener for each of the 15 teams, is listed below.
(Game dates, times and venues are subject to change. All times eastern)
REGULAR SEASON - WEEK 1 (FIRST KICK)
Thursday, March 19, 2009
New York Red Bulls at Seattle Sounders FC, 9 p.m. (ESPN2/Deportes)
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Columbus Crew at Houston Dynamo, 8 p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Espanol)
Chicago Fire at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Toronto FC at Kansas City Wizards, 8:30 p.m.
Colorado Rapids at Chivas USA, 10:30 pm (Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Espanol)
New England Revolution at San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
D.C. United at Los Angeles Galaxy, 3 p.m. (TeleFutura)
REGULAR SEASON - WEEK 2
Saturday, March 28, 2008
Toronto FC at Columbus Crew, 4 p.m.
San Jose Earthquakes at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
New England Revolution at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Kansas City Wizards at Colorado Rapids, 9:30 p.m.
REGULAR SEASON - WEEK 3
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Columbus Crew at Real Salt Lake, 9 p.m. (ESPN2/Deportes)
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Seattle Sounders FC at Toronto FC, 3 p.m.
FC Dallas at New England Revolution, TBD
Sunday, April 5, 2009
New York Red Bulls at Chicago Fire, 3 p.m. (TeleFutura)
