The 2015 MLS schedule is in your hands. Now it’s time to circle some dates.
Here are 10+ games that all MLS fans should be looking forward to in the upcoming season:
Sun., March 8: Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC(5 pm ET, ESPN2/ESPN Deportes)
The two expansion teams will face off during the season’s opening weekend. It will also mark the MLS debuts of two World Cup winners and all-time greats as Kaka and David Villa will meet at the Citrus Bowl.
Sun., March 22: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire(7 pm ET, Fox Sports 1)
The two-time MLS Cup champs finally get a home of their own. The Earthquakes will open Avaya Stadium during the third weekend of the MLS season against the Fire. It'll be a big day for Quakes top scorer Chris Wondolowski, who has scored more goals at home than any other MLS player since 2010 (46 goals). Will the mojo continue in the new building?
Coach Returns (May 5: HOU vs. SJ / May 23: RSL vs. NY)
Speaking of the Quakes, San Jose head coach Dominic Kinnear will make his return to Houston in May for the first of two trips in 2015. Kinnear led the Dynamo for nine years, winning two MLS Cups in 2006 and 2007. Just a few weeks later, Jason Kreis will visit Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time as a visiting coach as NYCFC battle Real Salt Lake, the club he coached for seven years.
Sun., May 10: New York Red Bulls vs. New York City FC (7 pm ET, Fox Sports 1)
In what should become one of the most heated rivalries in the league, the Red Bulls and NYCFC will meet for the first time at Red Bull Arena. The next ones are set for June 28 and Aug. 9.
Sun., May 10: Toronto FC vs. Houston Dynamo (5 pm ET, ESPN2/ESPN Deportes)
Last year it was the Bloody Big Deal. This year Toronto FC will just be happy to get home. The Reds start their season with seven straight road games due to renovations at BMO Field so by this time Greg Vanney, Michael Bradley, and Co. will be itching to get their home slate started. They finish the season with five of their last six at BMO.
Sun., May 31: New England Revolution vs. LA Galaxy (7 pm ET, Fox Sports 1)
It’s a rematch of MLS Cup 2014, but this time without Landon Donovan. Jay Heaps and the Revolution will have Jermaine Jones from the beginning of the 2015 season and will almost surely start the year as prohibitive favorites in the East. With the LA Galaxy reloading with the acquisition of Steven Gerrard, will this be a preview of another MLS Cup final in 2015?
Sat., July 4: Independence Day
It’s a yearly tradition and this season is no different. The Galaxy and the Colorado Rapids will be hosting their usual games on America’s birthday alongside four other games, including two matchups between 2014 playoff teams (DAL-NE, CLB-RBNY).
Superstar Debuts: July 10-July 17?
The MLS Secondary Transfer Window officially opens on July 8, which means the first opportunity MLS fans will get to the see the debuts of Erick “Cubo” Torres, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard is the week of July 10-17. Cubo could don the Dynamo kit for the first time on July 10 in San Jose after his Chivas Guadalajara loan stint, Lampard could step on the Yankee Stadium field on July 12 vs. Toronto FC, while Gerrard could get his first taste of MLS action on July 17 in the California Clasico.
Sun., August 30: Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers (5 pm ET, ESPN2/ESPN Deportes)
The final taste of what many call the best rivalry in MLS will come with two months left in the regular season. The third and final match-up between these two Cascadia rivalries will see the Sounders host the Timbers. Will the Cascadia Cup be decided by then? After Aug. 30, both sides will have just one match remaining against current Cascadia Cup holders, Vancouver.
Sun., October 25: Decision Day
For the first time in MLS history, each conference will have their games start simultaneously on the final day of the regular season. It all starts in the East with each game in the conference kicking off at 5 pm ET and it wraps up in the West with all games starting at 7 pm ET. Postseason spots, playoff seeding and Supporters' Shield could all be on the line.
