The 2016 MLS schedule has been revealed and Heineken Rivalry Week is back for the third consecutive year. That means two more weekends of Major League Soccer’s most heated rivalries in the national TV spotlight.
The two 2016 editions of Rivalry Week will take place on the weekends of May 20-22 and August 26-28.
Heineken Rivalry Week: May 20-22
- May 20: Philadelphia Union vs. D.C. United (7 pm ET, UniMás)
- May 21: NYCFC vs. NY Red Bulls (3 pm ET, FOX)
- May 22: Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps (4:30 pm ET, ESPN)
- May 22: LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes (7 pm ET, FS1)
The first of the season's rivalry weekends will feature the first-ever MLS match on the over-the-air FOX broadcast network, when New York City FC host the New York Red Bulls at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, May 21.
The LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes will also meet in the first California Clasico of the season (May 22, FS1), just weeks before their annual summer showdown at Stanford Stadium on Saturday, June 25, which will also be nationally televised on UniMás.
Heineken Rivalry Week: Aug. 26-28
- Aug. 26: Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids (8 pm ET, UniMás)
- Aug. 27: Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas (TBD)
- Aug. 27: Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact (TBD)
- Aug. 28: NY Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution (2:30 pm ET, ESPN)
- Aug. 28: Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders (5 pm ET, ESPN)
- Aug. 28: Orlando City vs. NYCFC (7 pm ET, FS1)
The second weekend of Heineken Rivalry Week matches is highlighted by an ESPN doubleheader on August 28 featuring long-time rivals NY Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution and Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders.
Although not scheduled on Heineken Rivalry Week, it's also worth noting that the FOX broadcast network will pick up two more scintillating MLS rivalry matches as part of its four-match slate in 2016: FOX will air the July 17 showdown between the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders and then come back the following week with a NY Red Bulls vs. NYCFC match from Red Bull Arena on July 24.
