Following the release of Orlando City SC‘s first two 2020 Major League Soccer fixtures earlier this month, Lions supporters today learned when each of their 32 other remaining fixtures will be played.
With all MLS franchises’ complete schedules released today, televised games can now be circled, long-haul road trips can be planned, and of course, supporters can start mapping out Orlando City SC‘s quest to reach the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs.
🗣 SCHEDULE DAY IS HERE!
The 2020 regular season schedule ⬇️ https://t.co/iRidxOE150
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 19, 2019
Within the opening month of MLS action, Orlando City SC supporters can look forward to two home games at Exploria Stadium, opening against Real Salt Lake on February 29th while facing a rebranded Chicago Fire on March 14.
The first away assignment for Oscar Pareja‘s Lions is a trip out west to face Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on March 7, the scene of a 1-2 victory for City on our last visit in April 2018.
No fixtures against LAFC, Quakes or Sounders
Interestingly, and controversially, MLS sides won’t face every other single opponent for the first time in 2020 due to Inter Miami and Nashville SC’s entrance as the league’s 25th and 26th franchises.
Orlando City SC will play 12 of its Eastern Conference opponents home and away, and will face only 10 of the 13 teams in the Western Conference.
Orlando City SC won’t face Los Angeles FC, San Jose Earthquakes or reigning MLS Cup champions Seattle Sounders in 2020 due to the increased number teams and no movement on extending the regular season beyond 34 fixtures.
Major League Soccer expansion shows no signs of slowing down with Don Garber set to welcome Austin FC, Charlotte, Sacramento Republic and St. Louis to the league within the next three years,
#MLS SCHEDULE 🚨 | Notable @OrlandoCitySC fixtures in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣. 🗓
26 April* @ATLUTD (H)
9th May* @MNUFC (H)
10th July* @InterMiamiCF (H)
18th July* @FCDallas (A)
20th August* @InterMiamiCF (A)
*Gameday date in 🇺🇸, not 🇬🇧#OCTwitter #FaceOfCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/inskcSM4qx
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) December 19, 2019
The birth of a Florida ‘rivalry’
As for other notable fixtures in today’s full release, all the anticipation of course surrounds Orlando City SC‘s first ever meeting with new Florida ‘rivals’, Inter Miami.
Facing off against The Herons at Exploria Stadium on July 10 before a second meeting at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on August 20, the battle for state supremacy is set to begin.
Elsewhere, fellow MLS new boys Nashville SC, controversially of the Western Conference, will make their first ever trip to the 407 on September 12 with Gary Smith’s side hoping to fair better than 2019 entrants FC Cincinnati.
Meeting not so old foes
With bad blood shared between Orlando City SC and Atlanta United since 2017, the two matchups between the Lions and The Five Stripes will take place at home on April 26 and away on August 23.
Elsewhere, legendary former Lions coach Adrian Heath will return to Exploria Stadium with his Minnesota United side on May 9 with Inchy undefeated against Orlando City SC in three fixtures so far.
Oscar Pareja’s reunion
New Orlando City SC head coach Oscar Pareja will embark on an emotional return to former club FC Dallas on July 18.
Travelling to the Lone Star State in the height of Texan summertime, the sweltering conditions at Toyota Stadium will make this a hot watch – quite literally!
North of the border
Emigrating to live in Canada in March 2019, Orlando City UK is still Toronto-based in 2020.
This means I’ll be watching Orlando City SC live away at Montreal Impact’s Stade Saputo on May 2 and Toronto FC’s BMO Field on September 26.
Want @OrlandoCitySC's 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ fixtures in UK time (GMT)? 🇬🇧⌚ We got you! 👍🏽
UK SCHEDULE 📅: https://t.co/jqEGyaFYrs
Latest bedtimes 🛏️👀⏰
02:00 @ColoradoRapids (A) 😴
01:30 @SportingKC (A) 😐
01:30 @FCDallas (A) 😐
03:00 @WhitecapsFC (A) 😳#OCTwitter #FaceOfCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/8OK7P7vitC— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) December 19, 2019
Orlando City SC’s 2020 MLS regular season schedule
U.S. television broadcasts are outlined below in Eastern (EST) time but Orlando City UK will endeavour to report Sky Sports’, Premier Sports and FreeSports’ schedule of LIVE 2020 Orlando City SC fixtures when released to the public in due course.
You can view Orlando City SC‘s 2020 schedule in UK time (GMT) by clicking here.
|
|
DATE |
OPPONENT |
VENUE |
TIME (ET) |
BROADCAST |
|
1 |
Sat., Feb. 29 |
Real Salt |
Exploria |
6 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
2 |
Sat., Mar. 7 |
Colorado |
Dick’s Sporting |
9 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
3 |
Sat., Mar. 14 |
Chicago |
Exploria |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
4 |
Sun., Mar. 22 |
LA Galaxy |
Dignity Health |
6 p.m. |
UniMas |
|
5 |
Sat., Mar. 28 |
New York |
Red Bull |
1 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
6 |
Sat., Apr. 4 |
Montreal |
Exploria |
3 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
7 |
Sat., Apr. 11 |
Columbus |
MAPFRE |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
8 |
Sat., Apr. 18 |
FC Cincinnati |
Exploria |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
9 |
Sun., Apr. 26 |
Atlanta |
Exploria |
1 p.m. |
ESPN |
|
10 |
Sat., May 2 |
Montreal |
Saputo |
1 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
11 |
Wed., May 6 |
Houston |
Exploria |
7 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
12 |
Sat., May 9 |
Minnesota |
Exploria |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
13 |
Sat., May 16 |
D.C. United |
Audi Field |
7 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
14 |
Sat., May 23 |
Columbus |
Exploria |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
15 |
Sat., May 30 |
Portland |
Exploria |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
16 |
Sat., Jun. 6 |
Sporting |
Children’s Mercy |
8:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
17 |
Sat., Jun. 13 |
New York |
Exploria |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
18 |
Sat., Jun. 20 |
New England |
Gillette |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
19 |
Sat., Jun. 27 |
Chicago |
Soldier Field |
8 p.m. |
UniMas |
|
20 |
Wed., Jul. 1 |
New York |
Yankee |
7 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
21 |
Sat., Jul. 4 |
Toronto FC |
Exploria |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
22 |
Fri., Jul. 10 |
Inter Miami |
Exploria |
8 p.m. |
ESPN |
|
23 |
Sat., Jul. 18 |
FC Dallas |
Toyota |
8:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
24 |
Sat., Jul. 25 |
Philadelphia |
Exploria |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
25 |
Sat., Aug. 1 |
FC Cincinnati |
Nippert |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
26 |
Sat., Aug. 8 |
Vancouver |
BC Place |
10 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
27 |
Sat., Aug. 15 |
D.C. United |
Exploria |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
28 |
Thur., Aug. 20 |
Inter Miami |
Lockhart |
7:30 p.m. |
UniMas |
|
29 |
Sun., Aug. 23 |
Atlanta |
Mercedes-Benz |
2:30 p.m. |
FOX |
|
30 |
Sat., Aug. 29 |
Philadelphia |
Talen Energy |
TBD |
Fox 35 |
|
31 |
Sat., Sep. 12 |
Nashville SC |
Exploria |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
32 |
Sat., Sep. 19 |
New York |
Exploria |
7:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
33 |
Sat., Sep. 26 |
Toronto FC |
BMO Field |
7 p.m. |
Fox 35 |
|
34 |
Sun., Oct. 4 |
New England |
Exploria |
4:30 p.m. |
Fox 35 |