Following the release of Orlando City SC‘s first two 2021 Major League Soccer fixtures on March 10, Lions supporters have finally learned when each of their 32 other remaining fixtures will be played.
With all MLS franchises’ complete regular season schedules released today, televised games can now be circled and Lions supporters can start mapping out Orlando City SC‘s quest to reach the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Here it is. City’s 2021 schedule 😈
Start making your plans. 📅 @orlandohealth | #VamosOrlando
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) March 24, 2021
Within the first full month of MLS action, Orlando City SC supporters can look forward to three home games at Exploria Stadium.
The Lions open against rivals Atlanta United on April 17 while facing FC Cincinnati on May 1 and New York City FC on May 8.
The first away assignment for Oscar Pareja‘s Lions is a trip to the Midwest to face Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on April 23.
This was the scene of a 1-2 victory for City on our last visit in September 2020.
No inaugural fixture against Austin FC
Last year and controversially, MLS sides didn’t face every other single opponent for the first time ever.
This was due to Inter Miami and Nashville SC’s entrance as the league’s 25th and 26th franchises.
It’s the same this time around following Austin FC’s MLS entrance.
Orlando City SC will face all 13 of their Eastern Conference opponents at least twice (home and away) while facing just two teams from the Western Conference once.
These cross-conference affairs include a visit to Sporting Kansas City (April 23) and a home fixture against San Jose Earthquakes (June 22).
There will be no inaugural meeting of Orlando City SC and 2021 new boys Austin FC unless they eventually meet in the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
#MLS SCHEDULE 🚨 | Notable @OrlandoCitySC fixtures in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣1️⃣. 🗓
April 17 @ATLUTD (H)
May 8 @NYCFC (H)
June 25* @InterMiamiCF (A)
July 30* @ATLUTD (H)
August 4* @InterMiamiCF (H)
September 10* @ATLUTD (A)
*Gameday date in 🇺🇸, not 🇬🇧#OCTwitter #FaceOfCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/ludqq2U3yM
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) March 24, 2021
Meeting in-state and out-of-state foes
As for other notable fixtures in today’s full release, all the anticipation of course surrounds Orlando City SC‘s next clashes with Florida rivals Inter Miami as well as Atlanta United.
Meeting four times in The Herons’ inaugural 2020 campaign, Orlando City SC defeated Inter Miami twice with the Fort Lauderdale-based side also earning two victories.
In terms of state supremacy, things are tied results-wise with no side managing three points in rival territory thus far.
As Englishman Phil Neville embarks on a brand new challenge as Inter Miami head coach, the next chapters are set to be etched into Sunshine Clásico history.
As we already discussed, Orlando City SC open 2021 with a mouthwatering clash against Georgia rivals Atlanta United.
As for the away fixture, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions fly north above Interstate 75 to visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 10.
Sandwiched in between is a second meeting of Orlando City SC and Atlanta United at Exploria Stadium on July 30.
As for Inter Miami, Orlando City SC face The Herons three times this year, twice at home on August 4 and August 27.
The Lions’ only regular season visit to Inter Miami CF Stadium comes on June 25.
Facing Canadian opposition
Due to the continued travel restrictions as a result of COVID-19, Canadian MLS franchises will again play international league fixtures remotely inside the United States.
Orlando City SC face Toronto FC on May 22 (home), June 19 (venue TBD), and July 17 (venue TBD).
As for CF Montréal, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions face the rebranded Quebec side on September 15 (home), October 20 (home), and November 7 (venue TBD).
There is no regular season meeting scheduled between Orlando City SC and Vancouver Whitecaps.
Visiting brand new MLS stadiums
Elsewhere, Orlando City SC will visit two brand new MLS stadiums, both in Ohio, as part of their 2021 regular season schedule.
Oscar Pareja‘s Lions visit FC Cincinnati’s 26,000 capacity West End Stadium on August 7 and October 16.
Additionally, City visit Columbus Crew’s new 20,000 capacity Crew Stadium on October 27.
Want @OrlandoCitySC's 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣1️⃣ fixtures in UK time (GMT)? 🇬🇧⌚ We got you! 👍🏽
UK SCHEDULE 📅: https://t.co/jqEGyaFYrs
Latest bedtimes 🛏️👀⏰
Aug 19: 01:30 @NashvilleSC (A) 😐
Aug 28: 01:30 @InterMiamiCF (H) 😐
Sep 30: 01:30 @NashvilleSC (A) 😐#OCTwitter #OrlandoCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/YFydn1jvt8— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) March 24, 2021
Orlando City SC’s 2021 MLS regular season schedule
U.S. television broadcasts are outlined below in Eastern (EST) time.
Orlando City UK will endeavour to report Sky Sports’, Premier Sports and FreeSports’ schedule of LIVE 2021 Orlando City SC fixtures when released to the public in due course.
You can view Orlando City SC‘s 2021 schedule in UK time (GMT) by clicking here.
| DATE | OPPONENT | VENUE | TIME (ET) | BROADCAST |
| Sat., April 17 | Atlanta United FC | Exploria Stadium | 3 p.m. | UniMás/TUDN/Twitter |
| Fri., April 23 | Sporting Kansas City | Children’s Mercy Park | 7:30 p.m. | FS1 |
| Sat., May 1 | FC Cincinnati | Exploria Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Sat., May 8 | New York City FC | Exploria Stadium | 6 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sun., May 16 | D.C. United | Audi Field | 8 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Sat., May 22 | Toronto FC | Exploria Stadium (H) | 7 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV/TSN |
| Sat., May 29 | New York Red Bulls | Red Bull Arena | 1 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Sat., June 19 | Toronto FC | TBD | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV/TSN |
| Tues., June 22 | San Jose Earthquakes | Exploria Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Fri., June 25 | Inter Miami CF | Inter Miami CF Stadium | 8 p.m. | FS1 |
| Sat., July 3 | New York Red Bulls | Exploria Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Wed., July 7 | Chicago Fire FC | Soldier Field | 8 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Sat., July 17 | Toronto FC | TBD | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV/TSN |
| Thurs., July 22 | Philadelphia Union | Exploria Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sun., July 25 | New York City FC | Yankee Stadium | 6 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Fri., July 30 | Atlanta United FC | Exploria Stadium | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Wed., Aug. 4 | Inter Miami CF | Exploria Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Sat., Aug. 7 | FC Cincinnati | West End Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Wed., Aug. 18 | Nashville SC | Nissan Stadium | 8:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Sat., Aug. 21 | Chicago Fire FC | Exploria Stadium | 8 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Fri., Aug. 27 | Inter Miami CF | Exploria Stadium | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sat., Sept., 4 | Columbus Crew SC | Exploria Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Fri., Sept. 10 | Atlanta United FC | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 7 p.m. | FS1 |
| Wed., Sept. 15 | CF Montréal | Exploria Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV/TVAS |
| Sun., Sept. 19 | Philadelphia Union | Subaru Park | 4 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sat., Sept. 25 | New England Revolution | Gillette Stadium | 7 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Wed., Sept. 29 | Nashville SC | Nissan Stadium | 8:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Sat., Oct. 2 | D.C. United | Exploria Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Sat., Oct. 16 | FC Cincinnati | West End Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Wed., Oct. 20 | CF Montréal | Exploria Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV/TVAS |
| Sun., Oct. 24 | New England Revolution | Exploria Stadium | TBD | FS1 |
| Wed., Oct. 27 | Columbus Crew SC | Crew Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Sun., Oct. 31 | Nashville SC | Exploria Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV |
| Sun., Nov. 7 | CF Montréal | TBD | 3:30 p.m. | FOX 35 PLUS/LionNation TV/TVAS |