The 2019 MLS regular season schedule has been released and we are breaking down the must-see home games of 2019.
5. Portland Timbers – Saturday, March 2 – 4:00 PM
Fans will get their first chance to see a retooled Rapids side against the defending Western Conference Champion Portland Timbers and 2017 MLS MVP Diego Valeri. Every team meeting, training session, positional battle and preseason friendly over the upcoming weeks takes place with one eye on this Saturday in early March. The Rapids are 14-3-6 all-time in the opening fixture of the home MLS schedule.
4. D.C. United – Saturday, April 13 – 7:00 PM
Wayne Rooney and D.C. United pay a visit to Colorado almost 12 years to the day of the date the same two teams faced off in the first-ever MLS game at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. Outside of those headlines, this match comes at an important part of the season for the 2019 Rapids as it marks the end of a stretch where Anthony Hudson’s men play five of their first eight games on home soil.
3. New England Revolution – Thursday, July 4 – 7:00 PM
It’s a Colorado tradition that reaches far beyond the sport of soccer and dates back to 1996, the first year of the franchise. A beautiful summer night. The beautiful game. And fireworks. It’s always a special occasion, and this year the New England Revolution will play the opponent on Independence Day. Reasons to watch outside of the 4th of July festivities? This matchup comes during a summer stretch where the Rapids play seven of 10 games at home. Four of those home games are against teams that missed the playoffs in 2018. Add in a visit from expansion side FC Cincinnati and it’s easy to see why the Rapids will need to pick up points during this stretch in order to keep pace in the playoff race.
2. LA Galaxy – Thursday, September 12 – 7:00 PM
Thursday night football in September. As the playoffs loom in early October, regular season games don’t get much bigger than this, especially if both teams are in the picture for the postseason. The Galaxy will arrive in Colorado with a new head coach familiar to Rapids fans in Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The Argentinian led Columbus Crew SC to an MLS Cup in 2008 and was the man in charge when Boca Juniors paid a visit last July. Oh, and the one and only Zlatan Ibrahimović will be set to make his first appearance in Colorado after missing the 2018 game in Colorado (a thrilling last-second win for the Rapids) because of suspension. The 37-year-old Swede signed a Designated Player contract with LA this offseason while also capturing the MLS Newcomer of the Year award. This should be a fun one.
1. Real Salt Lake – Saturday, May 11 – 7:00 PM
If there’s one game that’s been circled (regardless of the date) on the calendars of players, coaches and fans since the end of the 2018 season, it’s this one. Everyone associated with the Rapids wants to erase the memory of the rough night last August when RSL took home the Rocky Mountain Cup for the third straight season. That loss should’ve provided plenty of motivation during the fall and winter months for returning players and with only two meetings between the teams (instead of three as in past years) this match on home soil takes on even more importance. It’s a game that should be filled with plenty of intensity, physical play and drama that only the Rocky Mountain Cup can deliver.
Single game tickets will be on-sale this Wednesday at 10:00 AM.
