Minnesota United begins its second season at Allianz Field in just over two months, with the squad reporting for training camp in a week. With the season just around the corner, we’d like to highlight a few of the most important home matchups for 2020.
March 15 vs. New York Red Bulls
6:00 p.m.|FS1|Home Opener presented by Star Tribune
The Loons welcome the New York Red Bulls for your first chance to watch the team in person. MNUFC claimed its first-ever win against the Red Bulls in their meeting last year in Harrison, New Jersey, to cap off a five-game road trip to start the season. The Red Bulls begin the post-Bradley Wright-Phillips and Luis Robles era with a young squad looking to make a statement early in the new season. With both teams wanting to make up for early playoff exits last year, expect a wide-open game.
April 11 vs. LA Galaxy
7:00 p.m.|FOX Sports North
Minnesota finishes off a four-game homestand with a visit from the LA Galaxy, who knocked the Loons out of the MLS Cup Playoffs on their last trip to Saint Paul. The Galaxy are another team in transition for 2020 with the departures of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romain Alessandrini during the offseason. Mexico international Jonathan dos Santos remains their biggest attacking threat, especially from set-piece opportunities. The cagey matchups from last season set the stage for a dramatic first meeting in 2020 that could come down to the final kick.
June 13 vs. Nashville SC
7:00 p.m.|FOX Sports North
After taking a week off for a bye, the Loons welcome the new kids on the block to Allianz Field. Nashville makes the move up from USL with a mix of some young talent and MLS veterans, including former MNUFC players Abu Danladi and Eric Miller. Entering the midway point of the season, Nashville will be starting to find its identity and working through the growing pains of an expansion team coming from the lower tiers of the US soccer pyramid. Expansion teams have not fared well in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, with the Loons smashing LAFC 5-1 and FC Cincinnati 7-1. Will the trend continue in 2020?
July 12 vs. LAFC
5:00 p.m.|ESPN
Speaking of LAFC, the 2019 Supporters’ Shield winners return to Allianz field for a mid-July matchup. The teams will have met a month earlier at Banc of California stadium and will have a good feel for each other’s playing styles. MNUFC went undefeated against the Black and Gold last year, claiming a dramatic road win thanks to a Mason Toye brace and a come-from-behind draw in the reverse fixture. There is potential for lots of goals in this matchup, but both teams have a solid defensive unit to frustrate opposing attackers, making attacking chances extremely valuable.
August 9 vs. Atlanta United FC
2:00 p.m.|ABC
The 2019 US Open Cup Final rematch comes to Allianz Field as the Loons look to get revenge on Atlanta United. This will be the Peach State squad’s first-ever trip to Allianz Field, as MNUFC traveled down to Atlanta twice last year for regular season and tournament games. Frank de Boer’s side has done some shuffling during the offseason, trying to make up for falling at home to Toronto FC in the Conference Finals last year. MNUFC will need to bring its A-game in its first game on a “Big Four” broadcast network.
October 4 vs. Houston Dynamo
3:30 p.m.|FOX Sports North|Fan Appreciation Day
For the first time in its MLS tenure, the Loons will close out the regular season if front of the hometown crowd. This game could have massive playoff implications for both clubs, with Houston trying to make the postseason for the first time since 2017, but regardless, it’s guaranteed to be an emotionally charged matchup. It will be the homecoming for former Loons Christian Ramirez, who could make his first ever appearance at Allianz Field, and Darwin Quintero, the club’s first-ever Designated Player. Outside of the action on the pitch, there will be Fan Appreciation activations throughout the day to celebrate the best fans in MLS for another stellar season.
Tickets for the 2020 season at Allianz Field will go on-sale in early 2020, with special presales for season ticket members, members of The Preserve and subscribers to the MNUFC newsletter before the general public. Visit mnufc.com/preserve for more info on The Preserve and mnufc.com/newsletter for more info on subscribing to the newsletter.
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* Schedule subject to change, will play on FSN, FSN+ or FSGo
