The Sounders announced Tuesday that they will launch their fifth season of Major League Soccer Saturday, March 2, 2013, against the Montreal Impact at CenturyLink Field. Time and broadcast information for the home opener will be included in the entire regular- season schedule, which will be disclosed in the coming week.
The Sounders will open the MLS season at home for the fifth consecutive year. Seattle hosted the league’s first match of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons, and last year’s opener came in Week 2 of the regular season.
The Sounders have won three of four season openers, beating the New York Red Bulls (2009), Philadelphia Union (2010) and Toronto FC (2012). The 2013 opener will be the club’s earliest start in MLS and the second time Seattle will open on a weekend.
Following the MLS opener, Seattle will play Mexico’s Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. The two-leg, aggregate-goal series will begin March 5-7 in Torreon, Mexico and conclude March 12-14 in Seattle.
Six MLS matches will be played March 2 to kick off the 18th MLS season and the openers continue March 3 with three games. All MLS clubs will play in front of their home fans by the end of Week 4.
Times and broadcast information for these games will be announced in the coming weeks as part of the complete 2013 regular-season schedule announcement. Each club will again play 34 games during the regular season.
Dates and matchups for the 2013 MLS Regular Season home openers are below.
WEEK 1 — Saturday, March 2
- Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City (PPL Park)
- FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids (FC Dallas Stadium)
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC (BC Place)
- Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United (BBVA Compass Stadium
- Seattle Sounders FC vs. Montreal Impact (CenturyLink Field)
- Chivas USA vs. Columbus Crew (The Home Depot Center)
Sunday, March 3
- LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire (The Home Depot Center)
- Portland Timbers vs. New York Red Bulls (Jeld-Wen Field)
- San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake (Buck Shaw Stadium)
WEEK 2 — Saturday, March 9
- Toronto FC vs. Sporting Kansas City (Rogers Centre)
- D.C. United vs. Real Salt Lake (RFK Stadium)
- Colorado Rapids vs. Philadelphia Union (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park)
- Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution (Toyota Park)
WEEK 3 — Saturday, March 16
- New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United (Red Bull Arena)
- Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire (LiveStrong Sporting Park)
- Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids (Rio Tinto Stadium)
- Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC (Olympic Stadium)
- Columbus Crew vs. San Jose Earthquakes (Crew Stadium)
WEEK 4 — Saturday, March 23
- New England Revolution vs. FC Dallas (Gillette Stadium)
For 2013 season-ticket information, contact the Sounders Ticket Office at 877-MLS-GOAL (877-657-4625) or www.SoundersFC.com.