Orlando City announces 2021 MLS schedule
Lions open season at Exploria Stadium against Atlanta United on April 17, seek second straight playoff berth.
Orlando City will return to the pitch in 2021 focused on carrying forward the momentum of last year’s historic season under coach Oscar Pareja.
Orlando’s Major League Soccer season will open against Atlanta United FC on Saturday, April 17, at Exploria Stadium. The Lions earned their first-ever victories over their long-time rivals last year, but
Atlanta will be bolstered by the return of star forward Josef Martínez. The match will kick off at 3 p.m. ET with a national broadcast on UniMás and TUDN.
Orlando City will host reduced-capacity crowds at Exploria Stadium. Seasonticket holders and partial-season-package holders will be guaranteed places in the stadium. Orlando City CEO Alex Leitão previously expressed hope that it will be
possible to reopen the stadium at full capacity later this summer.
Ten of the Lions’ matches will be broadcast on national television via ESPN, FOX and Univisión over the course of the season. The remainder will be available on WRBW 65 or the newly launched LionNation streaming service.
The season is full of rivalry matchups for the Lions — two home matches against Atlanta United and Inter Miami, plus a pair of road matches against New York City FC.
The Lions will close the regular season on the road against Montreal on Decision Day Nov. 7.
Orlando City is chasing a secondstraight playoff berth after making the MLS postseason for the first time in club history last season. The playoffs are slated to begin Nov. 19, with the MLS Cup scheduled for Dec. 11.
Full 2021 schedule
■ (home games in bold):
■ Saturday, April 17: vs. Atlanta United, 3 p.m., UniMás/TUDN/ Twitter
■ Friday, April 23: at Sporting Kansas City, 7:30 p.m., FS1
■ Saturday, May 1: vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET, WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Saturday, May 8: vs. New York City, 6 p.m., ESPN
■ Sunday, May 16: at D.C. United, 8 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Saturday, May 22: vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Saturday, May 29: at New York Red Bulls, 1 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Saturday, June 19: at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Tuesday, June 22: vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Friday, June 25: at Inter Miami, 8 p.m., FS1
■ Saturday, July 3: vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/ LionNation TV
■ Wednesday, July 7: at Chicago Fire, 8 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Saturday, July 17: vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Thursday, July 22: vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
■ Sunday, July 25: at New York City FC, 6 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Friday, July 30: vs. Atlanta United, 8 p.m., ESPN
■ Wednesday, Aug. 4: vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/ LionNation TV
■ Saturday, Aug. 7: at FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Wednesday, Aug. 18: at Nashville SC, 8:30 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Saturday, Aug. 21: vs Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/ LionNation TV
■ Friday, Aug. 27: vs. Inter Miami, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
■ Saturday, Sept. 4: vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/
LionNation TV
■ Friday, Sept. 10: at Atlanta United, 7 p.m., FS1
■ Wednesday, Sept. 15: vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/ LionNation TV
■ Sunday, Sept. 19: at Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., ESPN
■ Saturday, Sept. 25: at New England Revolution, 7 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Wednesday, Sept. 29: at Nashville SC, 8:30 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Saturday, Oct. 2: vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Saturday, Oct. 16: at FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV
■ Wednesday, Oct. 20: vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/ LionNation TV
■ Sunday, Oct. 24: vs. New England Revolution, TBD, FS1
■ Wednesday, Oct. 27: at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/ LionNation TV
■ Sunday, Oct. 31: vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m., WRBW 65/LionNation TV