Major League Soccer releases 2021 schedule

Major League Soccer announced the full 2021 schedule on Wednesday. The league season will consist of the typical 34 match regular season, with the top seven teams in each conference qualifying for the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. The final format of the playoffs will be announced at a later date. MLS Cup will be played on December 11.

Below is Nashville SC’s full 2021 schedule:

DATEOPPONENTVENUETIME (CT)
Saturday, Apr 17FC CincinnatiNissan Stadium7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Apr 24CF MontrealNissan Stadium1:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 2 (ESPN)Inter Miami CFNissan Stadium12:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 8New England RevolutionNissan Stadium12:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 15Real Salt LakeRio Tinto Stadium8:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 23 (FS1)Austin FCNissan Stadium8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 29Atlanta United FCMercedes-Benz Stadium2:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 19New York Red BullsRed Bull Arena5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 23Toronto FCNissan Stadium7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 26CF MontrealNissan Stadium7:30 p.m.
Monday, July 5Philadelphia UnionNissan Stadium7:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 8Atlanta United FCNissan Stadium7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 17Chicago Fire FCNissan Stadium7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 21Columbus Crew SCNew Crew Stadium6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 24FC CincinnatiNissan Stadium7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 1Toronto FCTBD6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 4New England RevolutionGillette Stadium6:00 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 8Inter Miami CFInter Miami CF StadiumTBD
Sunday, Aug 15D.C. UnitedNissan Stadium6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 18Orlando City SCNissan Stadium7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug 28 (UNIV)Atlanta United FCMercedes-Benz Stadium2:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 4New York City FCNissan Stadium7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 12CF MontrealTBD12:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 18Toronto FCTBD6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 22Inter Miami CFInter Miami CF StadiumTBD
Sunday, Sept. 26Chicago Fire FCSoldier Field12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 29Orlando City SCNissan Stadium7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 3New York City FCRed Bull Arena5:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 16D.C. UnitedAudi Field6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 20Columbus Crew SCNissan Stadium7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 23Philadelphia UnionSubaru Park6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 27FC CincinnatiWest End Stadium6:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 31Orlando City SCExploria Stadium6:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 7New York Red BullsNissan Stadium2:30 p.m.

Nashville SC will kick off their 2021 campaign with a four match home stand at Nissan Stadium, taking on FC Cincinnati, CF Montreal, Inter Miami CF and New England Revolution. Eleven of Nashville’s first 15 minutes will be played at home, while they’ll be on the road for four of their final 14 matches.

Nashville currently have three nationally televised matches on the schedule, two of which are at home. They’ll feature on ESPN against Inter Miami on May 2 from Nissan Stadium, on FS1 against Austin FC at Nissan, and against Atlanta United on August 28 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

32 of Nashville’s 34 matches come against Eastern Conference opponents, with Real Salt Lake and newcomers Austin FC the lone cross-conference opponents.

“Everybody is excited to see MLS back for the 2021 season,” said CEO Ian Ayre in a club release. “It goes without saying that 2020 was a difficult year for everyone including soccer. However, as we continue to see progress in vaccine distribution and other areas, we are encouraged to see that many things are moving in a good direction.

“Our players are back to practice and pre-season, we have new players on our roster that we expect to bring greater depth to our team and our fans and our city continue to show their support by increasing the number of season tickets we have sold for 2021 beyond those we sold in 2020.  With our new stadium on the horizon and a chance to have increased capacities of fans at games whilst maintaining the necessary safety and distancing, all point to exciting times ahead,” he concluded. 

Nashville did not confirm their plans for attendance at Nissan Stadium, but with 20% of metro Nashville having received the vaccine, it’s likely that attendance restrictions will at least be partially lifted from last season.

Author: Ben Wrightis the Director of Soccer Content and a Senior MLS Contributor for Broadway Sports covering Nashville SC and the US National Team. Previously Ben was the editor and a founder of Speedway Soccer, where he has covered Nashville SC and their time in USL before journeying to Major League Soccer since 2018. Raised in Louisville, KY Ben grew up playing before a knee injury ended his competitive career. When he is not talking soccer he is probably producing music, drinking coffee or hanging out with his wife and kids. Mastodon

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