FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas returns to MLS play with a home match against in-state rivals Austin FC this Saturday, Aug. 26 at 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium.
Here's everything you need to know before the match.
How to Watch
The match will be available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Mark Followill and Lori Lindsay will call the game in English on Apple TV with Raul Guzman and Sonny Guadarrama providing Spanish commentary.
How to Listen
English: If you can't watch the match, you can listen to all the action on iHeartMedia 1190AM and the FC Dallas App. Host Sam Hale will provide pregame and postgame coverage beginning at 7PM with broadcasters Owen Newkirk, Steve Davis and Jon Arnold calling the game.
Spanish: Carlos Alvarado and Rafa Calderon will call the game in Spanish on 1270AM, starting at 7:30PM.
Match Overview
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
- FCD record: 8-9-6 (30 points - 10th in West)
- ATX record: 9-10-5 (32 points - 7th in West)
- FCD vs. ATX all-time: 4-1-2 (13 goal scored, 10 goals conceded)
- FCD vs. ATX home: 2-0-1 (5 goal scored, 2 goals conceded)
STORY LINES
- We're Back: FC Dallas' Leagues Cup was both fun and entertaining but now it's time to get back to business. FC Dallas returns to MLS regular season play for the first time since July 15 and it's a big one: a Texas rivalry match with Austin FC. And there's not just pride on the line. Saturday's game has playoff implications as well with FCD trailing their I-35 rivals by two points, albeit with a game in hand. That brings us to the postseason picture. Dallas currently sits in 10th place in the West, one spot outside the playoff places with 11 games to go. It's not time to panic yet, though. The West is still incredibly tight and it would only take Dallas winning its two games in hand to draw level with the Seattle Sounders in fourth.
- Potential Debutants: Toyota Stadium could welcome two debutants this Saturday. Midfielders Asier Illarramendi and Liam Fraser signed with FCD late in the summer transfer window and are eligible to make their club debuts. Illarramendi joined as a free agent after spending his entire career in his native Spain, playing 11 seasons for Real Sociedad and two for Real Madrid. Fraser, a Canadian international, joined from Belgium's second division after beginning his career in MLS with Toronto FC and Columbus Crew. Both primarily defensive midfielders, "Illara" and Fraser have had at least a full week of training with their new teammates and should be available to see minutes against Austin, if need be.
- Copa Tejas: Saturday's game is FCD's penultimate Copa Tejas match and its final one against Austin this year. Copa Tejas is a fan-driven competition between the three Texas-based MLS clubs: FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo FC and Austin FC. The title is claimed by whichever club earns the most points against the other two during the regular season. Dallas is currently in third with one point after its 1-1 draw with Houston on May 20 followed by a 3-0 loss in Austin in June. Note, FCD did defeat Austin at Q2 Stadium earlier this season but that match did not count towards Copa Tejas due to an uneven schedule (FCD played in Austin twice this year while Austin FC only plays in Dallas once). Anyway, to win Copa Tejas, FCD will need to earn all three points Saturday AND win in Houston next month to claim its second title. Austin, on the other hand, could win its second-consecutive title with either a win or a draw at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.
