Looking ahead at Minnesota United’s inaugural MLS schedule, the writers at FiftyFive.One break down all the important details: the best away games, the best home games, and how many games international players might be missing.

By the numbers

1 — New “rival” according to MLS: Chicago (Aug. 26 Rivalry Week match)
3 — Games against Houston and Sporting KC, the most against any team
3— Longest away-game streak (Aug. 13 – Aug. 26)
5 — Longest home-game streak (July 4 – Aug. 5)
5 — Midweek games (one Tuesday, three Wednesday, one Thursday)
29 — Weekend games (one Friday, 20 Saturday, eight Sunday)
419 — Miles to drive to Chicago, the shortest MNUFC roadtrip
1,939 — Miles to drive to Los Angeles, the longest MNUFC roadtrip
32,716 — Airline miles to be accumulated in MNUFC’s inaugural MLS season

Analysis by Andrew Lovgren

Top five home games

Besides the first home game of the season against Atlanta, and games against former USL/NASL foes Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers, the following are some matches you’ll want to circle on the schedule.

Saturday, May 27 – Orlando City 

After coaching Orlando City to a pair of USL championships, and guiding the club through its transition to MLS, Adrian Heath was let go by the Lions last July. Now at the helm for the Loons, this contest is Heath’s only scheduled meeting with his former employer. The matchup will also bring Brazilian legend Kaká to TCF Bank Stadium. It may be the only chance for fans to see the midfielder play in Minnesota, as the former A.C. Milan and Real Madrid player has hinted that this could be his last season in MLS.

Tuesday, July 4 –  Columbus Crew

The only Tuesday game on Minnesota’s schedule falls on a national holiday, so there may be season ticket holders with out-of-town plans willing to sell their tickets. The contest is the Loons’ last before a league-wide break for the Gold Cup. Midfielder Mohammed Saeid — taken by Minnesota in the Expansion Draft — is set to face his former club. Additionally, who doesn’t want to spend Independence Day watching a sport first played in the country we won our independence from? There’s nothing more American than that.

Saturday, July 29 – DC United 

United v United! The game that will make Arthur Blank shake his head in confusion. The first club from the United States to win the CONCACAF Champions League will come to TCF Bank at the end of July.

Saturday, Aug. 5 – Seattle Sounders 

Minnesota United will welcome the defending MLS Cup winners to TCF Bank in early August. This game will be the last in a five-game homestand for the Loons.

Saturday, Oct. 7 – Sporting Kansas City 

The last regular-season home game of the year will see the Loons match up with their old US Open Cup foes, with Kansas City having knocked Minnesota out of two of the last three tournaments. In 2014, SKC defeated Minnesota 2-0 with former Loons defender Cristiano Dias picking up a red card, and last season Kansas City edged Minnesota 2-1 in extra time. Hopefully the first league meeting between the two will end on a higher note for the Loons.

Analysis by Kaleb Olson

Top five away games

Besides the first game against Portland on March 3, there are some big away matches for Minnesota United and its fans.

Saturday, June 3 – Away to Sporting Kansas City 

An early-afternoon Saturday match makes this a perfect game to take the (expected) Dark Clouds bus to the game. Having attended Minnesota’s 2014 Open Cup away match there, I can attest to the stadium being a great place to visit. And if you happen to spend the night, the Kansas City Power and Light district is a large, open-air dance club that would be a great place to celebrate a Loons victory or work off a Loons defeat.

Thursday, June 29 – Away to Manchester New York City FC at Yankee Stadium

Minnesota United’s only game in the Big Apple, against the Little Blues, in Yankee Stadium. Sure, it’s a Thursday match, but you could use the weekend after the game to take in the sights and sounds of Manhattan. It would be the only way I would go to a game at Yankee Stadium, at least.

Sunday, Aug. 20 – Away to Seattle Sounders FC

As far as the soccer is concerned, the Sounders are reigning MLS Cup champions. As an away match, Seattle makes a pretty good place to visit. The city is like a slightly worse, more Amazon-y Twin Cities, and most of us probably know at least one person who has followed the siren’s call to Puget Sound. Spend the weekend, watch the match before you hop on your Sunday-night flight home to the land of ten thousand lakes.

Saturday, Aug. 26 – Away to Chicago Fire

Chicago is apparently our rival, according to MLS Rivalry Week. Minnesota’s nearest MLS foe makes for a convenient rival as the Fire have been one of the worst sides in MLS over the last three or four years. Nothing like having a rival you actually have a shot at beating your first season as an expansion side.

Sunday, Oct. 22 – Away to San Jose Earthquakes

The last game of the season, in a beautiful new soccer-specific stadium, provides an excellent excuse to leave town at a time of year when a nip begins to appear in the Minnesota air. Topping it off, it’s MEA weekend, so a perfect opportunity to leave the spouse with the kids and enjoy some Bay Area hospitality.

Honorable Mentions

Saturday, June 17 – Away to Real Salt Lake: Salt Lake City is a surprisingly pleasant city. In the summer of 1999, I spent an afternoon in Salt Lake City eating Indian food and discussing Mormon apocalyptic portents with a record store worker. Could be a fun one to kick off the summer.

Saturday, March 18 – Away to Colorado Rapids: Not only is this the first match against Western Conference opponent Colorado Rapids and Minnesota native Eric Miller, it’s also nearly four years to the date of the infamous USMNT snow game against Costa Rica. This match reversed the USMNT’s World Cup qualifying fortunes. As it takes place on a Saturday, it’s also not a bad away match for fans to trek to. Denver is about 900 miles away by car, and Frontier has a decent selection of flights to and from Denver and MSP Airport.

Sunday, Oct. 15 – Away to Los Angeles Galaxy: The reason I can’t really recommend this game is that the stadium is impossible to get to unless you rent a car. It’s also one of the first soccer specific stadiums and is definitely starting to show its age in amenities. But still, it’s a game in LA, scheduled just as the weather in Minnesota usually starts to turn cold. Not a terrible trip to make.

Analysis by Bill Stenross

International breaks

As many know, MLS does not pause for FIFA’s breaks for international play. Because of this, players may be missing from some of Minnesota’s matches while they are with their respective national teams.

Fortunately for Minnesota, the only player who is a consistent international for his country is Costa Rica’s Johan Venegas. Francisco Calvo, Venegas’ teammate, has also been capped occasionally by the Ticos. While Miguel Ibarra has been called up to the US men’s national team in the past, it has been nearly two years since he last appeared in a match for the USMNT. For both Ibarra and Christian Ramirez, this season could serve as a signal to Bruce Arena that they’re ready for future inclusion.

There are seven potential conflicts for Minnesota. These matches are:

March 25 — At New England Revolutions
May 21 — Home vs. LA Galaxy
May 27 — Home vs. Orlando City SC
June 3 — At Sporting Kansas City
July 19 — Home vs. Houston Dynamo
July 22 — Home vs. New York Red Bulls
Aug. 26 — Away vs. Chicago Fire
Oct. 7 — Home vs. Sporting Kansas City

Currently, Costa Rica is only involved in the March and October international breaks; United will likely be missing Venegas if not also Calvo during these matches. If Costa Rica do as well as expected in the 2017 Copa Centroamericana happening right now, the two Costa Ricans will be missing during July as well for the 2017 Gold Cup.

The United States play not only during the March and October breaks, but through June and July as well in the Gold Cup. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the Loons currently have no consistent US internationals. 

If United ends up just losing Venegas’ (and possibly Calvo’s) services for a few matches; that is incredibly lucky and could help the expansion side sneak into the playoffs at the expense of teams with more international players. This could, of course, change if more players earn caps for their national teams, or Minnesota signs players like the Finn Rasmus Schüller who are regulars for their national sides.

In the meantime, it would be hard to imagine better news for Minnesota United’s first season in MLS as far as international conflicts. On the other hand, that good luck is due in large part to having so few international players on its roster.

Analysis by Chris RB

So what matches are you getting excited for? What matches are you planning to travel to?