Austin FC’s 2023 schedule is out, and after a historic 2022 season in which the Verde & Black nearly won some of MLS’ top prizes, players and fans alike will be eager to go one step further this year. The road to qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs for a second consecutive season is now clear: a 34-match gauntlet which will run from February to October and see Austin FC travel from coast to coast.
Aside from Copa Tejas games against in-state rivals FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo FC – which take on another level of significance – here are five matches not to miss in 2023. You can watch all 34 of Austin FC's MLS regular season matches with MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with no regional blackouts or restrictions.
Austin FC vs. St. Louis CITY SC
Saturday, February 25 | 7:30 p.m. CT
Austin will open its season at home against MLS’ newest member, with St. Louis set to visit Q2 Stadium for the first match in its history. With St. Louis being a brand new side, the challenge for Austin will be figuring out their opponents from scratch. The Verde & Black will look to replicate last season’s opening match, a 5-0 home win over FC Cincinnati.
Austin FC vs. Toronto FC
Saturday, May 20 | 7:30 p.m. CT
Austin will welcome a talent-laden Toronto side to Q2 Stadium in May. From big name players like Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi, to experienced MLS veterans like Michael Bradley, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Victor Vazquez, and Jonathan Osorio, the Canadians are looking to return to the form that saw them make the MLS Cup Final three times between 2016 and 2019, winning it in 2017.
Austin FC vs. LA Galaxy
Sunday, September 24 | 8:30 p.m. CT
The Galaxy will visit Q2 Stadium for a primetime, nationally televised Sunday night contest which is likely to have significant postseason implications. Verde & Black fans will have fond memories of LA’s trip to Texas in 2021, when Moussa Djitté scored his first goal for the Club in a 2-0 Austin win. Another Austin FC striker now adds a level of intrigue to this matchup: Gyasi Zardes, who spent five seasons with the Galaxy including an MLS Cup-winning campaign in 2014. Zardes will be eager to ensure his former side don’t enjoy their time in ATX.
Austin FC vs. Los Angeles FC
Saturday, October 7 | 7:30 p.m. CT
Though LAFC ended Austin FC’s historic 2022 season in the Western Conference Final, Austin got the better of the Californians on both occasions in the regular season. The Verde & Black were one of only two teams to beat LAFC at Banc of California Stadium last year, and handed them their heaviest defeat of the season with a 4-1 victory at Q2 Stadium. While the first meeting of 2023 between 2022’s top two Western Conference teams will be in April (and nationally-televised on FOX and FOX Deportes), the second will be Austin's final home match of the regular season. There's likely to be plenty on the line for both squads.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Austin FC
Saturday, October 21 | TBD
Austin will wrap up its 2023 season with MLS Decision Day on Saturday, October 21. Austin has never entered the final day of an MLS regular season with something to play for, having already been knocked out of playoff contention in 2021 and being already locked in to second place in the Western Conference in 2022. Only time will tell if this year will be different, but matches against San Jose and Austin are almost always entertaining. Four of the five previous meetings between the pair produced four or more total goals, including 2-2 and 3-3 draws last year.
