MLS NEXT Pro today announced its 2022 regular season schedule, a campaign that sees each of its 21 clubs – 11 clubs in the Western Conference and 10 clubs in the Eastern Conference – play 24 matches, 12 home and 12 away over the course of 26 weeks as MLS ushers in the newest addition to the player development pathway. All matches are being streamed live on mlsnextpro.com.
The regular season begins on March 25 and concludes on September 18 with MLS NEXT Pro Decision Day, before transitioning to an eight-team postseason – four from each conference – beginning on September 25. The MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs culminate in a cup final on October 8, concluding the campaign before the 2022 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs begin.
Joining MLS NEXT Pro’s Pacific Division, Tacoma Defiance’s season starts on March 27 vs. Real Monarchs and concludes on September 18 vs. Portland Timbers 2, both at home. Defiance is set to play 10 of its 12 home matches at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington, with two fixtures at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma on May 31 and June 4 against Timbers 2 and San Jose Earthquakes II, respectively.
With a schedule designed to work alongside each club’s respective MLS team, Tacoma opens the season with two home matches on March 27 and April 2 against Real Monarchs at 12:00 p.m. PT and North Texas SC at 7:00 p.m. PT, respectively before heading to St. Louis to take on St. Louis City 2 on April 10 at 5:00 p.m. PT in its first road test.
Tacoma plays every team in its division – Real Monarchs, Earthquakes II, Timbers 2, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – three times each, making up half its schedule. The club fills out its slate with a home-and-away series against each of the remaining teams in the Western Conference – Colorado Rapids 2, North Texas SC, Houston Dynamo 2, Sporting KC II, Minnesota United FC 2 and St. Louis City 2.
The divisional matchups usher in the Cascadia rivalry to MLS NEXT Pro. Defiance takes on Portland on May 31 at Cheney Stadium, July 10 at Hillsboro Stadium as part of MLS NEXT Pro Rivalry Week and September 18 at Starfire Sports on MLS NEXT Pro Decision Day. Defiance faces Whitecaps FC 2 on April 17 at Starfire Stadium before road fixtures in Vancouver on June 12 and September 9.
All tickets for Tacoma’s matches held at Starfire Stadium are $15 and available online in advance or at the door. Ticket sales for all Tacoma Defiance matches held at Starfire this season directly benefit RAVE Foundation, the official charitable arm of Seattle Sounders FC. The on-sale date for tickets is being announced in early March.
Funds raised support RAVE's mission to build 26 mini-pitches throughout Washington State by 2026. Those fields anchor culturally-responsive RAVE programs that use soccer as a vehicle to support whole, healthy children and communities.
Even though most regular-season home matches are taking place at Starfire Stadium this season due to baseball-specific scheduling at Cheney Stadium, RAVE Foundation still looks to make an impact in the city of Tacoma. RAVE built its first mini pitch in Tacoma in 2021 at Boze Elementary, and plans its second Tacoma Public Schools mini pitch this year at Larchmont Elementary. Funds raised support RAVE's field investment program, which prioritizes locations that serve marginalized youth who are furthest from access to free play.
