NEW YORK – Major League Soccer and FOX Soccer announced on Friday that they have extended the network’s national broadcast rights agreement for one year.

The premier soccer-only channel in North America will broadcast up to 31 regular-season games, plus three exclusive MLS Cup Playoff matches including a Conference Final – all in high definition. The package includes 15 matches on Saturday nights and 14 on Friday nights; 20 of those 31 broadcast windows are exclusive to FOX Soccer.

“FOX Soccer has been a tremendous partner for MLS for many years and we are very happy that we have been able to extend the relationship,” said MLS President Mark Abbott. “Through both its news coverage and its extensive schedule of MLS games, Fox Soccer allows MLS fans across the country to follow their club as well as their rivals.”

FOX Soccer schedule this season begins with the MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids hosting the Portland Timbers in the expansion club’s inaugural MLS match as part of First Kick presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. Other highlights of the FOX Soccer lineup include five games between regional rivals, a clash of the two winningest teams in MLS history (LA Galaxy vs. D.C. United, June 3), and late season conference matchups that are bound to have playoff implications and high tension.

“We’re extremely pleased to be home to MLS – the gold standard for soccer in the US - for our ninth straight season,” said FOX Soccer Executive Vice President and General Manager David Nathanson. “FOX Soccer is committed to providing soccer fans in America the best coverage possible, and this extension helps us keep that commitment.”

FOX Soccer has been a national broadcast partner of MLS since 2003.

Complete FOX Soccer schedule

Date Time (ET) Match (home team listed first) Sat, March 19 9:00 pm Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers Fri, March 25 *

10:00 pm Seattle Sounders FC vs. Houston Dynamo Fri, April 1 *

7:30 pm Columbus Crew vs. FC Dallas Fri, April 8 *

9:00 pm FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids Sat, April 16 7:00 pm Toronto FC vs. D.C. United Fri, April 22 *

9:30 pm Colorado Rapids vs. Seattle Sounders FC Sat, April 23 11:00 pm LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers Fri, April 29 *

8:30 pm Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United Fri, May 6 *

10:30 pm Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union Sat, May 14

9:00 pm Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo Fri, June 3 *

11:00 pm LA Galaxy vs. D.C. United Fri, June 10 *

8:30 pm New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution Sat, June 11 10:00 pm Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC Fri, June 17 *

8:30 pm Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes Sat, June 25 11:00 pm San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy Sat, July 2 7:00 pm D.C. United vs. Philadelphia Union Sat, July 9 10:30 pm LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire Sat, July 16 4:00 pm Seattle Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids Fri, July 29 *

7:30 pm Philadelphia Union vs. Colorado Rapids Sat, July 30 7:30 pm Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. LA Galaxy Fri, Aug 5 *

9:30 pm Colorado Rapids vs. Columbus Crew Sat, Aug 13 8:30 pm Sporting Kansas City vs. LA Galaxy Sat, Aug 20 10:00 pm Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC Sat, Aug 27 10:30 pm Chivas USA vs. Real Salt Lake Fri, Sept 9 *

11:00 pm LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids Fri, Sept 16 *

11:00 pm Portland Timbers vs. New England Revolution Fri, Sept 23 *

8:30 pm Sporting Kansas City vs. Philadelphia Union Sat, Oct 1 *

7:30 pm Toronto FC vs. New York Red Bulls Sat, Oct 15 10:30 pm Seattle Sounders FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes

* indicates date or time change from schedule as originally announced

