Minnesota United FC will train for the 2015 season by playing at least two Major League Soccer clubs in Arizona, and the squad is working on scheduling up to four matches with local teams during a trip to Brazil.

“We wanted a preseason trip that would prepare us like any really good team in the world would prepare,” United coach Manny Lagos said.

United will play Sporting Kansas City and the Seattle Sounders during a training trip Feb. 18-March 1 to Arizona and is working to add a match against Real Salt Lake. From March 11-23, the Loons will train near Rio de Janeiro and are working to set up matches against local teams there.

The trips are part of United owner Bill McGuire’s efforts to earn an MLS expansion franchise. The Vikings also want an MLS franchise to play in their new downtown Minneapolis stadium, and ownership groups from Sacramento and Las Vegas also have made bids.

The trips, United forward Pablo Campos said, are “going to be very good for us because that’s the next level they’re looking to. It’s going to be good to be in the same environment.”

United trained in England before the 2014 season and won the first-half championship of the second-tier North American Soccer League last year.

United has a few reasons to head to Brazil. As the site of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, there has been an infusion of training facilities. Also, the Loons have five Brazilians on their roster, including Campos.

The trip could help in scouting and recruiting future players.

“There can be an amazing amount of networking both for players, player development, club relationships,” Lagos said. “Just like (when we went to) England, we are looking for ways to open doors to be even more a part of the global game.”

During the 2014 trip to England, the United went to St. George’s Park, where the British national team trains. They played several exhibition matches, including one against Derby County FC, which plays in the tier below the English Premier League.

United played a friendly match last summer in Blaine against Swansea City AFC of the Premier League.

United President Nick Rogers said this year’s trips should show “the team that it’s the same commitment as before.”

“We’re growing this every year,” Rogers added. “We had a lot of thought about if we should go to England again. It was such a good experience. We’re still a relatively young organization. We’re still establishing our traditions.”

Follow Andy Greder at twitter.com/andygreder.