Austin FC II is set to play its first-ever MLS NEXT Pro match on Friday, March 24, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. CT at Parmer Field at St. David’s Performance Center. The team will kick off its inaugural season against Houston Dynamo 2, with tickets to the match – and all ATXFC II home matches this season – available now at www.austinfc.com/austinfcii/tickets/.
State of Play
The slate is completely blank for Austin FC II as it begins its first-ever MLS NEXT Pro season after a preseason which started back in January. Ahead of Head Coach Brett Uttley’s side lies a 28-match schedule, composed of 14 home and 14 away matches against its 13 fellow Western Conference members.
Within the Western Conference, Austin FC II will compete as a member of the seven-team Frontier Division, alongside Colorado Rapids 2, Sporting Kansas City II, Houston Dynamo 2, North Texas SC, Minnesota United 2, and St. Louis City SC 2. Seven teams from each MLS NEXT Pro conference – the two division winners, plus the five clubs with the next highest points totals – will qualify for the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs after Decision Day on September 24.
MLS NEXT Pro features several unique rules, but perhaps the most relevant is that matches cannot end in a tie after 90 minutes. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, the match advances directly to a penalty shootout. The team that wins the shootout receives an extra point in the standings, in addition to the one point each team receives as in a traditional draw.
Opposition View
Houston Dynamo 2 had a strong inaugural season of their own in MLS NEXT Pro last year, finishing third in the Western Conference. The team posted a record of 14-5-5, though notably was much stronger at home than away, with only four of its victories coming on the road.
Defense was Dynamo 2’s strong suit in 2022, with its 22 goals conceded tied for the league’s best defensive record. Two of the team’s defenders - Micael dos Santos Silva and Mujeeb Murana – signed first team contracts with Houston in the offseason.
How to Watch
Fans can purchase tickets to watch the match at Parmer Field at St. David’s Performance Center, and enjoy food, drinks, and entertainment at The Pitch, immediately adjacent to the stadium.
For those who can’t make it, the match will be available to watch on the Apple TV app to MLS Season Pass subscribers.
