THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — Toronto FC will open its second Major League Soccer season March 29 at Columbus.
The season-opener will be part of the league’s "First Kick" weekend that will include all 14 teams, although a match involving the expansion San Jose Earthquakes and New York Red Bulls was still being finalized.
Toronto hosts Real Salt Lake in their home opener at BMO Field on April 19.
"When you see the first few games already on the schedule, you realize the season is not that far off," Toronto coach Mo Johnston said in a release.
The opening day schedule also features Houston Dynamo at New England in a rematch of the MLS Cup championship game.
Other games on March 29 will include Chicago at Real Salt Lake, D.C. United at the Kansas City Wizards and David Beckham’s Los Angeles Galaxy at Colorado.
Chivas USA will travel to FC Dallas on March 30.
The March 29 opening day is the earliest start to an MLS season since 2002, when the league began on March 23. The earliest date MLS began its schedule was March 15 in 1998.
The complete schedule is expected to be announced in February.