Ready to defend its top regular season finish in the Eastern Conference in 2014, D.C. United faces a challenging slate in 2015. The schedule will feature new, expansion-driven conference rivalries, big games at RFK Stadium, intriguing stretches away from home and new time slots as part of Major League Soccer's new television contract.
Before the season's first month is over, the Black-and-Red will face two of its biggest traditional rivals. United will travel to Red Bull Arena for a rematch with the New York Red Bulls, following the club's first-ever playoff defeat to the I-95 rivals in November. The Red Bulls will also return to RFK Stadium on April 11. Six days later, the 2014 MLS MVP Robbie Keane and the Los Angeles Galaxy, defending MLS Cup champion, will arrive in the District on March 28.
D.C. United also has a readymade rivalry with Brazilian star Kaká and his expansion side Orlando City SC, as the teams will face off three times in 2015, all on national television. The Lions will play host first on April 3 before their first visit to the nation‚s capital on May 13. The contest will finish out a stretch of five games out of six at RFK, where D.C. United conceded the fewest goals in MLS in 2014.
The Black-and-Red feature five times in MLS' nationally televised Sunday doubleheaders, starting June 21 with visit by Jermaine Jones, Lee Nguyen and the reigning Eastern Conference champion New England Revolution. United will then depart on a four-game road trip highlighted by a July 3 showdown with 2014 Supporters‚ Shield winners Seattle Sounders FC.
On August 13, D.C. United will get its first look at David Villa, Frank Lampard and Yankee Stadium in a visit to New York City F.C. in a Thursday night encounter. The newcomers‚ inaugural trip to Washington could have playoff implications when the teams meet again on Oct. 2 at RFK.
