LAFC to initiate Austin FC into MLS to open 2021 season

For the second season running, LAFC have drawn the card of playing an MLS expansion team in their MLS regular season opener. This year, they’ll face Austin FC on Apr. 17 at Banc of California Stadium, the game scheduled for 2:30 pm PT kickoff and to be broadcast on Fox and Fox Deportes.

Last season, LAFC opened their MLS campaign against a new team, too, beating Inter Miami by a narrow 1-0 scoreline, but courtesy of a Carlos Vela banger on his birthday.

The news of the LAFC opener is the only game involving the black-and-gold on the docket in public so far, the rest of the schedule to be released in roughly a couple weeks by the league. So, it’s hard to say what else will be coming for Bob Bradley’s crew at this point, with just one game to go by.

However, it’s possible this game will have limited attendance, which is good news provided it doesn’t lead to more COVID outbreaks. So we may see some fans back in the stadium, the team back in action, and hopefully giving the new guys a hearty “Welcome to MLS!” performance to kick off the season.

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