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SALT LAKE CITY — An action-packed 2023 schedule was released Tuesday for Real Salt Lake, including the home opener against 2022 playoff spoiler Austin FC and the first meeting in Sandy against New York City FC since 2019.
The schedule also includes the dates for the international Leagues Cup competition July 21-Aug. 19 against MLS and Liga MX opponents from Mexico. RSL will get another shot at the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after bowing out in the opening game last time around.
RSL players report to Zions Bank Training Center on Jan. 6 to begin the preseason, with the team traveling to both California and Arizona for portions of training in January and February.
The Claret and Cobalt open the season with two road matches against Vancouver on Feb. 25 and Seattle on Mar. 4. RSL has won just twice in Vancouver, with the last time coming in 2019.
RSL then plays seven of 10 matches at home, beginning with Austin FC on Mar. 11. Despite beating RSL on penalties in last year's playoffs, the Verde have still yet to score a goal on Utah soil in two meetings in Sandy.
#RSL starts the 2023 season with road matches at Vancouver and Seattle before the home opener against Austin FC on March 11 at America First Field. pic.twitter.com/kXmeDEybFg
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) December 20, 2022
The first match of the U.S. Open Cup for RSL will take place on April 18, followed by back-to-back home games against San Jose and Seattle on April 22 and 29. RSL then plays two matches in five days at America First Field against LAFC and Portland on May 13 and 17.
Big-city squads LA Galaxy and NYCFC visit America First Field on May 31 and June 10, with a road trip to Austin in between on June 3. July brings home matches against Orlando and New York Red Bulls before the Leagues Cup interrupts MLS play on July 21.
RSL is set to host two group stage games in Sandy as part of the competition against Liga MX and MLS opponents. The knockout stages would begin on Aug. 2 if RSL advances out of its group.
America First Field will host five MLS home matches following the Leagues Cup, finishing with rival Sporting Kansas City visiting Sandy on Oct. 7. RSL's season finale on Decision Day will be on the road against Rocky Mountain rival Colorado Rapids on Oct. 21.
The playoffs are set to begin on Oct. 28 and MLS Cup 2023 will take place on Dec. 9.
