The 2021 Orlando City schedule was released on Wednesday, and it features quite a slug fest for a team that’s looking to once again finish high in the Eastern Conference.

For the Lions, this upcoming season not only presents an opportunity to go back to the MLS Cup playoffs, but a chance at competing for several trophies; Supporters’ Shield, U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup and MLS Cup.

[Complete 2021 Regular Season Schedule]

It’s worth noting there hasn’t been much information released on how U.S. Soccer plans to roll out this year’s Open Cup tournament, however.

Regardless, there’s a lot to dive into after Wednesday’s 34-game regular season schedule drop, so let’s take a look

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The Opener & Look at Atlanta

Oscar Pareja’s team will open the 2021 regular season against rivals Atlanta United on Saturday, April 17 at 3 p.m. at Exploria Stadium.

Last season, the Lions enjoyed success against the Five Stripes — going 2-0-2 (W-L-D) including beating Atlanta for the first time.

Orlando City is slated to take on Atlanta three times season, which will make it interesting to see how this rivalry unfolds this year.

National TV looks 

The Lions will feature on national television 10 times this season, starting with the season-opener against Atlanta at Exploria which will televise at 3 p.m. on UniMás/TUDN/Twitter on April 17.

Orlando again will feature the following week on FS1 against Sporting Kansas City on April 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Here’s a look at the rest of the national TV lineup for the Lions:

May 8 vs. NYCFC, 6 p.m. on ESPN;

June 25 at Inter Miami, 8 p.m., FS1;

July 22 vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., ESPN;

July 30 vs. Atlanta, 8 p.m., ESPN;

Aug. 27 vs. Inter Miami, 8:30 p.m., ESPN;

Sept. 10 at Atlanta, 7 p.m., FS1;

Sept. 19 at Philadelphia, 4 p.m., ESPN;

Oct. 24 vs. New England, TBD, FS1.

Here comes Miami 

El Clasico del Sol returns on June 25 as the Lions travel to Fort Lauderdale to take on Inter Miami.

As mentioned above, the match will be televised on FS1, with kickoff slated for 8 p.m.

The rivalry will then shift back to Central Florida when both sides meet again at Exploria Stadium on Aug. 4 at 7:30. The game will televise locally on FOX 35 Plus as well as the club’s new streaming service LionNation TV (More information).

Orlando will cap its three-game series against the Herons on Aug. 27 at home, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Top of the East 

Orlando will take on last year’s Supporters’ Shield winner, Philadelphia Union, twice this season.

First on July 22 at Exploria Stadium at 7:30 p.m. and lastly on Sept. 19 at Subaru Park at 4 p.m., with both games broadcasted on ESPN.

The Lions will also take on the 2020 MLS Cup champion, Columbus Crew, on Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Exploria and Oct. 27 at the new Crew Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Extra Looks 

Most of Orlando’s games this year will feature the Lions playing Eastern Conference opponents with the exception of two games against Western Conference teams on April 23 at Sporting Kansas City and June 22 versus San Jose Earthquakes at Exploria.

The schedule will of course be updated once Orlando finds out its Leagues Cup opponent, which is expected to kickoff on the week of Aug. 9 at Exploria Stadium — note: Head Coach Oscar Pareja will more than likely rely on his depth given Orlando is scheduled to take on FC Cincinnati two days prior on Aug. 7 at West End Stadium.

Also, keep a lookout for how U.S. Soccer will rollout its Open Cup competition this year, which could mean added games for Orlando.

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Here’s the complete 34-game regular season schedule:

Date	Opponent	Venue	Time (ET)	Broadcast
Sat., April 17	Atlanta United FC	Exploria Stadium	3 p.m.	UniMás/TUDN/Twitter
Fri., April 23	Sporting Kansas City	Children’s Mercy Park	7:30 p.m.	FS1
Sat., May 1	FC Cincinnati	Exploria Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Sat., May 8	New York City FC	Exploria Stadium	6 p.m.	ESPN
Sun., May 16	D.C. United	Audi Field	2 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Sat., May 22	Toronto FC	Exploria Stadium (H)	7 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS/TSN LionNation TV
Sat., May 29	New York Red Bulls	Red Bull Arena	1 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Sat., June 19	Toronto FC	TBD	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS/TSN LionNation TV
Tues., June 22	San Jose Earthquakes	Exploria Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Fri., June 25	Inter Miami CF	Inter Miami CF Stadium	8 p.m.	FS1
Sat., July 3	New York Red Bulls	Exploria Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Wed., July 7	Chicago Fire FC	Soldier Field	8 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Sat., July 17	Toronto FC	TBD	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS/TSN LionNation TV
Thurs., July 22	Philadelphia Union	Exploria Stadium	7:30 p.m.	ESPN
Sun., July 25	New York City FC	Yankee Stadium	6 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Fri., July 30	Atlanta United FC	Exploria Stadium	8 p.m.	ESPN
Wed., Aug. 4	Inter Miami CF	Exploria Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Sat., Aug. 7	FC Cincinnati	West End Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Wed., Aug. 18	Nashville SC	Nissan Stadium	8:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Sat., Aug. 21	Chicago Fire FC	Exploria Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Fri., Aug. 27	Inter Miami CF	Exploria Stadium	8:30 p.m.	ESPN
Sat., Sept., 4	Columbus Crew SC	Exploria Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Fri., Sept. 10	Atlanta United FC	Mercedes-Benz Stadium	7 p.m.	FS1
Wed., Sept. 15	Club de Foot Montreal	Exploria Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS/TVAS LionNation TV
Sun., Sept. 19	Philadelphia Union	Subaru Park	4 p.m.	ESPN
Sat., Sept. 25	New England Revolution	Gillette Stadium	7 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Wed., Sept. 29	Nashville SC	Nissan Stadium	8:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Sat., Oct. 2	D.C. United	Exploria Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Sat., Oct. 16	FC Cincinnati	West End Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Wed., Oct. 20	Club de Foot Montreal	Exploria Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS/TVAS LionNation TV
Sun., Oct. 24	New England Revolution	Exploria Stadium	TBD	FS1
Wed., Oct. 27	Columbus Crew SC	Crew Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Sun., Oct. 31	Nashville SC	Exploria Stadium	7:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS LionNation TV
Sun., Nov. 7	Club de Foot Montreal	TBD	3:30 p.m.	FOX 35 PLUS/TVAS LionNation TV

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