MLS announces Week 1 schedule, home openers for every team in 2015

Defending champions LA Galaxy will kick off their title defense and open the 2015 MLS season with a home date against Chicago on March 6.

The MLS Cup winners featured prominently on the list of 20 matches unveiled by MLS on Friday morning. The slate includes every match in Week 1 and every home opener. MLS will reveal the remainder of the schedule in the coming weeks, per a league release.

FOX Sports 1 will start its eight-year partnership with MLS by broadcasting a pair of matches March 8: Sporting Kansas City meets New York Red Bulls at Sporting Park (7:00p.m. ET), while Seattle welcomes New England at CenturyLink Field (9:30p.m. ET).

Expansion sides New York City FC and Orlando City SC take their MLS bows together when they face each other at the renovated Citrus Bowl on March 8.

Other notable matchups from the first weekend include Portland – Real Salt Lake (March 8) and Vancouver – Toronto FC (March 8).

Orlando City opens its new ground in the first week of the season, but New York City FC (March 15 against New England) will have to wait until Week 2 to make its debut in Yankee Stadium. Three other teams -- Chicago, Columbus and Real Salt Lake -- will also play their first home matches in Week 2.

San Jose unveils Avaya Stadium with a Week 3 date against Chicago (March 22) with Colorado, New England and New York Red Bulls also scheduled for their home openers.

MLS WEEK 1 SCHEDULE - MARCH 6-8, 2015

Montreal will play its first home match in Week 4, while Toronto FC must wait until May 10 to play its first game at the upgraded BMO Field.