Just days after FC Cincinnati confirmed the participation of "FC Cincinnati 2" in the MLS Next Pro competition this year, the club confirmed finer details of the reserve-league season to come.
The only outstanding information now is confirmation of FCC2's roster.
Cincinnati will compete in the Eastern Conference's Central Division alongside Chicago Fire II, Crew 2, Inter Miami II, and Orlando City B.
While FCC2 opens its season March 27 against Philadelphia Union 2 at Subaru Park, the club's MLS venue, the inaugural MLS Next Pro match is scheduled for March 25 as St. Louis CITY2 will host Rochester NY FC.
St. Louis CITY2 represents St. Louis City SC, a 2023 MLS expansion team. Rochester NY FC is the only independent club in MLS Next Pro so far, and is partly headed by Leicester City FC legend and English Premier League winner, Jamie Vardy.
FCC2 will play 12 home and 12 away matches, facing the other nine teams in the Eastern Conference.
The first seven home matches will occur at Northern Kentucky University's NKU Soccer Complex, which is one of the leading amateur soccer facilities in the region.
FCC2, which will be overseen by head coach Tyrone Marshall, will play four matches at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford while the Aug. 14 match against Columbus Crew 2 will be played at TQL Stadium.
FCC2's 2022 schedule
Sunday, Mar. 27 - @ Philadelphia Union 2; Subaru Park
Sunday, Apr. 03 - vs. Toronto FC II; NKU Soccer Stadium
Sunday, Apr. 17 - @ New England Revolution II; Gillette Stadium
Saturday, Apr. 23 - vs. Inter Miami CF II; NKU Soccer Stadium
Saturday, Apr. 30 - @ Toronto FC II; BMO Stadium
Sunday, May 08 - vs. Rochester NY FC; NKU Soccer Stadium
Sunday, May 15 - @ Chicago Fire FC II; SeatGeek Stadium
Sunday, May 22 - vs. New England Revolution II; NKU Soccer Stadium
Sunday, May 29 - @ Orlando City B; Osceola Heritage Park
Saturday, June 11 - vs. Rochester NY FC; NKU Soccer Stadium
Sunday, June 19 - @ Inter Miami CF II; DRV PNK Stadium
Saturday, June 25 - vs. Orlando City B; NKU Soccer Stadium
Saturday, July 02 @ New York City FC II; St. John's University (Queens).
Sunday, July 10 - vs. Chicago Fire FC II; NKU Soccer Stadium
Saturday, July 16 - @ Columbus Crew 2; Crew Stadium
Saturday, July 23 - @ Rochester NY FC; Monroe CC
Sunday, July 31 - vs. Inter Miami CF II; Mercy Health Training Center
Sunday, Aug. 07 - vs. Philadelphia Union 2 - Mercy Health Training Center
Sunday, Aug. 14 - vs. Columbus Crew 2; TQL Stadium
Sunday, Aug. 21 - @ Toronto FC II; York Lions Stadium
Monday, Aug. 29 - @ Orlando City B; Osceola Heritage Park
Sunday, Sept. 04 - vs. New York City FC II; Mercy Health Training Center
Sunday, Sept. 11 - vs. Chicago Fire FC II; Mercy Health Training Center
Sunday, Sept. 18 - @ Columbus Crew 2; Crew Stadium
Thursday training update
FC Cincinnati's first-team players and staff on Thursday continued prep work for the MLS regular-season opener Saturday at Austin FC.
A standard day of training unfolded with backup left back John Nelson and center back Gustavo Vallecilla not fully participating. They seem to be the only players facing significant injury concerns ahead of the season opener.
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Also present at the practice was FC Cincinnati's recently acquired defensive midfielder, Junior Moreno, who lined up for part of a full-field scrimmage with what might have been a group of potential starters for Saturday's match, although Moreno's late arrival to the club seems to make his starting status a question mark ahead of the trip to Austin.
It also remains to be seen if Alvaro Barreal and Brenner Souza da Silva, both of whom arrived late to preseason due to immigration issues that have since been settled, will be fit to contribute anything to the game at noisy Q2 Stadium in Austin.
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