The Portland Timbers announced the confirmation of their full 2023 preseason schedule on Thursday, as the Cascadia club close in on the start of the Major League Soccer campaign. The club have already announced their participation in the Coachella Valley Invitational between February 12th - February 18th, and on top of that trip to sunny Southern California, the Timbers have announced that they will travel to Phoenix, Arizona in mid January to train and square off with Sporting KC, which will take place on the 21st. With that friendly added to the fixture list, here is how the Timbers' preseason fixture list shapes up.
Saturday, Jan. 21, 11 a.m. vs Sporting KC // Sunday, Feb. 12, 10:30 a.m. vs LA Galaxy // Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m. vs Toronto FC // Saturday, Feb. 18, 12 p.m. vs NYCFC.
The 2023 MLS regular season is set to kick off on Saturday February 25th, with the Timbers set to take on their preseason opponents, Sporting KC at Providence Park. With both teams failing to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2022 it could be a battle for a quick start.
In an effort to reclaim their seat at the table with the elite Western Conference clubs, the Timbers flexed their financial muscle by completing the club record signing of Brazilian playmaker Evander from Danish side FC Midtjylland in December. The 24-year-old registered a superb tally of 50 goals and 38 assists in 167 appearances for the Superliga club. His attacking prowess should help push Gio Savarese's team to the next level should they be able to get the same level of production out of him.
Reports have suggested that the club remain interested in bringing in a center-forward before the start of the season, but since the confirmation that reported target Kasper Junker completed a permanent move within the J1-League, no more names of potential striker targets have bubbled to the surface. However, the Timbers front office does still have just under two months to the strengthen before MLS kicks off.