The season openers for the 2011 MLS season have been announced with the campaign to kick off on Tuesday, March 15.

MLS' First Kick of the 34-match 2011 season will be between Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy at Qwest Field as North America's top flight welcomes two expansion clubs into the ranks.

Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers enter the fray next year and will kick off their MLS tenure with matches against Toronto FC and MLS Cup champions Colorado Rapids respectively.

The schedule for the 18 home openers is as follows:

Tuesday, March 15

Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com)

Saturday, March 19

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Toronto FC, time TBD D.C. United vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. New York Red Bulls vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 7:30 p.m. FC Dallas vs. Chicago Fire, 8:30 p.m. Houston Dynamo vs. Philadelphia Union, 8:30 p.m. Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers, 9 p.m. Chivas USA vs. Sporting Kansas City, 10:30 p.m. San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 20

LA Galaxy vs. New England Revolution, 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 26

Chicago Fire vs. Sporting Kansas City, 4 p.m. Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls, 4 p.m. Philadelphia Union vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 4 p.m. Toronto FC vs. Portland Timbers, time TBD New England Revolution vs. D.C. United, time TBD Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy, 9 p.m.

Thursday, April 14

Portland Timbers vs. Chicago Fire, 11 p.m.

Thursday, June 9

Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire, time TBD