Fire gets early MLS start with 2011 season schedule

Major League Soccer announced Monday the Fire will open its 2011 schedule on March 19 at FC Dallas. The team's home opener will be March 26 against Sporting Kansas City, the first time the club has played in Chicago in March.

The full 34-game regular-season schedule probably will be announced in February, after the players report for preseason training at the end of January.

In other team news, goalkeeper Sean Johnson is likely to be one of 30 players asked this week to join the U.S. national team's camp ahead of the Jan. 22 friendly in Southern California against Chile.