512 Soccer

Austin FC and the Austin Soccer Community

Q2 Stadium

Welcome Home, Austin FC

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After years of hard work by so many people, Austin FC finally kicked off at home on Saturday, June 19, 2021 against the San Jose Earthquakes, and it was glorious.

Austin FC supporters section for the first home match

The day at Q2 Stadium began with a huge crowd of supporters outside of the stadium singing and chanting and celebrating after greeting the bus with the players.

Outside of Q2 Stadium before the first game

When I got into Q2 Stadium I just walked around smiling – it was hard to believe it was real. Shortly after I took my seat it was game time and I had a nice view of Matthew McConaughey getting the crowd worked up.

The first home tifo of Austin FC was dazzling – I couldn’t believe it as I watched it go up.

The first Austin FC tifo at Q2 Stadium

The people on the tifo from left to right are Stevie Ray Vaughan, Raul Salinas, Matthew McConaughey, Barbara Jordan, Leslie, and Willie Nelson.

Jackie Venson played piano and performed the Black National Anthem, followed by Aaron Stephens playing the National Anthem on guitar.

Jackie Venson performing the Black National Anthem

Aaron Stephens playing the National Anthem on guitar.

Since it was the day before Father’s Day, Austin FC players with kids walked out with them for the introductions.

Austin FC players announced before the match starts

Finally, the action started and the stadium was rocking from the first to last second of the game. My watch said it got up to 95 decibels where I was sitting and others reported well in excess of 100.

Austin FC and San Jose battling nil nil.

While the match ended in a scoreless tie, it was an amazing night and the supporter’s section led the tempo for the whole 90 minutes and made it a unique, fantastic opening and memory.

After the match, it was so cool to see the team go in front of the supporter’s section to be serenaded by the fans with “True Love Will Find You in the End” in honor of legendary Austinite, Daniel Johnston.

True Love Will Find You in the End

Thank you, Mr. Precourt.

The World Champion USWNT Open Q2 Stadium with a Win

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The very first game played at Q2 Stadium, home of Austin FC, was the World Champion US Women’s National Team (USWNT) in a friendly against the Nigeria national women’s football team, nicknamed the Super Falcons.

American Outlaws Tifo at Q2 Stadium

Before the game, American Outlaws Austin unveiled a tifo tribute to Crystal Dunn.

USWNT vs Nigeria in Austin

The USWNT won 2-0 with a goal by Christen Press during extra time in the first half, and then Lynn Williams scored the insurance goal during the second half extra time.

It was really cool to see the Williams goal develop right in front of our seats.

I got goosebumps seeing those first goals and the victory to open Q2 Stadium to a sold-out crowd of 20,500. I can’t imagine the experience when we all get to see Austin FC take the field.

Austin FC Will Have 100% Capacity for the First Match at Q2 Stadium

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Austin FC and Austin Public Health (APH) announced attendance guidelines today for Q2 Stadium, and the stadium will be at full capacity for Austin FC’s home opener vs. the San Jose Earthquakes on June 19, 2021.

Austin FC Q2 Stadium Supporters Section

APH’s attendance guidelines for the 20,500+ seat Q2 Stadium also allow Q2 Stadium to operate at near full capacity for the recently announced U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) friendly vs. Nigeria on June 16, 2021.

All events scheduled for Q2 Stadium, including those scheduled beyond June, will operate under APH’s updated attendance guidelines until APH makes any amendments to the guidelines.

As a result of today’s announcement, Austin FC Season Ticket Members will receive a series of communications related to accessing tickets for the 2021 MLS regular season matches played at Q2 Stadium.

Austin FC Oak Collective Waitlist Members will also be informed about their opportunity to purchase single-match tickets.

More details about tickets for the USWNT friendly match vs. Nigeria on June 16, 2021, will be released by U.S. Soccer soon.

CONCACAF 2021 Gold Cup Semifinal to Take Place at Q2 Stadium

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Q2 Stadium, home of Austin FC, has been awarded a 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal match to take place in July 2021.

Gold Cup 2021 at Q2 Stadium

Following the announcement of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) exhibition match against Nigeria on Wednesday, June 16, Q2 Stadium will host Austin’s first-ever official men’s and women’s international soccer matches.

The 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup will feature 16 national teams, 12 of which have qualified via the 2019-20 CONCACAF Nations League. This includes the six-time champion U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) and 11-time champion Mexican Men’s National Team.

They will be joined by the 2019 AFC Asian Cup champions and 2022 FIFA World Cup host, Qatar, and three additional teams qualifying via the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup Qualifiers taking place on July 6, 2021.

The 2021 Gold Cup will officially kick off with a new Preliminary Round at DRV PNK Stadium. Twelve nations who qualified through CONCACAF Nations League will compete for the final three spots in the 16 team Gold Cup Group Stage. The Round One and Two matchups were drawn on September 10, 2020.

The current groups for the 2021 Gold Cup are outlined below:

  • Group A: Mexico, El Salvador, Curacao, and Winner Prelims 9
  • Group B: USA, Canada, Martinique, and Winner Prelims 7
  • Group C: Costa Rica, Jamaica, Suriname, and Winner Prelims 8
  • Group D: Honduras, Panama, Grenada, and Qatar

In a significant format development, all final group stage matches will be played concurrently. This will create an even more compelling spectacle as the teams compete to reach the knockout stage.

At the end of Group Stage play, the top two finishers in each group will advance to a knockout stage. The knockout stage will be played as follows:

  • Quarterfinal #1: Winner Group D vs Second Place Group A
  • Quarterfinal #4: Winner Group B vs Second Place Group C
  • Quarterfinal #2: Winner Group A vs Second Place Group D
  • Quarterfinal #3: Winner Group C vs Second Place Group B
  • Semifinal #1: Winner Quarterfinal #1 vs Winner Quarterfinal #4
  • Semifinal #2: Winner Quarterfinal #2 vs Winner Quarterfinal #3

Final: Winner Semifinal #1 vs Winner SF #2

CONCACAF has also announced the other dates and venues for the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of the 2021 Gold Cup with Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada to host the final match.

CONCACAF will announce the schedule, ticketing information, and other details in the coming weeks.

US Women’s National Team to Play First Match at Q2 Stadium on June 16

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The World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) will be playing in an exhibition match against Nigeria on Wednesday, June 16, at 8 PM CDT at Q2 Stadium.

USWNT at Q2 Stadium

The USWNT match versus Nigeria will be the first-ever match to be played at Q2 Stadium.

The match, which will be nationally televised on ESPN2, marks the debut of U.S. Soccer’s senior team in Austin, as neither the USWNT nor U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) has played a match here.

Three nights later on Saturday, June 19, Austin FC will play their MLS home opener against the San Jose Earthquakes at 8 PM CDT.

The June 16 match against Nigeria at Q2 Stadium will be the final USWNT international game before USWNT Head Coach Andonovski names the 18-player Olympic Team roster.

Ticket information for the June 16 match at Q2 Stadium will be released soon.