HOUSTON (March 7, 2025) – Houston Dynamo 2 kick off their fourth MLS NEXT Pro season this Saturday, March 8 as they host Sporting Kansas City II under the leadership of new head coach Marcelo Santos.
The match is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT at SaberCats Stadium and you can claim free tickets to every Dynamo Dos home match at SaberCats Stadium via SeatGeek.
Dos looks to build on a 2024 campaign that saw them earn their third consecutive playoff appearance, while 14 Dynamo Academy players earn valuable minutes, with players born in 2007, 2008 and 2009 recording more minutes (6,828) than any team in MLS NEXT Pro.
Houston finished eighth in the Western Conference with 39 points and a 10-11-7 (WLD) record last season. The team clinched their spot in the playoffs on Decision Day, earning a 3-1 victory versus Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2. Dynamo 2 faced the third-seeded The Town FC in the opening round of the playoffs, where Houston narrowly fell 2-1 in a closely contested match.
Sporting KC II missed out on a postseason berth last season by just a point, finishing 10th in the Western Conference with 38 points and a record of 10-12-6 (WLD). Like Dynamo 2, Kansas will kick off their 2025 campaign with a new head coach of their own in Istvan Urbanyi.
Dynamo 2 leads the all-time series versus with a 4-3-1 (WLD) record versus Sporting KC II, with their most recent victory coming in August 2023 at SaberCats Stadium. Additionally, Saturday’s fixture will mark the second consecutive year that Dynamo Dos opens their regular season against Sporting KC II.
Dynamo 2 made two high-level offseason signings in Brazilian defender Felipe Andrade and goalkeeper Pedro Cruz, who will both train with the first team on a regular basis and feature regularly with Dynamo Dos during the 2025 season.
Houston’s 2025 roster sees the return of serval Dynamo Academy players, including defender Isaac Mwakutuya and forward Mattheo Dimareli, who both played pivotal roles throughout last season and during the final push for playoffs. The season will also see the return of midfield captain Diego Gonzalez, who delivered another breakout campaign in 2024 with six goals and 10 assists and a spot on the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Best XI. Other key players for this season include forward Andy Batioja and forward Jordy Burbano.
Notably, this offseason saw defender Obafemi Awodesu sign a first team contract, making him the sixth Dynamo 2 player to earn the call up with Houston following an impressive 2024 season.
Dynamo Dos next host in-state rivals North Texas SC on Sunday, March 23, at SaberCats Stadium, the first of three matchups this season.
