Dallas Trinity FC faces must-win game to end first season
Dallas Trinity FC could be on the brink of making the playoffs in their first season.
Why it matters: Dallas is becoming a hub for professional soccer, with the professional women's soccer team, FC Dallas and another men's team on the way.
The region is also preparing to host the FIFA Men's World Cup next year.
The latest: Dallas Trinity is fifth in the USL Super League, with 11 wins, seven draws and nine losses.
They face top-ranked Carolina Ascent FC at 7pm Saturday in Fair Park.
The must-win game marks the end of the regular season.
State of play: The team has steadily built a fanbase. Nearly 5,000 fans, on average, attend the home matches at the Cotton Bowl.
The upstart USL Super League rivals the National Women's Soccer League. The Dallas Trinity name and logo were rolled out last May, just a couple of months before the season kicked off in August.
The big picture: Dallas has the fifth strongest soccer economy among U.S. cities, per the latest ranking from the Sports Business Journal.
The ranking measures fan enthusiasm, venue development and brand investment. Youth soccer involvement plays a large role in the growth of the sport in the region.
Zoom in: Dallas Trinity officials regularly visit youth teams to drum up support for the team and the sport.
The players hang out after matches to sign autographs, and kids have the opportunity to meet the professionals and walk with them on the pitch.
What they're saying: The goal during next year's World Cup is to pitch the Dallas region as a possible host site for the 2031 Women's World Cup.
"It's very important for us to make sure that we show FIFA that Dallas embraces women's sports, women's soccer, and cares about all constituents within the community," Dallas Trinity founder and chief operating officer Trip Neil tells Axios.
Threat level: Dallas Trinity must win Saturday to advance to the playoffs. Dallas has won, lost and drawn in three meetings with Carolina.
Carolina and Tampa Bay Sun FC have already clinched a playoff berth.
Zoom out: Spokane Zephyr FC and Fort Lauderdale United FC are also in contention for the remaining two playoff spots.
Two semifinal matches start June 7, and the first-ever USL Super League Final is the weekend of June 14.
If you go: There is a pre-match concert before Saturday night's game and a fireworks show afterward for fan appreciation night.
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