Red Bulls Head Back To Arizona For Pre-Season

While the Red Bulls are in negotiations discussing new contracts with three of their players, we already know what they will be doing when the month of February rolls in. They are heading back to Arizona for the pre-season.

Last year the Red Bulls went to the Diamond Desert Cup tournament in Tucson, but now with a new sponsor this year the Red Bulls will be attending the Mobile Mini Sun Cup from February 3rd thru the 24th.

Ten other MLS Sides will be joining the red bulls as the Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Los Angeles Galaxy, New England Revolution, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders, San Jose Earthquakes & Sporting Kansas City will be joined with the lone USL side in Phoenix Rising FC.

So it should be interesting to see if Bradley Wright-Phillips will face his brother former Red Bulls midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips if he will be available with the USL club and of course Didier Drogba who is a co-owner and player will get involved with these matches.

But as everyone is well aware of the Red Bulls will be involved for the second consecutive season in the CONCACAF Champions League as they will begin in the Round of 16 as their first leg will be on the dates between February 20th thru the 22nd on the road against an opponent from either Central America or the Caribbean.

The Sounders, FC Dallas, Toronto FC & the Rapids will share the same issues as the Red Bulls as they will be leaving early to fly south with the exception of the Rapids as they will host the first leg being placed in Pot 2 and could be drawn with either a Liga MX side or Toronto FC since they represent Canada.

So it’s going to be an interesting time back in the land of the desert when the Red Bulls will face MLS opponents or even the USL side Phoenix Rising, but hopefully more pre-season matches will be signed to get ready for CCL action in late February.