The Huntsville City Football Club will make its Major League Soccer NEXT Pro debut Sunday at 2 p.m. at Crown Royal FC.

Crown Legacy FC is affiliated with MLS’s Charlotte Football Club.

“We’re really excited to have the schedule here,” Huntsville City FC coach Jack Collison said. “There’s been a lot of hard work that has been going on for the past couple of months behind the scenes both on and off the pitch. Now we can finally set our sights on that first game.”

Huntsville City FC will host an official watch party for the inaugural match at Yellowhammer Brewing’s tap room, the club’s official pub partner, on Sunday. Fans will be able to watch the match on a big screen on the patio and enjoy drink specials.

“Going to Crown Legacy we know is going to be a difficult challenge, they have made some really good signings in the offseason, but we’re going to go there full of confidence and looking forward to putting our best foot forward,” Collison said.

Huntsville City FC – affiliated with MLS’ Nashville Soccer Club – will start the season with seven road matches and a bye week before the home opener in newly renovated Joe Davis Stadium at 7 p.m. on May 19. That match will also be against Crown Royal FC.

“We want to get off to a good start,” Collison said. “We’re under no illusions it’s not going to be difficult on the road, because being on the road for the first seven games is obviously going to present certain challenges in itself. As a group it’s really going to test and stretch us, but it’s the challenge which we really crave both as players and as staff.”

All Huntsville City FC regular season matches will be available to watch live and on-demand on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. MLS Season Pass is the subscription service from Apple and Major League Soccer that is home to all MLS and Leagues Cup matches and hundreds of MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches.

Huntsville City went unbeaten during the preseason with three wins and three draws. It posted three consecutive victories while outscoring opponents 12-5. Azaad Liadi scored a hat trick in the preseason match against FC Cincinnati 2 on March 14.

Scott Turner reports from Huntsville for the Lede.