There's no recorded data connecting Father Kino to the game of soccer.
But seeing as he was born in the soccer-fanatical country of Italy and spent a good portion of his life working in missions established by the Spanish, the current World Cup holders, you'd have to think he would appreciate the upcoming month of soccer offerings at the facilities that bear his name.
At least 18 top-level matches will be played at the Kino Sports Complex facilities over the next 30-plus days as part of the ever-expanding soccer spring in the Old Pueblo.
"It's exactly what we dreamed of and the hard work is coming to fruition," said Rick Schantz, a managing partner and coach of FC Tucson, which is coordinating all of the spring action.
Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City is set to start working out here Monday, and games will begin Saturday with the first-ever international match between national teams in Tucson.
People are also reading…
The national teams of Denmark and Canada will square off at Kino Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m.
One addition to the spring slate is the MLS Desert Friendlies - scrimmages involving MLS teams. They will begin with a tripleheader Jan. 29. Fans can see six MLS teams in one day at Kino Sports Complex North Field No. 5.
That field will remain busy with six more Desert Friendlies over the following 10 days, including a matchup between Northwest MLS rivals Portland and Seattle on Feb. 5.
"These Desert Friendlies … are kind of behind-the-scenes look at pro sports," Schantz said. "You can't get any closer to the field, and you're going to be there when these teams are playing controlled scrimmages.
"Field No. 5 will have a capacity of 1,680 (an increase of almost 1,000 over last summer). … There are two new sections on Field No. 5. They're on the north end next to the goal. They are right up against the endline. They're actually really cool."
The month will wrap up with the third annual Desert Diamond Cup. It will have the same format as last year, with four doubleheaders over 11 days that will pit four MLS teams against each other at Kino Stadium. The last twinbill, on Feb. 23, will have a third-place game and a final. The title game will be telecast live on the NBC Sports Network.
"The (MLS) teams are excited. They can't wait to get here," Schantz said.
Soccer month highlights
There will be 18 soccer matches at the Kino Sports Complex facilities over the next month (tickets: https://fctucson.ticketsocket.com). Some highlights:
• Saturday:, International friendly, Denmark vs. Canada, 1 p.m., Kino Stadium.
• Feb. 5: MLS Desert Friendly, Seattle vs. Portland, 11 a.m., Kino Sports Complex North Field No. 5.
• Feb. 13: Desert Diamond Cup opening doubleheader, New England vs. Seattle, 5 p.m.; New York vs. Real Salt Lake, 7 p.m., Kino Stadium.
• Feb. 23: Desert Diamond Cup final doubleheader, third-place match, 4 p.m., final, 6 p.m., Kino Stadium.
