Austin FC, FC Dallas, and Houston Dynamo FC will wear a commemoration patch on their jerseys for their MLS Week 14 matches this weekend to mourn the victims of Tuesday’s tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. In their upcoming league encounter, the Houston Dash, the Dynamo’s sister team in the NWSL, will also take part.
In addition, each of the three Major League Soccer clubs is contributing to the Robb Elementary School Memorial Fund, which was established at First State Bank of Uvalde to help the victims, their families, and the Uvalde community.
The memory patch will be worn by the Dynamo against Real Salt Lake on Saturday (9:30 p.m. ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+). FC Dallas will wear their patches against Orlando City SC on Saturday night (7:30 p.m. ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+), while Austin will wear them against the LA Galaxy on Sunday.
“Uvalde holds a particular place in the heart of our club and our ownership group,” said Austin FC president Andy Loughnane. “While soccer may seem insignificant in the face of this tragedy, we believe that by banding together with FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo FC, and the Houston Dash, we can pay tribute to the victims and provide much-needed support to the community.
“We are all horrified by the horrible shooting in Uvalde,” said FC Dallas president Dan Hunt. “We are happy to join Austin FC, Houston Dynamo FC, and the Houston Dash in this effort, but this is much more than a Texas tragedy. Gun violence is a national problem, and it’s past time to put an end to these horrific acts.”
“For all of us, the awful events in Uvalde are the latest reminder of an enduring crisis plaguing our country,” said Ted Segal, majority owner of Houston Dynamo FC. “For the families of the children and teachers who died on Tuesday, however, it was a one-of-a-kind tragedy that will be felt for the rest of their lives.
“In an effort to provide some measure of consolation to the families, survivors, and the whole Uvalde community, our club stands with our counterparts in Austin and Dallas. Beyond our soccer teams’ efforts, we call on our political authorities to take significant action to remember the lives lost in Uvalde and other preventable shootings across the country.”
The Robb Elementary School Fund will benefit from Austin FC’s Verde Store roundup program during the month of June.
The FC Dallas Foundation will auction off FC Dallas’ game-worn and autographed jerseys, with revenues supporting the Robb Elementary Memorial Fund.
On the part of Houston Dynamo FC, Dynamo Charities, the team’s official 501 (c) (3) non-profit arm, will auction off the game-worn jerseys that the players will wear versus Real Salt Lake, with proceeds benefiting the Robb Elementary Memorial Fund.
