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Just three months after Austin FC played in the Western Conference Finals — making it to the Final Four of Major League Soccer — the team will kick off its third season on Saturday at Q2 Stadium.

Driving the news: The Verde and Black play expansion team St. Louis City FC at 7:30pm.

The game is sold out but tickets are available on the secondary market.

Why it matters: Austin's only major league professional sports team was an instant box office success — selling out every game — and in its second season, it was a surprise success on the field.

Catch up quick: The offseason offered plenty of drama, with Claudio Reyna resigning as sporting director after he was embroiled in a controversy involving his son Gio Reyna and former U.S. men's national team coach Gregg Berhalter.

What's new: The club signed star attacking midfielder Sebastián Driussi to a contract extension through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026, and brought in several new players.

Among the biggest names: 31-year-old forward Gyasi Zardes, once a regular on the U.S. men's national team.

Another newcomer, Will Bruin, a veteran forward acquired from the Seattle Sounders, will join Zardes and returning players Driussi, Maxi Urruti and Diego Fagúndez as the biggest goal scoring threats.

New arrivals will shore up the defense: center back Leo Väisänen, left back Adam Lundkvist and center back Amro Tarek.

Yes, but: The team has lost defender Ruben Gabrielsen, who returned to his native Norway reportedly for personal reasons, and fan favorite Moussa Djitté, a striker who is on loan to AC Ajaccio, a Corsican team in the French Ligue 1.

Off the field: Austin FC's matches will be streamed exclusively on the Apple TV app starting this season.

The bottom line: Success brings sky-high expectations for Austin FC's third campaign.

Austin FC kicks off third season

The Verde and Black kick off their third season on Saturday.

Fans cheer on Austin FC in 2022. Photo: Sasha Haagensen/Getty Images for Heineken

Just three months after Austin FC played in the Western Conference Finals — making it to the Final Four of Major League Soccer — the team will kick off its third season on Saturday at Q2 Stadium.Driving the news: The Verde and Black play expansion team St. Louis City FC at 7:30pm.

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Q2 Stadium is within walking distance of five breweries, each with food trucks offering tacos (and a few other things).

Why it matters: It's less fun watching soccer on an empty stomach.

Details: Our favorite taco-beer combo is at Celis Brewery, located southeast of the stadium.

Head to the food truck Con Todo, serving made-from-scratch Rio Grande Valley-inspired tacos, located just outside the brewery's spacious outdoor seating area.

What we like: The chori-papa tostada — chorizo and diced potatoes enveloped in fried quesillo, sitting on a slather of guacamole atop a crispy homemade corn tortilla — and a bistec estilo Matamoros taco with green salsa.

We also love the seasonal veggie tacos. Earlier this week, the taco featured cubes of roasted carrots and peanuts that needed no salsa at all.

Wash it all down with a Pool Guy — a light and crisp Pilsner — or the brewery's trademark Celis White.

Don't feel like a taco? Try Hopsquad Brewing Co., straight east of the stadium, and order a fried empanada from Doughsquad, a food truck on the premises. We recommend El Sabroso, a spicy combo of chorizo, kale and manchego, served with a pesto made with pepitas.

Drink a Lord Zanate, a West Coast-style IPA, one of the brewery's best hoppy options.

You can also find an assortment of quesadillas and tacos at Botanita Los 3 Reyes.

Three more breweries near Q2 offer their own takes on tacos and beer:

Circle Brewing Co., El Norte: Northern Mexican-style tacos.

Oskar Blues, Daygos: San Diego-style tacos.

Austin Beerworks, Can-tina: We particularly like the carnitas and barbacoa.

Where to eat and drink before an Austin FC game

Q2 Stadium is walking distance of five breweries, each with food trucks offering tacos.

Tacos from food truck Con Todo, located at Celis Brewery near Q2 Stadium. Photo: Bob Gee/Axios

Q2 Stadium is within walking distance of five breweries, each with food trucks offering tacos (and a few other things).Why it matters: It&#x27;s less fun watching soccer on an empty stomach.

Bob Gee

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Austin FC kicks off third season

Where to eat and drink before an Austin FC game