2013 looks set to be one of the busiest in memory for everyone in the North American soccer scene.
The soccer calendar is stuffed full of events and matches. The crucial "Hexagonal" World Cup qualifiers for CONCACAF teams are the most prominent, but there is also the 18th MLS season that kicks off in March, the U-20 World Cup in Turkey in June, and the launch of a brand new women's league.
Here's a rundown of the 2013 North American soccer calendar, with a few nods to the best of the global game. (NOTE: Dates and events are subject to change.)
Can Tijuana's Yanks repeat as Liga MX champions?
January 4: Liga MX Clausura 2013 season opens
January 6: FIFA Ballon d’Or announced
January 11-15: MLS Combine, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
January 17: MLS SuperDraft, Indianapolis, Indiana
January 18 – March 1: MLS Preseason
- Jan 29 – Feb 8: The Desert Friendlies (Tucson) — COL, HOU, NE, POR, SJ, SEA, SKC, FC Tucson
- Feb 9 – Feb 23: Disney Pro Soccer Classic (Orlando) — CLB, DC, MTL, PHI, SKC, TOR, Orlando City, Tampa Bay
- Feb 13 – Feb 23: Desert Diamond Cup (Tucson) — NE, NY, RSL, SEA
- Feb 16 – Feb 23: Carolina Challenge Cup — CHI, HOU, VAN, Charleston
- Feb 17 – Feb 23: Portland Timbers Tournament — DAL, POR, SJ, AIK
Portland's Bright Dike is hoping for a call up from Nigeria for the Cup of Nations.
January 19 – February 10: Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa
January 22: 2013 Copa Libertadores begins
January 26: International friendly
- Canada vs. Denmark, Tucson, Arizona
January 29: International friendly
- USA vs. Canada, Houston, Texas
February 6: CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying
February 18 – March 2: CONCACAF U-20 Championship, Puebla, Mexico
March 2: MLS season opens
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC-Toronto FC, Vancouver, BC
March 3: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, Madrid, Spain
March 5: CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, 1st leg
- Houston Dynamo-Santos Laguna, Houston, Texas
March 6: CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, 1st leg
- Tigres-Seattle Sounders, Monterrey, Mexico
How will Fredy Montero and the Sounders fare in the CCL knockout stage?
March 7: CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, 1st leg
- Herediano-LA Galaxy, Heredia, Costa Rica
March 8-14: Algarve Cup, Portugal
- US women’s national team participating
March 12: CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, 2nd leg
- Seattle Sounders-Tigres, Seattle, Washington
March 13: CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, 2nd leg
- Santos Laguna-Houston Dynamo, Torreon, Mexico
- LA Galaxy-Herediano, Carson, California
March 22: CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying
The US beat Mexico in their last visit to the Estadio Azteca. Can they do it again?
March 26: CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying
April: NASL and USL PRO open seasons
April: National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) opens inaugural season
April 2-4: CONCACAF Champions League semifinals, 1st leg
April 6-18: CONCACAF U-17 Championship, Panama
April 9-11: CONCACAF Champions League semifinals, 2nd leg
April 24: CONCACAF Champions League final, 1st leg
April 24: Amway Canadian Championship semifinals, 1st leg
May: US Open Cup begins for non-MLS teams (if 2012 scheduling holds)
May 1: CONCACAF Champions League final, 2nd leg
Where will Tim Howard and Everton finish in the EPL standings when all is said and done?
May 1: Amway Canadian Championship semifinals, 2nd leg
May 15: Amway Canadian Championship finals, 1st leg
May 19: Final matchday of the English Premier League season
May 25: 2013 UEFA Champions League final, London, United Kingdom
May 29: Amway Canadian Championship finals, 2nd leg
June: MLS teams enter US Open Cup in Round of 16 (if 2012 scheduling holds)
June 7: CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying
June 11: CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying
June 15-30: FIFA Confederations Cup, Brazil
June 18: CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying
June 21 – July 13: FIFA U-20 World Cup, Turkey
July 7-28: CONCACAF Gold Cup, USA
July 31: AT&T MLS All-Star Game - LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, Kansas City, KS
Late July: 2013 Copa Libertadores final
August: US Open Cup final (if 2012 scheduling holds)
September 6: CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying
The USMNT have not lost a home World Cup qualifier to Mexico since a 2-1 loss in Los Angeles in 1972.
September 10: CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying
September 18-28: FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Tahiti
October 11: CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying
October 15: CONCACAF 2014 World Cup qualifying
October 17 – November 8: FIFA U-17 World Cup, United Arab Emirates
November: MLS Playoffs
December: NCAA College Cup
- Dec. 6-8: Women’s, Cary, North Carolina
- Dec. 13-15: Men’s, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
December 6: Final draw for 2014 FIFA World Cup, Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
December 11-21: FIFA Club World Cup, Morocco
