Photo by David Leah/ISIphotos.com
Between the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the European U-21 championships and the FIFA Women's World Cup there's plenty of international soccer to satisfy the soccer fan's craving, but one matchup this weekend that's not in any of those competitions will have everybody's attention, at least in North America.
The United States and Mexico will meet in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final Saturday night, with the winner securing regional bragging rights and a place in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. The two rivals have met in the last two Gold Cup finals, with the United States capturing the 2007 title with a 2-1 victory and Mexico taking the 2009 crown with a 5-0 win.
Aside from all of the international action, MLS is in full swing as well. San Jose and Los Angeles clash in a rivalry match; Sporting Kansas City and Vancouver meet for the first time since their wild 3-3 draw early in the season; and Chicago and New York square off in an Eastern Conference battle in some of the more intriguing matchups of the weekend.
Here is this weekend's soccer on TV:
THIS WEEKEND'S SOCCER ON TV
FRIDAY
6:45 p.m. – ESPN3.com/Galavision – Mexico vs. Netherlands (U-17 World Cup)
6:45 p.m. – ESPN3.com – Korea DPR vs. Congo (U-17 World Cup)
8 p.m. – Fox Soccer Channel – Wilmington Hammerheads vs. Charleston Battery
SATURDAY
2:30 p.m. – ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes – Spain vs. Switzerland (UEFA U-21 championships)
3:45 p.m. – ESPNU/ESPN3.com/Galavision – Uruguay vs. England (U-17 World Cup)
4 p.m. – ESPN3.com – Canada vs. Rwanda (U-17 World Cup)
5 p.m. – ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes – Colombia vs. Senegal (friendly)
5:30 p.m. – GOLTV – Flamengo vs. Atletico Mineiro
6 p.m. – Telefutura – D.C. United vs. Houston Dynamo
6:30 p.m. – Fox Soccer Channel – San Jose Earthquakes vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
6:45 p.m. – ESPNU/ESPN3.com – United States vs. New Zealand (U-17 World Cup)
7:30 p.m. – MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live – Philadelphia Union vs. Chivas USA
8:30 p.m. – MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live – FC Dallas vs. Portland Timbers
8:30 p.m. – MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live – Sporting Kansas City vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
9 p.m. – Fox Soccer Channel/Univision – United States vs. Mexico (Gold Cup final)
9 p.m. – MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live – Real Salt Lake vs. Toronto FC
SUNDAY
9 a.m. – ESPN2/ESPN3.com – Nigeria vs. France (Women's World Cup)
12 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN3.com/Galavision – Germany vs. Canada (Women's World Cup)
2 p.m. – ESPN/ESPN3/com/ESPN Deportes – Chicago Fire vs. New York Red Bulls
3 p.m. – GOLTV – Avai vs. Fluminense
4 p.m. – MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live – Seattle Sounders vs. New England Revolution
4 p.m. – ESPN3.com – Burkina Faso vs. Ecuador (U-17 World Cup)
4 p.m. – ESPN3.com/ESPNU – Panama vs. Germany (U-17 World Cup)
6:45 p.m. – ESPN3.com/Galavision – Ivory Coast vs. Brazil (U-17 World Cup)
6:45 p.m. – ESPN3.com – Australia vs. Denmark (U-17 World Cup)
8 p.m. – MLS Direct Kick/MatchDay Live – Columbus Crew vs. Colorado Rapids
thank god univision has it. I love watching USMNT at the gym. You’d be amazed at the number of people that will get involved in watching the game and start chatting about it. It’s my meager efforts at evangelizing the joys of watching USMNT. Though, all the near misses lead to audible gasps and I’ve had people working out nearby give me dirty looks for disrupting their workouts. Oh well.
Right on. Cherundolo should absolutely be the captain of this team.
I know the Timbers were on the front page of the NY Times today and everything else but… The fact that the final of our second-most important tournament is on an obscure channel is proof that soccer hasn’t made it in America yet. Wish ESPN had this.
Arg-URU
ARG-BRA
GER-ENG
JAP-KOR
I don’t want to jinx it, but I am confident the US will beat Mexico.
The United States plays its finest soccer when they’re the underdog, and they are coming in as clear underdogs.
The game will be intense. I challenge anyone to name one soccer rivalry in the world that is more a) evenly-matched, b) frequently played out, and c) played by 2 teams that frequent the World Cup. I can’t think of any. (Key word there is ‘evenly-matched’) This may be the finest soccer rivalry in the world right now.
What do you guys think?
Please comment.
For those of you with DIRECTV and Verizon FiOS, you might be able to witness a bit of history “en vivo”.
Sunday
1:55pm ET – River Plate vs Belgrano (Argentine Promotion/Relegation Playoff 2nd Leg) – TyC Sports USA
River Plate must erase a 2-0 deficit in order to avoid being “riBer Plate” with a capital “B” next season.
The 1st leg drew more viewers than Boca-River in the Argentina domestic market. The 2nd leg will break viewing records in Argentina.
Just give the guy the armband!
For me there’s really only one game this weekend.
Go USA!
Anybody think Cherundolo will make the Team of the Tournament? He was great at the WC and solid during the tournament. He needs to get better respect from the fans
I love the Brotherhood our boys have everytime they celebrate when someone has scored. Especially Dempsey. He shares it with the team