The opening weekend of the 2012 MLS season will feature a Canadian derby.
The Vancouver Whitecaps will host the Montreal Impact at BC Place on March 10 as part of MLS First Kick, the league announced on Tuesday, as bits and pieces of next season's schedule begin to be released.
MLS' first match to be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network will showcase FC Dallas and the New York Red Bulls at Pizza Hut Park in a rematch of the 2011 postseason wildcard round.
Colorado, D.C. United, Los Angeles, San Jose and Seattle will also be hosting games on the opening weekend, leaving Columbus, New England, Toronto, Chicago, Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City as their potential opponents.
Here are the nationally televised matchups for the season's opening weekend:
March 10 – Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Montreal Impact, 6 p.m., TSN
March 11 – FC Dallas vs. New York Red Bulls, 3 p.m., NBC Sports Network; Chivas USA vs. Houston Dynamo, 7 p.m., Galavision.
March 12 – Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN Deportes
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