The U.S. soccer fan's 2009 almanac

Story Highlights

All the dates to watch in '09 for the U.S. soccer fan, both domestically and globally

U.S. faces Mexico twice, as well as Brazil, Italy and Egypt in Confederations Cup

Big year for MLS: Seattle's debut, Philly expansion draft, two more teams awarded

Clint Dempsey (8) and the U.S. get a rematch with 2006 World Cup champion Italy in their Confederations Cup opener on June 15.

Bob Martin/SI

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One of my New Year's resolutions was to shed some of my soccer geekiness. No more whole Saturdays spent watching the English Premier League in the morning, Spain's La Liga in the afternoon, MLS at night. No more work e-mails ignored in favor of reading the du Nord blog. No more surfing YouTube for videos of goals interred in my memory.

I pledged to do more cultural things, visit more museums, see more concerts, travel for pleasure, spend more time with the people I love. I promised myself I would take up a new hobby (metalworking, in case you're interested) and I would stick with it. After all, one should be resolute about his resolutions.

Then I found myself circling auspicious dates in the coming year (at least, metaphorically, as there isn't any way to "circle" a date on Mac's calendar program. Get on that, would you, Jobs?). Surprise, surprise: The dates were all soccer-related. I realized I was making a soccer fan's almanac.

Jan. 16: The day after the MLS SuperDraft. Unless you're the GM of a team or the father of a highly touted prospect, you're not going to watch the MLS draft live on TV. You have better things to do, like sorting your recycling bin, shopping for a new belt, or, um, working. Besides, it's not like you've ever heard of any of the players. So wait a day and read the morning-after analysis.

Jan. 31: Winter transfer window closes. This is the last day U.S. international Oguchi Onyewu can move away from Standard Liège and into a league that doesn't include teams like K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen.

Feb. 11: U.S. vs. Mexico in 2010 World Cup qualifying. Soccer's best rivalry -- and by that, I mean in the whole world -- re-ignites in Columbus, Ohio. If you're a fan of either team, you need to be there, even if you have to undertake a Planes, Trains, & Automobiles-style journey ("Those aren't pillows!").
*Extra time: Jennifer Aniston celebrates her 40th birthday on this day, so regardless of how your team does, you have something worth celebrating.

March 19: MLS season begins. Seattle Sounders FC will host the New York Red Bulls on national TV in the opener. Odds that it rains? Two-to-one. Odds that Freddy Ljungberg plays? Two-to-one.

May 27: UEFA Champions League final. A perfect excuse to skip out of work on a Wednesday afternoon and drink beer with singing Europeans. Like you needed another one.

May 30: FA Cup final. The way Brad Friedel's and his Aston Villa teammates are going this season right now, there's more than a decent chance we'll see an American in the final. If the Villans make it, Big Brad -- and his goalkeeping Mini-Me, Brad Guzan -- will be the first American(s) in the FA Cup final since Tim Howard won it with Manchester United in 2004.

June 15: U.S. vs. Italy, Confederations Cup group stage. This World Cup warm-up tournament, being held in South Africa, will tell us more about Bob Bradley's ability to coach in the big-time than anything else. Certainly more than a friendly against Sweden's B-team. First up: reigning World Champion Italy. Perfetto! I can't think of a better way for the Nats to demand the respect they deserve than to earn a result against the Azzurri. How badly do you think Pablo Mastroeni wants to play in this one?

June 18: U.S. vs. Brazil, Confederations Cup group stage. A possible rematch of the Jozy Altidore-Alexandre Pato contest from the '07 Under-20 World Cup. Altidore won that clash with two goals. Something tells me AC Milan's little duck might turn the tables this time.

June 21: Egypt vs. U.S., Confederations Cup group stage. Unfortunately, this is not the "gimme" some U.S. fans might think it is. I watched the Pharaohs at last year's African Cup of Nations, and they are awesome. Good luck, boys.
*Extra time: June 21 is Father's Day, so maybe Michael Bradley will deliver a special gift to his dad.

July 1 & 8: Copa Libertadores finals. We Americans, for some reason, are very Eurocentric when it comes to our soccer. Yet the best players in the world come from South America, and they tend to show up on South America's biggest stage a few years before they become stars in the Old World (See: Pato, AC Milan). The final series is often a controversial circus that makes wonderful entertainment.

July 21-26: U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships. I've never really been interested in saying "I saw them before they were stars." But maybe you are. The tournament, held this year in Lancaster, Mass., showcases the crème de la crème of American youth soccer.

Late July: MLS All-Star Game at Rio Tinto Stadium. Despite Real Salt Lake's "partnership" with Real Madrid, I'm predicting Barcelona will be the opponent. Most likely, MLS will grant its Miami expansion bid sometime in the next month or so, and this will be Barça's way of saying thanks. That and it will make sure to let the MLSers win.

Aug. 11: Mexico vs. U.S. in World Cup qualifying. The Estadio Azteca is one of the shrines of the game: the color, the wave, the 120,000 screaming Mexicans. If you can swing it, go. But buy yourself a green El Tri jersey first to disguise yourself, just in case the U.S. gets a result.

Sept. 1: Summer transfer window closes. Let's start up the rumor mill now: Marvell Wynne to Newcastle.

Mid-Fall: Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 released. I'm only guessing on this date, but it's usually released around this time, and when it is, video jocks around the world cry tears of joy onto their mustard-stained Manchester United replica jerseys.

Mid-November: MLS Cup final. Maybe the MLS honchos will hear that whisper on the wind that says the final should not be held in a neutral site but should be hosted by the higher-seeded team. Remember the 60,000 that showed up at Foxboro to watch the 2002 final between New England and Los Angeles?

A few days later: Expansion draft for Philadelphia Whatchamacallits. I'm putting money down right now that James Riley will be picked up in his third successive expansion draft.

January 2010: Second Annual American Soccer Fan's Almanac published.