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2013 North American Soccer Calendar: A busy year ahead

365 Days of Soccer: USA v. Mexico

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 the US national team 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.

2013 North American Soccer Calendar: A busy year ahead -

Can Tijuana's Yanks repeat as Liga MX champions?


January 4: Liga MX Clausura 2013 season opens


January 7: 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
2013 North American Soccer Calendar: A busy year ahead -

Portland's Bright Dike is hoping for a call up from Nigeria for the Cup of Nations.


January 18-27: Copa Centroamericana, Costa Rica


January 19 – February 10: Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa


January 23: 2013 Copa Libertadores begins


January 26: International friendly


  • Canada vs. Denmark, Tucson, Arizona


January 29: International friendly


  • USA vs. Canada, Houston, Texas


January 30: International friendly


  • Mexico-Denmark, Glendale, Arizona


February 6: 2014 World Cup qualifying


  • Honduras-USA, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
  • Mexico-Jamaica, Mexico City, Mexico
  • Panama-Costa Rica, Panama City, Panama
2013 North American Soccer Calendar: A busy year ahead -

Can Jurgen Klinsmann qualify the USMNT into the 2014 World Cup?


February 9: International Friendly


  • US women’s national team vs. Scotland, Jacksonville, Florida


February 13: International Friendly


  • US women’s national team vs. Scotland, Nashville, Tennessee


February 18 – March 2: CONCACAF U-20 Championship, Puebla, Mexico


March 2-3: MLS season opens


March 3: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, Madrid, Spain


March 5: 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, 1st leg


  • Houston Dynamo-Santos Laguna, Houston, Texas


March 6: 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, 1st leg


  • Tigres-Seattle Sounders, Monterrey, Mexico
2013 North American Soccer Calendar: A busy year ahead -

How will Fredy Montero and the Sounders fare in the CCL knockout stage?


March 7: 2012-13 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: 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, 2nd leg


  • Seattle Sounders-Tigres, Seattle, Washington


March 13: 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, 2nd leg


  • Santos Laguna-Houston Dynamo, Torreon, Mexico
  • LA Galaxy-Herediano, Carson, California


March 22: 2014 World Cup qualifying


  • USA-Costa Rica, location TBD
  • Honduras-Mexico, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
  • Jamaica-Panama, Kingston, Jamaica
2013 North American Soccer Calendar: A busy year ahead -

The US beat Mexico in their last visit to the Estadio Azteca. Can they do it again?


March 26: 2014 World Cup qualifying


  • Mexico-USA, Mexico City, Mexico
  • Costa Rica-Jamaica, location TBD
  • Panama-Honduras, Panama City, Panama


April: NASL and USL PRO open seasons


April: National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) opens inaugural season


April 2-4: 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League semifinals, 1st leg


April 5: International Friendly


  • US women’s national team vs. Germany, location TBD


April 6-18: CONCACAF U-17 Championship, Panama


April 9-11: 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League semifinals, 2nd leg


April 24: 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League final, 1st leg


May: US Open Cup begins for non-MLS teams (if 2012 scheduling holds)


May 1: 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League final, 2nd leg

2013 North American Soccer Calendar: A busy year ahead -

Where will Tim Howard and Everton finish in the EPL standings when all is said and done?


May 19: Final matchday of the English Premier League season


May 25: 2013 UEFA Champions League final, London, United Kingdom


June: MLS teams enter US Open Cup in Round of 16 (if 2012 scheduling holds)


June 4: 2014 World Cup qualifying


  • Jamaica-Mexico, Kingston, Jamaica


June 7: 2014 World Cup qualifying


  • Jamaica-USA, Kingston, Jamaica
  • Costa Rica-Honduras, location TBD
  • Panama-Mexico, Panama City, Panama


June 11: 2014 World Cup qualifying


  • USA-Panama, location TBD
  • Honduras-Jamaica, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
  • Mexico-Costa Rica, Mexico City, Mexico


June 15-30: FIFA Confederations Cup, Brazil


June 18: 2014 World Cup qualifying


  • USA-Honduras, location TBD
  • Costa Rica-Panama, location TBD


June 21 – July 13: FIFA U-20 World Cup, Turkey


July 7-28: CONCACAF Gold Cup, USA


Late July: AT&T MLS All-Star Game


Late July: 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League begins


Late July: 2013 Copa Libertadores final


August: US Open Cup final (if 2012 scheduling holds)


September 6: 2014 World Cup qualifying


  • Costa Rica-USA, location TBD
  • Mexico-Honduras, Mexico City, Mexico
  • Panama-Jamaica, Panama City, Panama
2013 North American Soccer Calendar: A busy year ahead -

The USMNT have not lost a home World Cup qualifier to Mexico since a 2-1 loss in Los Angeles in 1972.


September 10: 2014 World Cup qualifying


  • USA-Mexico, location TBD
  • Honduras-Panama, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
  • Jamaica-Costa Rica, Kingston, Jamaica


September 18-28: FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Tahiti


October 11: 2014 World Cup qualifying


  • USA-Jamaica, location TBD
  • Mexico-Panama, Mexico City, Mexico
  • Honduras-Costa Rica, San Pedro Sula, Honduras


October 15: 2014 World Cup qualifying


  • Panama-USA, Panama City, Panama
  • Costa Rica-Mexico, location TBD
  • Jamaica-Honduras, Kingston, Jamaica


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