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:
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
