1. THE ROAD TO RUSSIA
The US national team gets its 2018 World Cup Qualifying campaign underway on Friday with a home game against St. Vincent & the Grenadines (7 pm ET, ESPN2, UniMás, UDN). The match throws up some interesting questions: What formation will the US likely use? Will Miazga and Nagbe make their debuts? What does the US need to do to qualify for the Hex?
2. KNOW THY ENEMY
St. Vincent & the Grenadines are the USA's opponent and given their struggles, it seems the tiny Caribbean island, which has never won a competitive game at this level, is doing well just to be here. However, the nation has former MLS player Ezra Hendrickson working as an assistant, and the Seattle Sounders 2 boss is looking to help cause an upset.
3. CANADA'S TOUGH TEST
Canada face a tough test against Honduras Friday night (10 pm ET, TSN1) and while the game could mark Junior Hoilett's first competitive appearance for Canada, how far has the side come since their 8-1 mauling at the hands of the catrachos? Portland Timbers veteran Will Johnson, meanwhile, insists he's 100 percent ready to play.
4. BECKERMAN LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HIM
Even with all the new faces, the US national team are probably going to have to rely on their veterans in their opening two qualifiers. One of those will likely be Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman, the new MLS ironman. Find out what makes him tick in this in-depth feature which will show you a side of Beckerman you've never seen before.
5. THE REST OF CONCACAF
There are four other CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers tonight and while Mexico take on El Salvador, in a game that Juan Carlos Osorio's side are favorites to win, there is also Jamaica vs. Panama, Costa Rica vs. Haiti and Guatemala vs. Trinidad & Tobago. Previews for all of the matches can be found right here.
6. BIELLO HOLDS POSITIVE TALKS
It looks as though one of the two vacant MLS head coach positions could be getting closer to being filled, as Mauro Biello revealed that he has held "good discussions" with the Montreal Impact regarding the role he has occupied as an interim over the last few months.
7. SIGI'S STAYING PUT
The Seattle Sounders had news to share on Thursday at their annual Alliance Meeting, revealing that Adrian Hanauer is the club's new principal owner and that head coach Sigi Schmid will be returning in 2016. However, is the club looking to trade Osvaldo Alonso?
8. MOVES IN LA?
In his latest column, SI.com's Grant Wahl offered some interesting nuggets of information regarding the LA soccer scene. Firstly, that the LA Galaxy may find a way to keep both Omar Gonzalez and Gyasi Zardes, and secondly, that Galaxy star striker Robbie Keane could have a future as a coach ... for LAFC.
9. HENRY: VIEIRA JOINED THE WRONG TEAM
Patrick Vieira has done his first interview since being named New York City FC head coach, speaking exclusively to the club's media about the new opportunity. It seems the former French international has also received some well wishes from ex-teammate Thierry Henry, even though Henry thinks he went to the wrong team.
10. DONOVAN ON DEMPSEY
It seems Landon Donovan is keen to get into coaching, with the former LA Galaxy star claiming that he's starting to get the itch. As a player who himself was once famously excluded from the US national team ahead of the 2014 World Cup, Donovan also offered his thoughts on Clint Dempsey's omission from the latest US squad.
11. UNITED AND THE WHITECAPS RE-UP ON THEIR MIDFIELD
While the Vancouver Whitecaps' search for a better attack continues, the club has re-signed midfielder Matias Laba to a new contract, securing one important part of the team's core for next season at least. D.C. United meanwhile have also locked up midfielder Nick DeLeon to a new contract.
12. ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER RUMOR
Here's your latest batch of rumors: EPL side Bournemouth AFC have apparently been impressed by Bradley Wright-Phillips and want to sign the Red Bulls striker, while the San Jose Earthquakes find themselves linked with former player Simon Dawkins. Galatasaray are said to want David Villa on a five-month loan and Miroslav Klose is once again rumored to be making the move stateside .
13. TOP VENUES
Where are the top 100 soccer stadiums in the world? According to FourFourTwo magazine, five of them are in North America, and four of them are home to MLS teams.
14. THE MIAMI VISION
David Beckham's most recent visit to Miami may have seen him playing soccer as part of a documentary he's filming, but he also met with the county's school chief regarding his potential new stadium. Meanwhile, the newest member of his prospective MLS ownership group, Tim Leiweke, has penned a column for the Miami Herald on what he and the group envision for the future franchise.
15. A NEW KIND OF PITCH INVADER
Well, this is a new one: A game of youth soccer in the US recently had to be abandoned after the helicopter of New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris landed on the field to make a pick-up.
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