In a bold trade with Toronto FC, the New England Revolution have attained the No. 1 overall selection in the the MLS SuperDraft. 

The official website for the Revolution reported the news, and added that the Revolution gave up the fourth overall selection and an amount of cash that was not identified. 

It is a nice coup for the Revolution to make this kind of jump in the draft order without having to give up extra picks. 

The draft is on Thursday at the Indiana Convention Center. ESPN's SportsCenter will televise the first pick at 12 p.m. ET. 

This is the first time in the 18-year history of the draft that the Revolution will make the first selection, and they will undoubtedly be hoping for the kind of success they found when they made their previous highest selection. 

That came in the 2002 draft, when they selected second overall and took Taylor Twellman, who went on to become the club's all-time leading scorer. 

With the No. 1 selection, the Revolution can't afford to do anything but take the best player available. 

In this case, Andrew Farrell, a defender from Louisville, appears to be the smart choice. 

The Revolution have had good success drafting defenders, and Farrell appears to be a can't-miss prospect. 

He is athletically gifted, able to play multiple positions and reportedly has a great attitude. SI.com's Tanner Ives reports that Farrell has done nothing but impress at the MLS combine. 

He is not only shining with his ability—in a scrimmage he drilled a 40-yard pass through defenders and right to the foot of his teammate for an easy goal—but also with his attitude.

Ives reports that his "humility and coachability" are also catching everyone's attention.  

At this point, it would be a surprise if the Revolution went anywhere else with this selection. 

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With the MLS SuperDraft tomorrow, it's time to look at which drafted players will shine the brightest in the professional ranks.

Below are just a few players who can make a difference in the MLS.

Ryan Hollingshead, MF, UCLA

Ryan Hollingshead was the 2012 Pac-12 Player of the Year after scoring three game-winning goals and leading the great Bruins team in points. He finished third in the conference in points.

The true senior excelled in both phases of the game and will add tremendous value to whichever team selects him.

Kofi Opare, D, Michigan

Kofi Opare is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. Playing at Michigan, that could come in handy. More importantly, though, he was a key member of the U-20 USA team.

His improvement as a collegiate player is evidenced by his increased impact at the offensive end throughout his career. At 6’2”, 200 lbs. he possesses the size to compete at the MLS level. His experience will no doubt come in handy as a rookie.

Carlos Alvarez, MF, UCONN

Alvarez is expected to be drafted with the second pick by Chivas USA, as intimated by Kyle McCarthy here. Players selected second in any sport are expected to make an immediate impact.

That can be rightfully said of Alvarez, who is an excellent defender when playing in the right system. McCarthy points out questions of Alvarez and his abilities. They should not be overlooked, but can be explained away by noting what some scouts say: “playmaker,” “great vision,” “good passer” and my favorite, “has a pro mentality.”

James Belshaw, GK, Duke

James Belshaw is a 6'3" goalkeeper from Nottingham, England. His nationality should not be pushed aside, as it is the primary reason he was able to secure training sessions with British clubs. 

Though some scouts question elements of his game, he is the most solid and ready-to-go keeper available in the draft. As a result, he will likely start from Day 1 for whichever team selects him. 

Ashton Bennett, F, Coastal Carolina 

Few players put up the kind of numbers Ashton Bennett did in his two years at Coastal Carolina, after he transferred from Cincinnati State Technical College. As a junior, he registered 23 goals (first in the nation) and seven assists. 

As a senior, Bennett's scoring dropped to 16 goals, but his assists increased to nine. His team found their way to the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament as a result of Bennett's efforts. 

A natural scorer, Bennett will provide some explosive punch from the beginning for some lucky team. 

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The MLS schedule is always a topic of conversation upon its release. But forget Rivalry Week, adopting an international calendar seems to be the only matter worth discussion.

For some, MLS has been justifiably scrutinized from this particular perspective: A series of unique decisions have impeded the league’s credibility internationally.

There is no single table. A playoff system determines its champion, and all 19 teams must carefully operate under a salary cap.

These are the decisions the football elitists have scoffed at for 17 years.

The decision to operate from March to December—as opposed to August through May—is just the latest installment of tiresome vitriol aimed at MLS’ direction. 

Now, the skeptics do provide rational consequences of a non-international calendar. 

Fox Soccer analyst Eric Wynalda shared his position on MLS’ unique schedule at a National Soccer Coaches Association of America forum last year:

“They made a big spiel, man. They said, ‘This is a business. Major League Soccer is a business.’ Okay, last summer, $2.2 billion dollars was spent in six weeks in the transfer market. Our inclusion in that was negative $11.4 [million], because our schedule doesn’t fit in with the rest of the world.”

Of course, a non-international calendar has more than financial implications. 

FIFA President Sepp Blatter reverberated his concerns in an interview with Fox Soccer. The always-entertaining, unscrupulous president believes it is in MLS’ “best interest” to align itself with Europe’s schedule.

Naturally, in the same interview, Blatter highlighted how out of touch with reality he truly is. His apprehensive remarks about MLS’ unique schedule is a bit outdated to say the least:

“(MLS teams) have to play in summer because they are using the stadia of American football. And when they have their own stadium, they can change the calendar- they have to change the calendar.”

But take no notice of the blathering from a corrupt president for a moment. 

Forget that there are already 13 soccer-specific stadiums in MLS and give credence to the drawbacks of a spring-to-fall season. 

According to MLS, by placing most of the matches on holidays or weekends, "none will overlap directly with World Cup qualifying matches."

True, there are no matches taking place on March 22 when Costa Rica visits Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. But there are seven scheduled matches the following day. 

That may prove to be inconsequential with a majority of the national team composed of American talent playing overseas. But there are 21 MLS players in Jürgen Klinsmann’s January camp. 

According to Klinsmann, as many as eight of them can expect to make the trip to Honduras on Feb. 6.

Can MLS afford to coordinate meaningful matches with players away on international duty? What about the Honduran, Jamaican and Costa Rican internationals in MLS that will be away at qualifiers as well?

These are the concerns facing MLS’ future. These “constraints” will keep it from developing into a top-tier league.

But what skeptics fail to realize is that MLS must make an indentation on a crowded American sports market first.

That is the unique circumstance MLS faces. That is what MLS’ unique schedule will allow it to do.

Adopting the international calendar at this current time would pit MLS in direct competition with the entire NFL and NBA season. Other top-tier European leagues with broadcasting rights in America would be an additional stumbling block for MLS’ viewership. 

This would create adverse effects on MLS’ ability to grow. 

NFL television ratings fell 2.1 percent in 2012. But it still averaged 18.3 million viewers across all networks.

The NBA saw a spike in television viewership in 2012. Coverage of the NBA on TNT drew a 21 percent increase from 2011. Coverage on ABC and ESPN saw a nine and six percent increase, respectively. 

MLS cannot yet afford to be in direct competition for more than half of its season with two leagues already dominating the airwaves.

It must limit the dominant competition for viewership and attendance to one—the NBA.

MLS has already surpassed the NBA with average attendance. But the money in sports is in the television contract.

At this moment, MLS can only aspire to obtain the NBA’s average viewership.

By starting in March, MLS’ additional competition for viewership is beatable. 

The NHL just finished its third lockout in twenty years and is coming off its worst-rated Stanley Cup Final since 2007.

The MLB regular season has seen a steady decline in average viewership across all broadcasting networks since 2003.

The NHL and MLB are trending downward. MLS is not.

MLS must first prove it can dominate in a less-crowded time frame. With the buzz that is created with the start of any season in American sports, it can carry that momentum into November.

But mother nature also has a say in the non-international calendar issue.

A fall-to-spring season permits MLS to avoid playing in the months of December, January and February—the three-worst winter months in an American calendar year.

Let us not forget the “winter wonderland” that was the Eastern Conference semifinal between the New York Red Bulls and DC United.

And that was only November. 

Many have argued that MLS could take a winter break like other European leagues to avoid wintry conditions. But can MLS afford to take as many as nine weeks off in the middle of a season?

Consider this: Americans don’t understand the concept of vacation. 

Of all the industrial nations in the world, America averages the least amount of vacation days in a calendar year.

In 2012, that average fell from 14 days to 12. Compare that to the 25 to 30 days most European nations average in a calendar year.

MLS does not yet boast the clout to disappear for a two month period and return to finish its schedule. 

It would be the only American league with a “break” in the middle of its season. And if the average American hardly takes any vacation time, don’t expect them to consent to their athletes doing otherwise. 

Not in the middle of the season.

True, eventually MLS will have to adopt the international calendar in order to elevate its status. 

But not yet.

Respite from forcing MLS to adopt the European blueprint after only 17 years of existence. 

An international calendar may be in MLS' future, but a brighter future must be secured first.

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC

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I was wrong.

Back in August, I wrote a piece about Lance Armstrong and Sporting KC and said, at the time, Armstrong's troubles didn't affect the club. Boy, was I wrong.

On Tuesday, both the Livestrong Foundation and Sporting Kansas City moved to terminate the naming rights deal announced on March 8, 2011, but their stated reasons were different.

According to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com, the foundation claims Sporting KC still owes them $750,000 of the $1 million it was set to donate in 2012 under the terms of the agreement.

Livestrong CFO Greg Lee says the team wasn't living up to its end of the deal:

While we don't talk about the specifics related to any of our partners, part of my role as the chief financial officer is to ensure compliance by our corporate partners. We strive to be great partners ourselves and expect the same from those we do business with. If a partner is struggling to meet the terms of our agreement, we do everything possible to reach a fair and reasonable compromise. If no compromise can be reached, as good stewards or our brand and mission, we have no choice but to bring that agreement to an end.

In a statement released online, Sporting Club CEO Robb Heineman said the team had been persevering the persistent questions from the fans and the media:

Throughout this entire period, we have staunchly defended the Livestrong mission and never wavered in our continuing support of the cause. Our plan was that through collaborative support from Livestrong, we would not just meet our stated donation goal, but exceed it by a wide margin. We were excited about the potential to engage with other foundation partners and bring new special events to Kansas City.

Heineman went on to say that over the past year, it had become clear to the team that Livestrong just wasn't that into it, despite everything that the team had done to defend the partnership.

Not being unrealistic, Heineman said they realized that this could be a rough time for the foundation. "Despite the distractions, leadership from Livestrong and Sporting Club were actively engaged in discussions to redefine expectations for both parties," Heineman said. "Based on assurances from key Livestrong leadership, we believed this ongoing dialogue was very positive."

Heineman said that things came to a head this morning when Livestrong started "using aggressive tactics" to force the club to agree to an arrangement that was a lot more lopsided than the club would like.

Its "faith and trust" with the Livestrong Foundation damaged beyond repair, Heineman said that the team was terminating the deal, effective immediately. The stadium will now be referred to as Sporting Park.

One of the reasons the team had partnered with Livestrong in the first place, several people with the team had friends or relatives who had fought their own battles with cancer. Heineman ended the statement by saying, "While we are ending this relationship, our support of the fight against cancer will endure. We look forward to introducing new initiatives to assist these efforts in Kansas City."

My Take

I wanted to believe Armstrong was telling the truth, that he was clean. As Robin Williams said in his 2002 live show on Broadway, when referring to the French accusing his friend of being on drugs, "It's chemotherapy, you (expletive)."

I also have two friends who've died from breast cancer. Even shaved my head for one of them. Liked it so much that I kept it like that for four years.

Now, though, I've opened my eyes and seen what Armstrong really is. He's an arrogant liar, someone so obsessed with protecting his "brand" that he would do and say anything to keep a hold of it.

The ripples just keep spreading. I saw on the crawl on the bottom of the screen on ESPN that if the International Cycling Union, who always insisted that Armstrong hadn't ever failed a drug test, is found to have covered up suspicious samples from Armstrong, cycling could get kicked out of the Olympics.

The number of people who've been adversely affected by Armstrong's actions continues to grow. I feel sorry for them.

As for the dispute between Livestrong and Sporting KC, I will side with the team. It has nothing to do with the fact that I've been a fan of the club since its inception in 1996.

It has everything to do with the fact that, like a lot of fans, I'm acquainted with Heineman. He's a stand-up guy. I'll believe anything he says before I'll believe what Livestrong has to say.

How angry am I with Livestrong? I'm considering cutting the yellow bracelet off of my wrist. My mom said I should wait and hear what Armstrong has to say in his interview with Oprah Winfrey.

I don't know there's anything he can say to change my mind. As far as I'm concerned, he needs to be relegated to the dustbin of history and forgotten. I can think of no better punishment for that egomaniac than to have people say, "Lance who?"

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No, the MLS SuperDraft doesn't come with the sort of hype that surrounds the NFL or NBA version. Heck, even the MLB and NHL drafts are fully televised. With Europe in the midst of the January transfer window, the MLS SuperDraft even gets overshadowed by its own sport.

But hey, we’re not going to ignore it here, folks. If you were looking for ways to watch the event, wanted to see the draft order or even were hoping to brush up on a few of the top prospects, we’ve got you covered.

No, Andrew Farrell may never move the needle as much as, say, Andrew Luck, but he could make Toronto FC fans very happy if he ends up being the top pick. That’s all that really matters, right?

Where: Indianapolis, Ind.

When: Thursday, Jan. 17 at noon ET

Watch: OK, this is where things get interesting. You can watch the very first pick live on the ESPN SportsCenter at noon ET. After that, it's time to stream—the rest of the draft will be broadcast on ESPN3, ESPNFC, MLSsoccer.com and YouTube, as well as individual team sites.

Got all that? If not, all the viewing information you need can be found here.

Draft Order

Top Prospects

Louisville defender Andrew Farrell has been considered the favorite to be selected first overall by Toronto FC, though that's not guaranteed. 

However, one thing that is a sure thing is that attacking midfielder Carlos Alvarez from UConn is likely to be selected second overall (if he's available) by Chivas USA. How do I know?

Oh, I suppose it's because José Luis Sánchez Solá, or "El Chelís" as he's known, said as much (via Simon Borg of MLSSoccer.com):

In a Monday afternoon interview with FutbolMLS.com at the MLS coaches' hotel here, Chelís revealed the name of the player he will select with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday (noon ET, MLSsoccer.com, ESPN3.com, YouTube.com).

"Alvarez," he said when asked which player he was planning to take with Chivas USA's only selection in the SuperDraft. The last name belongs to the 2012 Big East Midfielder of the Year, Carlos Alvarez.

There you have it, folks.

Furman center-back Walker Zimmerman was ranked as FOX Soccer's top prospect, and the site also had forward Jason Johnson from Virginia Commonwealth ranked ahead of Farrell.

Notre Dame's Ryan Finley (forward) and Dillon Powers (midfielder) are also highly regarded, as is Botson College midfielder Kyle Bekker and North Carolina midfielder Mikey Lopez.

With two of the first three picks, Toronto FC will have its pick of the prospect litter. There may not be a consensus top selection, but there are plenty of talented players to go around.

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Sporting Kansas City's league-leading defense features the 2012 MLS Defender of the Year in Matt Besler and Goalkeeper of the Year in Jimmy Nielsen. Defender Aurelien Collin was also voted to the MLS Best XI.

While Besler, Collin and Nielsen rightfully garner a lot of the attention surrounding a season where the team allowed a league low 27 goals, a GAA of 0.79, they weren't the only people standing between MLS offenses and the back of the net.

Defender Seth Sinovic is part of Sporting KC's homegrown contingent, one of six players on the roster from the Kansas City metropolitan area. The Rockhurst High School graduate signed with the club in May 2011 after spending the 2010 season with the New England Revolution.

Sinovic made his club debut on May 25, 2011, in a 5-0 win over the Revolution in a US Open Cup qualifier. With starting left-back Roger Espinoza getting ready to leave for a month for duty with the Honduran national team, the club needed to find someone to hold down the fort, so to speak.

Sinovic said at the time he felt comfortable going out there after having played with the Revolution:

Obviously losing Roger is a huge deal for us. He's a World Cup-caliber player with Honduras. It (the experience) is something that I can really call on. I played quite a few games last year and kind of know what to expect each and every game out of a starter ... I definitely feel comfortable going out there.

How well did Sinovic do? When Espinoza returned, manager Peter Vermes kept Sinovic where he was and pushed Espinoza up into the midfield. Espinoza is no slouch, either. He just signed with Wigan Athletic on a free transfer.

Sinovic ended up making 20 starts in the regular season and became a fan-favorite by the end of the season. Helping the club run off a 14-match unbeaten streak didn't hurt matters any.

Just how important Sinovic had become to the team became apparent after he was selected by the Montreal Impact in the expansion draft. To re-acquire Sinovic, Vermes dealt team captain and longest-tenured player Davy Arnaud to Montreal for Sinovic and allocation money.

Why am I telling you all this? Simply put, this is stuff you probably wouldn't know if you weren't a fan of the club because Sinovic is one of those guys that simply goes to work and gets the job done without drawing a lot of attention to himself.

Sinovic has the speed required of all Sporting KC players, which is good because it allows him to get forward and participate in the club's high-pressure attack. This goal against Houston in the 2012 playoffs is a good example of what that speed allows him to do.

When the clip starts, Sinovic is the player at the top of the frame.

Sinovic is more dependable than anything else. He is more like a Chevy Malibu than a BMW—not flashy but gets the job done.

Sinovic is also pretty tough. While playing with his right hand in a cast, he went over the LED signboards at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, his left hand out to try to catch himself. When he came back up, you could see the blood coming from the cut it took 20 stitches to close.

If you're a little squeamish, you might not want to watch this.

Upon his return to action, a small banner had been made depicting Sinovic as MegaMan.

Some of you will probably think I'm biased in favor of Sporting KC players since it's the team I cover on a regular basis. That may be true, but I thought I would shine a spotlight on a player who doesn't get a whole lot of attention, but definitely deserves it.

Have someone you think is more underrated than Seth Sinovic? Let me know in the comments and I'll be happy to take a look and I just might change my mind.

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It's time to shine those soccer cleats, Kansas City.

In a press conference at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park (LSP) on Thursday afternoon, MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced the 2013 All-Star Game will be held in Kansas City. The game will be played at 7:30 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, July 31.

Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes will coach the MLS squad against an opponent to be announced at a later date.

It wasn't exactly a surprise, though. It's not that anyone from the league or the team said anything. Ticketmaster, on the other hand, went live with a page listing tickets for sale on Wednesday. I can't imagine Garber was very happy about it.

This game is a big deal for the team and the city. As with the MLB All-Star Game last year, MLS is helping shine a spotlight on Kansas City. While the television viewership won't be as big, there is still a significant audience for the game and an equally significant opportunity to further prove, as Kansas City, KS mayor Joe Reardon said during the press conference, that Kansas City is a soccer town.

Ask anyone who has attended a game at LSP and they will all tell you the same thing. The atmosphere for a game there is absolutely electric.

I have attended almost every game LSP has held in its first two seasons and I can say, without question, it is the best soccer-specific stadium in the country.

Don't believe me? During the media availability for the Gold Cup in 2011, Juan Agudelo told us that LSP was as good or better than Red Bull Arena, his home stadium at the time. Sacha Kljestan said it should be the new national stadium.

So, Kansas City, get ready. The soccer world is coming to town... again.

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MLS transfers create a stir when it surrounds the big-name, international star. But it befits MLS to try to bring back some of those iconic, top American players instead.

With Landon Donovan’s possible retirement looming, MLS can ill afford to be without that elite American talent—one who has excelled at both the club and international level. 

MLS has benefited from housing international stars. Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane and David Beckham have all helped elevate the standing of the league. 

MLS has even been able to develop young American talent like Omar Gonzalez, Dax McCarty and Will Bruin to further increase its reputation.

But there’s nothing like a “golden boy.” 

Nothing imbues the American population more than an elite American talent dominating in front of an American crowd.

That is what MLS had with Donovan. That is what MLS will lack if it fails to replace him (should he retire).

Now, no credible journalist would suggest that Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey immediately depart Europe to rejoin MLS.

That’s a risible proclamation. 

Bradley and Dempsey have each spent part of their careers in MLS. But both are currently in a good run of form at top-flight European clubs.

Dempsey currently finds himself in the first year of a reported three-year, $22.2 million contract with Tottenham Hotspur. 

It may have been a shaky start with Spurs, but Dempsey has been in scorching form lately. His brace this past weekend dictates the need for increased playing time.

Not to mention, with 39 points, Tottenham finds itself in the position to secure a spot in next year’s UEFA Champions League. According to Fulham manager Martin Jol, it’s an opportunity Dempsey has been yearning for.  

Like Dempsey, Bradley too finds himself in the first year of his contract. The four-year, $3.9 million contract he signed with AS Roma should keep the 25-year-old midfielder with the club for the foreseeable future. 

There is no plausible scenario that sees either Dempsey or Bradley back in MLS any time soon.

So, the question is: Which top American player should MLS target?

Last month, rumors swirled about the possibility of Mix Diskerud signing with the Portland Timbers:

Mix to #MLS? His dad/agent confirms contact with Portland's Porter. ow.ly/g8ULr

But according to Portland owner Merritt Paulson, that deal has appeared to falter:

Always disappointing when deals that were done fall apart. Crazy biz but that's the biz we are in. Next option may make more sense anyway.

Even if the signing did come to fruition, Diskerud does not boast the standing of a Landon Donovan. 

Diskerud’s transfer would have been stellar in the eyes of soccer purists. But a move of that magnitude would fail to create a buzz amongst the casual soccer fans in America.

What MLS needs is a reputable name. MLS needs a talent that has proven his worth in Europe and with the national team. 

What MLS needs is Tim Howard.

To some, a goalkeeper is not the most exciting position. A world-class save does not create the same level of excitement as consistent goal scoring.

But tell that to the fans of Íker Casillas, Gigi Buffon and Hope Solo.

Nick Rimando’s performance in last year's playoffs gives prominence to how much excitement a world-class keeper can bring to a match.

Besides, Howard is more than just a goalkeeper. He is an icon in the eyes of American soccer fans.

He fits the criteria of a top American player MLS needs to bring back.

The New Jersey native spent five years with the Metrostars (1998-2003) before being transferred to Manchester United in 2004.

An initial loan in 2006 to Everton has turned into 200-plus appearances with the Toffees. He is currently in the first year of a new four-year deal.

What separates Howard as a plausible scenario for MLS is one of accomplishment.

Howard’s achievements at both the club and international level is far beyond that of Dempsey and Bradley.

He has nothing more to prove overseas, so it would not be to the detriment of his career should he depart from the Premier League. 

Bradley and Dempsey, however, do not share the same luxury. Both have the opportunity to match or surpass Howard’s achievements, as they are entering the prime of their careers.

Howard is not. 

The 33-year-old keeper—though still effective in goal—has seen better days.

As his scouting report on americansoccernow.com states, he is “not the superhuman shot stopper he once was, and he struggles occasionally on crosses and set pieces.”

Howard has even hinted at a possible return to MLS in a Fox Soccer Exclusive last year:

"There’s been some fun fans that I’ve watched over the years and I’ve had the chance to talk to people in MLS about the league and I just think there’s so many positives to coming back to MLS and playing. Seeing Kasey [Keller], who was my mentor, have so much success and go to a franchise that is so put together, makes me think there is a lot to offer."

The Hexagonal is set to start, so Howard has other pressing matters to be concerned with. But come next January, there is no reason MLS should not mount an aggressive campaign to bring Howard home.

At 34, he would still have a lot to offer MLS teams.

Until then, fingers across America should be crossed in hopes that Donovan returns in 2013.

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC

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Dear Mr. Blatter:

It is hoped that you will read this open letter, as the reason for my letter is due to some comments you made on New Year's Eve about the MLS and World Football in America.

In an interview with world TV station Al Jazeera, you ended 2012 by criticizing Major League Soccer (MLS) and United States Soccer in general. You said that football has not left an impact on America in spite of the 1994 World Cup.

While respecting you and the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), criticism of the MLS and football in the USA is unwarranted.

The reasons are many, but the following will suffice.

Cascadia Cup

Before talking about the Cascadia Cup, the definition of Cascadia is in order. Cascadia is the region which includes British Columbia (Canada), Washington State (USA) and Oregon (USA).

The Cascadia Cup includes the Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps. It has been played every year with the three clubs that belong to the MLS.

One of the matches of the Cascadia Cup was between Seattle and Portland on October 7, 2012. The venue was at CenturyLink Field located at Seattle, Washington.

The stadium was filled with 66,452 fans of both teams.While Seattle defeated Portland in this match, the real winner was the MLS and football in the USA.

FC Barcelona vs Chivas of Guadalajara 2011

FC Barcelona and Chivas of Guadalajara faced each other at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida. The event occurred in the summer of 2011.

The match was part of the series called the Herbalife World Football Challenge. It was an honor and a pleasure to attend the match.

While Chivas of Guadalajara defeated Barca, the winner was football in America. The match was attended by 70,080 people.

The attendance was the largest in the history of Miami and Florida. The match gave steam to the movement in favor of the MLS to South Florida.

Presence of Academies

The presence of academies dedicated to world football in America is growing. It is via these academies that will give rise to future players like Landon Donovan, Hope Solo, Jozy Altidore and Alex Morgan.

Conclusion

It is easy to compare football in America with the rest of the world. Maybe there should be changes in American World Football similar to those in Russia.

What should be remembered is that every country and region has their sports history. The history of world football in a particular country must be tailored to its reality.

I hope that you can visit the USA and see the development of world football for yourself. After your visit, you would then be able to better express whatever opinion you have.

Thank you, and best wishes from America.

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This is not a bold prediction: The 2013 MLS season will be the finest season yet.

But this is: It will be so without the services of America’s greatest player, Landon Donovan.

Only 59 days separates MLS fans from the first whistle. Rosters are not fully formed. Coaches have not been hired (bravo, New York). But it is never too early to envisage what will transpire on the pitch come March 2. 

(It’s not like Chivas USA have done anything this offseason that warrants it a vote of confidence.)

In 2012, MLS made history with attendance. In 2013, it must make history on the pitch. 

And it will.

A new year breathes new life for MLS teams. The ball has dropped, so start your new year off right with these bold predictions for the 2013 MLS season.

An MLS Team Will Win the CONCACAF Champions League

No MLS team has ever won the CONCACAF Champions League. 

That will change in 2013.

Three MLS teams remain standing headed into the quarterfinals of the CCL. The Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo are all in search of the league's first title in the competition. All are trying to punch a ticket as the first American team to reach the FIFA Club World Cup.

It will be the first time MLS will be able to feature its brand of soccer on an international stage.

The No. 1- and No. 2-seeded Mexican clubs Monterrey and Santos Laguna are the favorites to bring home yet another title for Mexico. 

But Santos will fall in the quarterfinals at the hands of the Houston Dynamo—setting up for the potential of an all-MLS semifinal between Houston and Seattle.

After another disappointing playoff run which left the Sounders without a title, Seattle will be able to redeem itself by bringing home the CCL trophy.

The FIFA Club World Cup may not be as prestigious as the UEFA Champions League. It may not be of significant importance to Europe’s top clubs.

But it does provide MLS with the opportunity to show FIFA president Sepp Blatter just how “strong” it is.

FIFA's Sepp Blatter blasts MLS, saying it has yet to catch on as a legitimate pro league in U.S. tinyurl.com/apkx6jj

The Sounders will have that opportunity in 2013.

The Houston Dynamo Will Play in Three Straight MLS Cups

The New England Revolution—the soccer equivalent of the trophy-less Buffalo Bills—are the only MLS team to play in three consecutive MLS Cups (2005-2008). 

The Houston Dynamo will be the second come 2013.

It will not be an easy road for the Dynamo. Sporting Kansas City’s offseason acquisitions of Argentinean Claudio Bieler, Ike Opara and Benny Feilhaber has beefed up its depth.

The New York Red Bulls have spent the offseason acquiring the talents of Fabián Espíndola, Jámison Olave, Kosuke Kimura and Juninho Pernambucano.

Even another year to develop DC United’s youth and heal the injuries that forced Ben Olsen to duct tape a starting XI in last year’s playoffs will contend for the Eastern crown.

But the Dynamo will prevail once more—thanks in large part to Honduran international Boniek Garcia.

Garcia was voted the Best Transaction of 2012 by mlssoccer.com. His seamless transition into MLS bolstered the Dynamo’s midfield last season.

Don’t expect Garcia to stop there. The championship promise he displayed in 2012 will develop further in 2013.

Like its competition, Houston has managed to quietly improve its roster in the offseason.

The acquisition of Colorado Rapids forward Omar Cummings provides Houston with another deadly striker to pair with Will Bruin up top. The 30-year-old striker tallied 39 goals and 27 assists in six seasons with the Rapids.

It may have not been the flashiest acquisition—nothing ever is when it comes to a Dominic Kinnear-coached team—but it is the kind of acquisition that allows a team to make another deep playoff run.

Landon Donovan Won't Play a Minute in 2013

David Beckham will not be the only big-name star no longer donning the blue, white and gold of the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2013.

Decorated champion and American folklore hero Landon Donovan will extend his indefinite hiatus from soccer past the 2013 season.

Donovan has given every indication that it will take more than a couple of months to reignite that fiery passion he displayed in the 2010 World Cup.

After lifting his fifth title, Donovan hinted further that he is a worn man headed toward retirement: 

“I have to listen to my heart, and right now my gut says to get away for a while,” he said after the match. “I had a really nice moment where my sister … got to come down on the field and [the baby] was sleeping on her, and it sort of puts it all in perspective and makes me realize I want to be closer to my family for a while and then figure out the soccer later.”

That doesn’t exactly sound like a man dying to lace up his cleats.

This wouldn't be the first time an MLS player took an entire season to reevaluate his priorities. Alexi Lalas retired from MLS on October 10, 1999, foregoing the entire 2000 season. He returned on January 14, 2001.

Donovan won’t play for the Galaxy in 2013. He will not play for Everton in 2013, either (per The Sun). It is time for MLS and the American soccer fan to start considering life without Landon Donovan. 

You're going to get a preview of it this year.

Robbie Keane and Chris Wondolowski Will Chase the Single-Season Goal Record

In 1998, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire’s home run record chase took America on a remarkable ride—one later tainted by syringes and steroids.

In 2013, Chris Wondolowski and Robbie Keane will take America on a similar adventure. But this time, no one will have to question the validity of it afterward.

Keane scored 16 goals in 28 starts last season. With a full MLS season under his belt, there is no more acclimating necessary to deter the progress of the Dublin native.

The field is set for Keane to dominate in 2013.

The absence of Donovan and Beckham leaves Keane as the focal point of the Galaxy's offensive attack. He will not disappoint.

Not to be outdone, Wondolowski will make another run at Roy Lassiter’s single-season goal record.

This time he will look to take more than a share of it.

Week after week, MLS will be treated to a cinematic performance from two strikers in pursuit of a prestigious record. It is the kind of chase that will catapult MLS to some resemblance of coverage on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

Whether either of the two manage to score the mystic, 28th goal is irrelevant. It is the experience of watching the two chase history that will captivate the American soccer fan in 2013.

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC

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