The New Year is upon us and 2012 is shaping up to be another exciting and eventful year in the American soccer scene, but before we dive into a full schedule of big events, it is time to think about the year we just completed.

What will you remember about 2011? It surely varies from fan to fan, region to region, but there was plenty for fans from every corner of the United States to remember.

This may seem a little preemptive, but the American Outlaws are selling tickets in the Supporters Section for the semifinals and finals of the Olympic qualifiers at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on March 31st and April 2nd. The tickets are $30 for AO members and $35 for non-members. No word yet from Sporting KC on whether season ticket holders will get a chance at a presale for the game as well or not.

photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
Some national team news has come out today regarding two Sporting KC players. First, Teal Bunbury has been called up by Caleb Porter to the upcoming U-23 Olympic camp in Florida. The camp will take place December 15th through the 23rd. The camp is in preparation for the upcoming Olympic qualifying.

It's always a good sign about the your club's future when three players, well three and a potential fourth future Dynamo star, get called in to a US Men's National Team U-23 training camp. Danny Cruz, Kofi Sarkodie and Will Bruin head to Florida starting next week for a week long camp with new U-23 head coach Caleb Porter.

The United States will play Canada, Cuba And El Salvador in Group A of Olympic Qualifying, with Honduras, Mexico, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago in Group B. The USA's group will be based at LP Field in Nashville, with Group B playing at the Home Depot Center. Two teams from each group will move onto the semifinal stage at LIVESTRONG Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

Marc Narducci reports in the Philadelphia Inquirer that Tim Howard will not be with Everton when the club plays the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night.

Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz said, "We're really surprised. One of the reasons we entertained Everton's phone call was because of Tim Howard and we were under the impression Tim Howard was playing.

"A funny thing happened on my way to Philly......" says Tim Howard's official Facebook fan page, with a link to an article on a radio station's, 620 WTMJ, website.

The United States Men's National Team starting goalkeeper and Everton stalwart is supposedly on vacation, prohibiting him from playing tomorrow night against the Philadelphia Union.

Despite controlling play and having the most opportunities in the match, United States national team fell to Paraguay on Tuesday night in a friendly at Nashville LP Field.

First and foremost, happy 21st birthday to Timothy Chandler today. Chandler earned his first start in his second appearance for the USMNT against Paraguay in Nashville.I was optimistic tonight when I followed the game online and saw that the U.S. had gone down 1-0 to a South American opponent in a friendly.

The United States had the support of 29,059 at LP Field in Nashville, but couldn't get the result on Tuesday in friendly action. Paraguay's Oscar Cardozo scored the game's only goal in the 18th minute, saving face for a Paraguay squad who lost 3-1 to Mexico on Saturday. US coach Bob Bradley made several changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Argentina three days earlier, starting Marcus Hahnemann in goal, changing up the defense,.

The U.S. men's national team is in Nashville tonight to take on Paraguay (8pm, Fox Soccer Channel/Telefutura) in its final friendly before the Gold Cup squad is chosen in May and tonight's match could go a long way toward determining which players make that roster.

The Americans are coming off a 1-1 draw vs.

By Jon Levy Coming off a mixed performance but quality result on Saturday night against Argentina, the Yanks will look to put it all together Tuesday night in Nashville against another good South American team. Paraguay just put in an uncharacteristically defensively deficient performance against Mexico, so they'll also look to get back on the [.

Tuesday's friendly in Nashville comes with the usual roll call of unknowns: Who might play? Who will rise or shine? Which side can muster greater motivation, etc.?
But we can safely predict this about the U.S. meeting with Paraguay down in The Volunteer State: it won't look much like Saturday's night's memorable occasion in New Jersey, when Bob Bradley's U.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

To say there's a German influence on the current U.S. national team is a bit of an understatement these days.

Along with Bundesliga veterans Michael Bradley and Landon Donovan, the national team has also welcomed German-born players Jermaine Jones, Timmy Chandler and David Yelldell into the fray in recent months.

Juan Agudelo, USA vs Argentina (Mar 2011)

PARAGUAY AT LP: After a thrilling 1-1 draw against Argentina, the U.S. completes the two-game set when they face 2010 FIFA World Cup quarterfinalists Paraguay at LP Field in Nashville. The U.S. will be making their third appearance in Nashville, including a final round World Cup qualifier on April 1, 2009, when Jozy Altidore became the youngest player in U.

The United States hosts Paraguay in Nashville, live on Fox Soccer Channel at 8pm. Also in action, Germany - Austria on ESPN2 at 2:40pm. FSC has England - Ghana at 3pm. Mexico - Venezuela is on Univision at 10:30pm. All Times Eastern

By Clemente Lisi - EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (Mar 28, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Three days after drawing Argentina at The New Meadowlands Stadium, the USA will face another South American test Tuesday when it takes on Paraguay. The game at LP Field in Nashville will be the final time this Spring that Bob Bradley will get a chance to look at his European-based players ahead of the Gold Cup.

Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIPhotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ. - There were goals this time, but the final result was the same.

Three years after playing to a scoreless draw with Argentina, the United States men's national team once again tied Lionel Messi and co.

Note: When I refer to number of matches hosted, I am including matches currently scheduled through 2011
Rumors are circulating today that the US Men's National Team will face Spain at the Meadowlands Stadium in June. This would be the 14th match in the Northeast since 2006 for the USMNT, more than any other region of the country.

U.S. Soccer announced this afternoon the U.S. MNT game versus Egypt and scheduled to be played on Feb. 9 in Cairo has been canceled. It was a decision that had been predicted by many and was the only sensible option after days of protesting and violence in Egypt.

The US Soccer press release stated: After exploring other options, the U.

It was certainly likely, but now it's official. Due to the ongoing political turmoil in Egypt, US Soccer has announced that our friendly set for February 9th has been canceled. There were supposedly efforts made to move the match to another regional stadium, but in the end, it's off. With so little time to plan, it has also been decided that the US will not try to schedule a different match on that matchday.

The United States will play Argentina on March 26th at the New Meadowlands and Paraguay on March 29th in Nashville, the US Soccer Federation announced on Thursday. Both games fall on international match days. "Argentina continues to be one of the most talented teams in the world, and we are excited to have the opportunity to compete against them," US coach Bob Bradley said.

Argentina, and likely Lionel Messi, almost universally acclaimed as the best player in the world at the moment is returning to the U.S. to play (AP Photo).

Not on the West Coast, unfortunately.

The U.S. plays Argentina at 4 p.m. March 26 in East Rutherford, N.J. live on ESPN2 and Univision.

I know it's MLS SuperDraft Day, but the U.S. ladies and gentleman have put out a couple bits of news as well.The USMNT has announced March dates with Argentina and Paraguay (lucky you, Nashville!), while the USWNT has unveiled the pre-Four Nations roster.- Greg Seltzer