Soccer Fans in America Should Be Ready for Eventful 2010

As FanHouse colleague Brian Staus has more than adequately pointed out, the 2000s were a bellwether decade for soccer in America both on and off the field.

We saw the U.S. make a run to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, then seven years later we saw Bob Bradley (right) and his troops defeat mighty Spain and push Brazil to the brink in the Confederations Cup, helping to wash away some of the disappointments of the disaster of the 2006 World Cup.

We saw the addition of three soccer-centric channels on cable and satellite television. We saw MLS pushed to the brink of collapse, only to find its footing through smart expansion and the high-profile acquisitions of some big-name international players and that Beckham fellow. We saw a pipeline of Americans exported to Europe and a cadre of rich Americans snapping up some of the most storied clubs in English football.

And that's only scratching the surface.

When it's all said and done, we'll probably look back at the 2000s as the decade that soccer in America might not necessarily have arrived, but at least when the sport moved away from the hinterlands and mockery of the established media.

As with everything, time never stops and over the next decade the growth of the game figures to only grow exponentially. While it's impossible to predict what will happen in the next 10 years -- Goal line technology? Instant replay? Premier Leagues matches in the States? The first true American international superstar? -- we can at least look at 10 important topics for U.S. fans heading into 2010.

In no particular order, here are some things to keep an eye on. Of course it goes without saying, the World Cup in June is by far and away the No. 1 worldwide item for next year, trumping everything else. It will get its due respect in the next six months before host South Africa kicks off against Mexico in Johannesburg on June 11.

Philadelphia joins the "Union" -- The 16th entry into MLS went about things a little differently. Philadelphia possessed a hardcore supporters group -- The Sons of Ben -- before it actually had an MLS team to call its own. Now the Union are set to kick off when the 2010 season kicks off in March. Can the Union follow the success pattern of recent MLS expansion teams in Toronto and Seattle, which have been rousing successes at the ticket booth? The Union will play in a new 18,500-seat soccer-specific stadium currently under construction in Chester, Pa., so signs point to Philly continuing the recent uptick in MLS passion even as the on-field product remains a work in progress. At the very least Philadelphia's entry into the league gives it another major media market and a nice potential Northeastern rivalry circuit between D.C. United, Philly, New York and New England.

MLS and the 'L' word -- The "L" in question here being labor. The collective bargaining agreement between the MLS and its players expires on Jan. 31. Normally discussing the CBAs in any American sports induces the casual fan to roll his eyes into the back of his head. With the complexities of the MLS' single-entity structure, the only people who might be able to understand the negotiations are those with law degrees. Some of the issues on the table include the players looking for longer, more secure contracts and the ability to move/sign within the league without restrictions. However the negotiations shake out, the players and the league cannot afford a strike or a lockout, especially a few months ahead of a World Cup, as that's an event that attracts more casual American eyeballs to the sport of soccer in general. The MLS has tried to position itself in a place to move past the NHL in North American sports. Just ask Gary Bettman how well missing a season has helped his league.

Donovan's European cameo -- America's best player -- Landon Donovan -- heads to perhaps the best league in the world when he begins a short, 10-week loan in January at Everton in the Premier League. Will that be enough time for him to make an impact or to prove that his previous flops across the pond are things of the past before returning to the Los Angeles Galaxy? Donovan could get his chance to impress as early as Saturday when the Toffess host Carlisle United in the third round of the FA Cup at Goodison Park.

The Davies/Onyewu injury scenario -- The U.S. National Team's extra-time 2-2 draw vs. Costa Rica on Oct. 14 at RFK Stadium ensured the Yanks finished atop the CONCACAF Hexagonal ahead of rival Mexico. However it came with a price, days ahead of the match breakout forward Charlie Davies was seriously injured in a single-car accident, and then during the match bedrock defender Oguchi Onyewu's knee crumpled under him, resulting in a torn patellar tendon. Based on their 2009 performances, both players figured to be in coach Bob Bradley's starting XI for the World Cup. With Davies extremely doubtful due to his broken leg, among other injuries, and Onyewu -- who'd been struggling to see the field at AC Milan before his knee injury -- at least very questionable, the U.S. has five months to scramble and find replacements before June.

June 12, 2010 -- When the draw for the World Cup was held on Dec. 4, most U.S. fans held their breaths and waited for the worst. As it turned out, the U.S. drew a relatively friendly group that include Algeria, Slovenia and a little country named England. Since so many American fans are enraptured by the English game, the game on June 12 in Rustenburg could turn out to be one of the most important days in American soccer history. Even more important, perhaps, than June 29, 1950 when the U.S. topped England 1-0 in one of the more historic upsets in World Cup history.

It's a wild, wild, wild Premier League -- As the Premier League in England eases into its second half, the league itself has never been more wide-open up-and-down the table. Chelsea sits in first place but is trying to fend off charges by Manchester United and Arsenal. Watch out for the Gunners, who are are only four points off the pace but still have a game in hand. A little further down the table its a five-team race between Tottenham, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and even, by some miracle, Birmingham City for fourth-place and the Champions League bonanza it ensures. Down at the tail end of the table seven clubs are hovering above the relegation zone of 18th place by four points or less. For all its greatness worldwide, the last couple years the Premier League has been fairly predictable so an injection of topsy-turvyness is more than welcome.

Who wins the Champions League? -- Off its record-setting six-trophy haul in 2009, defending champs Barcelona are the favorites to be standing on the winner's podium come May 22 in Madrid. Yet with the Final 16 containing almost all the traditional world heavyweights sans Liverpool and Juventus it could be anyone's game.

I heard it rains down in Africa -- If it's possible, the bi-annual African Cup of Nations might be the most underrated international tournament and this year's edition that kicks off Jan. 10 in Angola should be no exception. With more and more clubs worldwide turning their eyes to Africa for players, the tournament should only get better. Just look at some of the mega-stars in this year's edition -- Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Emmanuel Adebayor, Samuel Eto'o and Mahamadou Diarra. For anyone itching for international games ahead of the World Cup, this is your fix.

Real Madrid v. Barcelona, the saga continues -- Real Madrid went back to its recent history and broke the bank to forge a new era of so-called Galacticos, bringing in Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, among others, to the Spanish capital. This was, no doubt, a response to its eternal rivals Barcelona winning numerous titles as well as the hearts and minds of soccer fans around the globe. Throughout the years this rivalry has ebbed back and forth, with the pendulum clearly swinging back in favor of the Catalonians, who right now edge Madrid by two points atop La Liga. Real Madrid will clearly need to win some form of silverware to thwart Barca's current mojo and justify its summer spending binge.

FOX Soccer goes HD -- The addition of Fox Soccer Channel in the mid-2000s to most cable and satellite companies in America was one of the biggest facilitators of soccer's growth in the States. The next step are HD broadcasts, which the network predicted it would begin sometime in early 2010. As we've seen on ESPN and elsewhere, perhaps no sport benefits from 1080i resolution more than the beautiful game, especially now since FOX holds the U.S. rights to the Champions League.

Honorable mention -- The New York Red Bulls' new stadium, finally opens sometime in 2010. ... The Roberto Mancini revolution at Manchester City. ... Will U.S. tycoon Stan Kroenke complete his takeover of Arsenal? ... Will David Beckham make Fabio Capello's England squad, thus playing in his fourth World Cup? ... Will any more international stars be lured to MLS?

Stay tuned.