Your kids are away at sleep camp for the summer, maybe you’re a student on a school break or, lucky you, the office is closed for a few weeks. More likely, you've got a soccer jones and some vacation time to kill.
What better way to spend that time than gorging on the beautiful game live while bouncing around the US and Canada?
With the 20th MLS season approaching, MLSsoccer.com asked me to put together my itinerary for the ultimate soccer road trip. So we're going coast to coast, hitting everything from MLS to USL, the Gold Cup and the Women’s World Cup.
Should you take the plunge, it's going to be a trip to remember. Oh, and you'll get to meet some really cool people along the way. Safe travels!
Thursday, July 2 – Portland, Oregon
Portland Timbers 2 vs. Arizona United at Merlo Field
This may be an unorthodox way to begin your trip, but it’s a great opportunity to see the famous Portland soccer environment in person.
Our soft opening is the PT2 match at Merlo Field, although if you want to start early you can attend Timbers-Sounders at Providence Park on June 28. MLS-operated USL teams are a major part of the future of the sport in North America, and you'll see future MLSers on display.
NEXT UP: Drive 171 miles (2 hours, 49 minutes) to Seattle
Friday, July 3 – Seattle, Washington
Seattle Sounders vs. D.C. United at CenturyLink Field
The quick drive north to Portland’s biggest rival city gives you a chance to see the largest average crowd in MLS on game day. Don’t miss any of the festivities by starting matchday at the bar with Sounders fans, then make the famous march to the stadium from Occidental Square, belt out the national anthem, and, of course, take in the match. It's the defending Supporters' Shield winner against 2015’s Eastern Conference table toppers.
NEXT UP: Drive 143 miles (2 hours, 34 minutes) to Vancouver
Sunday, July 5 – Vancouver, British Columbia
FIFA Women's World Cup Final at BC Place Stadium
Couldn’t make it to Brazil last summer? Not a problem. World Cup fever is coming to North America sooner than 2026.
The WWC is going to be a massive event this summer. With a host country boasting a historically strong national team and the world's game on display in a great time zone for TV coverage in North America, get ready for another big international party.
NEXT UP: Drive 2,202 miles (33 hours) to Chicago
Thursday, July 9 – Chicago, Illinois
Gold Cup group stage: Mexico vs. TBA | TBA vs. TBA at Soldier Field
The major drive from Vancouver to Chicago is the longest of the trip, but don't worry. By the time you make it, we will probably be into the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup, so odds are you'll get your fix somewhere along the way. Plus, the journey will all be worth it to see El Tri at Soldier Field.
Mexico fill any stadium the play in stateside, and you can be sure their group opponents (when decided) will bring plenty of support as well. Nothing inspires fans like supporting their national side, especially fans that don’t often get to see their team in person.
NEXT UP: Drive 312 miles (4 hours, 30 minutes) to St. Louis
Saturday, July 11 – St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis FC vs Richmond Kickers at St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Park
Travel to the heart of American soccer, to the city that gave us the spine of the 1950 World Cup team and so many stars since. STLFC is a brand new professional soccer team, and there's nowhere better to see them play than Scott Gallagher Soccer Park.
The stadium (under many different names) was the lifeblood of US Soccer in the 1980’s during a dark time after NASL and before MLS. It was one of the only places the USMNT could enjoy a true home-field advantage before MAPFRE Stadium was built. The matchup – against the Kickers, who were USL PRO semifinalists last season and are one of the oldest clubs in America – isn't bad either.
NEXT UP: Drive 257 miles (3 hours, 47 minutes) to Kansas City
Monday, July 13 – Kansas City, Kansas
Gold Cup group stage: USMNT vs. TBA | TBA vs. TBA at Sporting Park
The USMNT will get no rest with competitions, should they qualify, the next four summers. U.S. Soccer seems to have a soft spot for Sporting Park after playing a 2014 World Cup qualifier in each round in Kansas City.
The last time they played at Sporting Park – against Jamaica in World Cup Qualifying – the crowd was phenomenal and hometown star Graham Zusi got a goal. This is another double-header, the last group-stage matchday for Group A, which should be a real treat to go along with the opportunity to check out one of the top facilities in North America.
Saturday, July 18 – Kansas City, Kansas
Sporting KC vs. Montreal Impact at Sporting Park
Stick around town and catch an MLS game with the Cauldron. This stadium/crowd/team is helping change the perception of MLS around the world, and it's a blast to catch a game at Sporting Park. Grab some BBQ and beer at the pregame tailgate, and find a way into the Boulevard Members Club during or after the game. You'll watch a team with a returning Roger Espinoza and healthy Matt Besler and Zusi face off against a new-look Impact side driven by creative maestro Ignacio Piatti.
NEXT UP: Drive 675 miles (10 hours) to Columbus
Sunday, July 19 – Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Crew SC vs. Chicago Fire at MAPFRE Stadium
It is not a road trip without one outrageous drive straight through the night. Push through it and take shifts. You won't regret it.
Crew SC boss Gregg Berhalter’s boys play some of the finest soccer in the league, and a rebuilt DP-laden Fire squad will be a fantastic test in this Midwest rivalry match. Stand with some MLS original fans in the legendary Nordecke and visit THE original soccer-specific stadium, a game-changer for the sport in the US and the home of a couple famous Dos a Cero USMNT wins.
NEXT UP: Drive 529 miles (8 hours, 30 minutes) to New York City
Saturday, July 25 – Harrison, New Jersey
New York Red Bulls vs. Colorado Rapids at Red Bull Arena
This is the last leg of the trip, but don’t feel too down because you're going to end on a serious high. In the greatest city in the world, you have an opportunity that exists nowhere else in America. You can see two MLS teams play at home in one weekend and one city.
Red Bull Arena will be jumping as USMNT veteran Sacha Klejstan pulls the strings back in New Jersey where he played college ball. Facing off against a talented, young and creative Rapids team, RBA, as usual, will be electric in the heart of summer.
Sunday, July 26 – New York, New York
New York City FC vs. Orlando City SC at Yankee Stadium
What a treat to finish with the second running of the “expansion bowl,” as the two Eastern Conference newcomers face off. You'll witness the early embers of what could become a great MLS rivalry, in one of the historic stadiums in America. David Villa and Kaka will face off right before the MLS All-Star break, and both teams have the talent to be in the playoff mix in their very first season.
You made it! Your trip spanned two countries and more than 4,000 miles from the West to the East Coast as you consumed 12 games in 24 days at all different levels and competitions in some of the best stadiums boasting some of the best supporters' cultures in the world.
If you did it right, you'll have a cadre of new friends picked up along the way. I still talk daily to two Scots, an Englishman, Australian and Brazilian who I met in Manaus during the World Cup, and meet up with people I first encountered at the 2013 USA-Mexico WCQ in Columbus for most USMNT matches. Don’t waste the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet fellow supporters around the continent.
Do that and you'll head home with the knowledge that everyone you know will be insanely jealous. After all, you just finished the ultimate North American soccer road trip!
