MLS Announces 2008 Schedule

NEW YORK - Major League Soccer (MLS) today announced its 2008 regular season schedule, which begins March 29 with its First Kick opening weekend of games. MLS's four national television partners will combine to broadcast 113 games throughout the league's 13th season.

Each of the 14 clubs will play 30 regular season games during the season. Each team will play each other twice (home and away), for 26 games. The remaining four games will be played against different intra-conference teams (two home and two away), with consideration given to rivalries.

First Kick, the opening weekend of Major League Soccer's season, is on Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30. Fox Soccer Channel will broadcast two games on opening day, including a rematch of the past two MLS Cup championship games as the New England Revolution host the Houston Dynamo at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Also on opening night, both Fox Soccer Channel and high definition television pioneer HDNet will air Ruud Gullit's Major League Soccer debut as coach of David Beckham, Landon Donovan and the Los Angeles Galaxy when they face the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., at 9:30 p.m. ET. Along with its pre- and post-game shows, this edition of MLS Saturday on FSC will provide fans an unprecedented five-hour fix of their domestic league.

First Kick concludes Sunday, March 30 with Spanish-language television partner TeleFutura broadcasting a clash between two of last season's top teams in the Western Conference: FC Dallas versus Chivas USA at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas at 3 p.m. ET.

MLS Primetime Thursday returns to ESPN2 in high definition television with a scintillating doubleheader on Thursday, April 3. Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire host the New England Revolution in a rematch of the 2007 MLS Eastern Conference Championship game at 8 p.m. ET. Then at 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2 will carry the rebirth of a rivalry when the Los Angeles Galaxy and the expansion San Jose Earthquakes meet at 10:30 p.m. ET from The Home Depot Center. Spanish-language sports network ESPN Deportes will also air each MLS Primetime Thursday game live, not including the MLS All-Star game.

ESPN2 and TeleFutura will share the honor of broadcasting Major League Soccer's annual mid-summer showcase, the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game, live from BMO Field in Toronto, Canada on Thursday, July 24 at 4 p.m. The contest will feature the MLS' best against an international opponent to be named at a later date.

The 2008 season will conclude on Sunday, November 23 with MLS Cup 2008, live on ABC and TeleFutura from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., at 12:30 p.m.