The American weekend preview

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Mar 17, 2023

Several players called up to the U.S. men's national team for Concacaf Nations League matches against Grenada and El Salvador have big games this weekend.

Soccer on TV: Weekend viewing

SATURDAY

• Middlesbrough vs. Preston North End (League Championship, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN+)

Zack Steffen will return to the U.S. national team next week after a strong run with Middlesbrough has pushed it into third place in the Championship, only six points behind second-place Sheffield United.

The Boro surge from the depths of the Championship followed a change in managers, and Michael Carrick, who was hired in October, has praised Steffen for his aggressive play in building out the attack and mental strength.

• Major League Soccer

LAFC, winner of the 2022 MLS title, travels to Seattle to face the Sounders, winners of the 2022 Concacaf Champions League, in an early-season match that should tell us a lot about two of the 2023 favorites.

LAFC won its first two MLS games, scoring seven goals in wins over Portland and New England, but slipped up on Wednesday night when it fell to LD Alajuelense, 2-1, at home in the Champions League. Fortunately, its 3-0 cushion from the first leg in Costa Rica was enough to move it into the quarterfinals.

For the Sounders, unbeaten in their last six games against LAFC, two shutout wins were followed by a 1-0 loss at FC Cincinnati.

Two of MLS's early-season surprises meet: expansion St. Louis City, perfect with three comeback wins, will face San Jose, winner of its last two games after blowing a 1-0 lead it had at Atlanta United.

Reading: St. Louis City targets record MLS start

APPLE TV MLS SEASON PASS
Saturday
*Seattle vs. LAFC 4 pm. (free)
Atlanta United vs. Portland 7:30 pm.
CF Montreal vs. Philadelphia 7:30 pm.
New England vs. Nashville SC 7:30 pm.
NYCFC vs. DC united 7:30 pm.
NY Red Bulls vs. Columbus 7:30 pm.
Orlando City vs. Charlotte FC 7:30 pm.
Toronto FC vs. Inter Miami 7:30 pm. (free)
Chicago vs. FC Cincinnati 8:30 pm.
FC Dallas vs. Sporting KC 8:30 pm. (free)
Houston vs. Austin FC  8:30 pm. (free)
St. Louis City vs. San Jose 8:30 pm.
Colorado vs. Minnesota United 9:30 pm. (free)
LA Galaxy vs. Vancouver 10:30 pm. (free)
*Also available on Fox and Fox Deportes.
Note: All times ET.

• USL Championship

Last year's conference champions both take to the road for interconference matches involving teams that also won their opening games. Eastern Conference champion Louisville City is at Monterey Bay F.C. while San Antonio FC, the 2022 USL Championship winner, is at Loudoun United on Sunday.

ESPN+
Saturday
Memphis 901 vs. Pittsburgh 5 pm.
Miami FC vs. New Mexico United 7 pm.
Colorado Springs vs. Hartford 8 pm.
El Paso vs. Detroit  City FC 9:30 pm.
Sac Republic FC vs. Charleston 10 pm.
Monterey Bay F.C. vs. Louisville City 10 pm.
Orange County SC vs. Tampa Bay 10 pm.
Sunday
Loudoun United vs. San Antonio FC 4 pm.
San Diego vs. Phoenix 6 pm.
Rio Grande Valley vs. Oakland 8 pm.
Note: All times ET.

• Guadalajara vs. America (Liga MX, 11 p.m. ET, Telemundo, Universo)
 
Alex Zendejas, who has committed to the U.S. national team after playing senior friendlies for both the USA and Mexico, will be one of the star attractions in Mexico's Clasico.

The Club America winger started his Liga MX career at Guadalajara after beginning his pro career at FC Dallas and playing for the USA at the 2015 U-17 World Cup. He had to renounce his U.S. soccer ties to play for Chivas.

SUNDAY

• Manchester United vs. Fulham (FA Cup, 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)

Old Trafford is the site of the only all-Premier League matchup in this season's FA Cup quarterfinals.

Fulham has lost its last two matches in Premier League play following its 2-0 win over Leeds United in the FA Cup round of 16, where both Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson started for the Cottagers.