The offseason is upon us. But that doesn't mean there isn't loads of soccer to keep Portland Timbers and Thorns FC fans busy in the interim. Mark your calendars with the events below and before you know it, that first kick of the 2015 season will be here in no time at all.
November 10-17, 2014 –2014 Caribbean Cup, Timbers defender Alvas Powell with Jamaica in Group B. Tournament takes place in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
November 14, 2014 – New Zealand vs. China in Nanchang, China 3:35am PT. Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson is included in the All Whites national team roster.
– USMNT vs. Colombia at Craven Cottage in London, England. 11:45am PT, ESPN
November 15, 2014 – OSAA Boys & Girls State Soccer Championship at Hillsboro Stadium
November 15, 2014– 2014 NASL Championship Soccer Bowl
November 18, 2014 – New Zealand vs. Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand. 3:30am PT. Jake Gleeson part of New Zealand roster.
– USMNT vs. Ireland at Aviva Stadium; Dublin, Ireland. 11:45am PT, ESPN2
November 19, 2014 – Chivas USA MLS Dispersal Draft
November 30-December 6, 2014 – International Women's Club Championship. Thorns FC's Steph Catley participating with the Melbourne Victory
December 1, 2014 – Finalists for FIFA Men's Ballon d'Or and FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year announced. Thorns FC's Nadine Angerer & Vero Boquete on initial short list
December 5 & 7, 2014 – 2014 NCAA Women’s College Cup at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, FL.
December 6, 2014 – 2015 Canada FIFA Women's World Cup group draw held
December 7, 2014 – MLS Cup Final – 12pm PT, ESPN
December 8, 2014 – Half-day Trade window opens – The window will open from 9am-12pm ET. Teams may trade during that window or may re-sign their own players before the blackout starts at 1pm ET (until after expansion draft).
December 10, 2014 – MLS Expansion Draft and Waiver Draft – Orlando City and New York City FC select up to ten players each in the Expansion Draft with Orlando City currently owning the first overall selection. MLS teams can protect eleven players (Generation adidas & Homegrown players are automatically protected) with no team losing more than two players.
December 10-24, 2014 – USWNT in Brasilia International Tournament.
December 12, 2014 – MLS Re-entry Draft Phase One
December 12 & 14, 2014 – 2014 NCAA Men’s College Cup at Wakemed Soccer Park in Cary, NC.
December 18, 2014 – MLS Re-entry Draft Phase Two
January 2-5, 2015 – MLS Caribbean Combine
January 9-13, 2015 – MLS Combine – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
January 12, 2015 – 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala
January 15, 2015 – MLS SuperDraft – Philadelphia, PA. Orlando City currently own the first overall pick. Timbers currently hold the #5 overall pick in the first round via last season’s Danny Mwanga trade with Colorado. Portland also holds three picks in the second round and one in the third.
January 16, 2015 – NWSL College Draft – Philadelphia, PA
End of January – Timbers Players return to Portland; Preseason training camp opens
January 31st, 2015 – Portland Timbers v. Sporting Kansas City, 6:00pm PT Desert Friendlies hosted by FC Tucson
February 7th, 2015 – Portland Timbers v. Houston Dynamo, 6:00pm PT Desert Friendlies hosted by FC Tucson
End of February – 2015 Rose City Invitational – Preseason tournament at Providence Park
March 2-12, 2015 – Algarve Cup in Portugal (USWNT, Germany) and Cyprus Cup (Australia, Canada)
