Toronto Fc

US Soccer fans now have a reason to plan an early summer vacation. Just to be safe, however, you may want to bring your red, white and blue scarf. US Soccer and Major League Soccer announced Thursday night that the United States Men's National Team will face off against Canada...

MONTREAL - Warm boots and a winter coat topped the shopping list of defender Zarek Valentin as the Impact returned to training in snowbound Montreal on Wednesday after 12 days in Mexico.

MONTREAL - While Major League Soccer is encouraging clubs to sign young stars from around the world, so far the expansion Montreal Impact's search for a designated player seems to be focused on big names with their best years behind them.

TORONTO - Toronto FC kicked off its pre-season in style Thursday.

Toronto FC has signed defender Richard Eckersley, who had previously been on loan to the team from England's Burnley. The 22-year-old Eckersley joined Toronto last April and started in 22 of 23 matches. Eckersley signed a four-year contract with Burnley in July 2009 and went on separate loan deals to Plymouth Argyle, Bradford City and Bury before coming to Canada.

Sporting Kansas City has signed forward Jacob Peterson, a former member of the U.S. under-20 men's national team.

MONTREAL - Brian Ching's heart will probably always be in Houston, but the star striker vows to bring his best game to the expansion Montreal Impact.

MONTREAL - There were other strong candidates, but the expansion Montreal Impact felt the versatile Andrew Wenger was their man at the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

The expansion Montreal Impact made Andrew Wenger of Duke the No. 1 overall pick in Major League Soccer's two-round draft on Thursday in Kansas City, Mo. Wenger won the Hermann Trophy as the top NCAA player this past season.

Andrew Wenger looked a bit sheepish the moment he was asked what teams and players he followed growing up. He knew his reply wasn't all that daring. "Well, Manchester United," he said. "And, of course, David Beckham." Now, Wenger may have a chance to play against him. The expansion Montreal Impact selected the Duke forward with the first overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft on...

Toronto FC has hired former U.S. Under-20 coach Thomas Rongen as director of its soccer academy. The 55-year-old most recently served as coach of the American Samoa national team, which beat Tonga 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in November to win its first international soccer match after 30 consecutive losses over 17 years.

VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Whitecaps acquired attacking midfielder Lee Nguyen on Thursday through Major League Soccer's weighted lottery.

The Vancouver Whitecaps have acquired attacking midfielder Lee Nguyen through Major League Soccer's weighted lottery. The 25-year-old from McKinney, Texas, signed a multi-year contract with MLS on Dec. 6. Nguyen was entered into the weighted lottery after he had turned down a MLS contract when he was drafted in college.

MONTREAL - Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching has said loud and clear that if the Montreal Impact picked him, he would retire. But that hasn't stopped the team from taking him as their No. 1 pick in the Major League Soccer expansion draft on Wednesday.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Dwayne De Rosario came into this MLS season hoping for a new contract but promising to "let my play do the talking.''

No matter how many times Dwayne De Rosario changed Major League Soccer jerseys this year, he put together an MVP season in every new color. The D.C. United midfielder was named MLS' most valuable player on Friday, capping an unusual season in which he was traded twice. Even while moving from Toronto FC to the New York Red Bulls to D.C.

D.C. United midfielder Dwayne De Rosario has been voted Major League Soccer's Most Valuable player, capping an unusual season in which he was traded twice. He became the second player in a North American major league to win an MVP in a season he was traded, following Joe Thornton for Boston and San Jose in the NHL in 2005-06, according to MLS.

MLS commissioner Don Garber says he believes Toronto FC is on the right track despite missing out on the playoffs for a fifth straight season.