# 2012 in American soccer

The 2012 season is the 100th season of competitive soccer in the United States.

## National teams
### Men
#### Senior

| Wins | Losses | Draws |
| 9 | 2 | 3 |

#### Under-17
### Women
#### Senior

| Wins | Losses | Draws |
| 28 | 1 | 3 |

#### Under-17
## Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing | Manner | Date | Table | Incoming | Date | Table |
| Colorado Rapids | Gary Smith | Fired | November 7, 2011 | 5th (Western Conference) | Óscar Pareja | January 5, 2012 | Off-season |
| Philadelphia Union | Peter Nowak | Resigned | June 13, 2012 | 9th (Eastern Conference) | John Hackworth | June 13, 2012 | 9th (Eastern Conference) |
| Portland Timbers | John Spencer | Fired | July 9, 2012 | 8th (Western Conference) | Gavin Wilkinson | July 9, 2012 | 8th (Western Conference) |
| C.D. Chivas USA | Robin Fraser | Fired | November 9, 2012 | 9th (Western Conference) | José Luis Sánchez Solá | December 8, 2012 | Off-season |
| New York Red Bulls | Hans Backe | End of Contract | November 9, 2012 | 3rd (Eastern Conference) | Mike Petke | November 9, 2012 | Off-season |

## League tables
### Major League Soccer (Div. 1)
#### Eastern Conference

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 42 | 27 | +15 | 63 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 2 | D.C. United | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 53 | 43 | +10 | 58 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 3 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 57 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 4 | Chicago Fire | 34 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 46 | 41 | +5 | 57 | MLS Cup Knockout Round |
| 5 | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 48 | 41 | +7 | 53 | MLS Cup Knockout Round |
| 6 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 52 | |
| 7 | Montreal Impact | 34 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 45 | 51 | −6 | 42 | |
| 8 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 36 | |
| 9 | New England Revolution | 34 | 9 | 17 | 8 | 39 | 44 | −5 | 35 | |
| 10 | Toronto FC | 34 | 5 | 21 | 8 | 36 | 62 | −26 | 23 | |

#### Western Conference

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 72 | 43 | +29 | 66 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 2 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 46 | 35 | +11 | 57 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 3 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 51 | 33 | +18 | 56 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 4 | LA Galaxy | 34 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 59 | 47 | +12 | 54 | MLS Cup Knockout Round |
| 5 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 35 | 41 | −6 | 43 | MLS Cup Knockout Round |
| 6 | FC Dallas | 34 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 42 | 47 | −5 | 39 | |
| 7 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 11 | 19 | 4 | 44 | 50 | −6 | 37 | |
| 8 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 34 | 56 | −22 | 34 | |
| 9 | Chivas USA | 34 | 7 | 18 | 9 | 24 | 58 | −34 | 30 | |

#### Overall

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | San Jose Earthquakes (S) | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 72 | 43 | +29 | 66 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 42 | 27 | +15 | 63 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 3 | D.C. United | 34 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 53 | 43 | +10 | 58 | |
| 4 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 57 | 46 | +11 | 57 | |
| 5 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 46 | 35 | +11 | 57 | |
| 6 | Chicago Fire | 34 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 46 | 41 | +5 | 57 | |
| 7 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 51 | 33 | +18 | 56 | |
| 8 | LA Galaxy (C) | 34 | 16 | 12 | 6 | 59 | 47 | +12 | 54 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 9 | Houston Dynamo | 34 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 48 | 41 | +7 | 53 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 10 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 44 | 44 | 0 | 52 | |
| 11 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 35 | 41 | −6 | 43 | |
| 12 | Montreal Impact | 34 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 45 | 51 | −6 | 42 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 13 | FC Dallas | 34 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 42 | 47 | −5 | 39 | |
| 14 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 11 | 19 | 4 | 44 | 50 | −6 | 37 | |
| 15 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 36 | |
| 16 | New England Revolution | 34 | 9 | 17 | 8 | 39 | 44 | −5 | 35 | |
| 17 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 8 | 16 | 10 | 34 | 56 | −22 | 34 | |
| 18 | Chivas USA | 34 | 7 | 18 | 9 | 24 | 58 | −34 | 30 | |
| 19 | Toronto FC | 34 | 5 | 21 | 8 | 36 | 62 | −26 | 23 | |

### North American Soccer League (Div. 2)

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | San Antonio Scorpions (X) | 28 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 46 | 27 | +19 | 47 | Playoff semifinals |
| 2 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (C) | 28 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 37 | 30 | +7 | 45 | Playoff semifinals |
| 3 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 28 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 32 | 30 | +2 | 41 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 4 | Carolina RailHawks | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 44 | 46 | −2 | 40 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 5 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 28 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 40 | 46 | −6 | 36 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 6 | Minnesota United | 28 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 35 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 7 | Atlanta Silverbacks | 28 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 35 | 46 | −11 | 30 | |
| 8 | FC Edmonton | 28 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 26 | 36 | −10 | 25 | |

### USL Pro (Div. 3)

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | T | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Orlando City SC (C) | 24 | 17 | 6 | 1 | 50 | 18 | +32 | 57 | Commissioner's Cup, Playoffs 1st round bye |
| 2 | Rochester Rhinos (A) | 24 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 27 | 23 | +4 | 41 | Playoffs 1st round bye |
| 3 | Charleston Battery (A) | 24 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 36 | 26 | +10 | 38 | Playoffs |
| 4 | Richmond Kickers (A) | 24 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 31 | 27 | +4 | 38 | Playoffs |
| 5 | Wilmington Hammerheads (A) | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 34 | 32 | +2 | 37 | Playoffs |
| 6 | Harrisburg City Islanders (A) | 24 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 34 | 29 | +5 | 37 | Playoffs |
| 7 | Charlotte Eagles | 24 | 11 | 3 | 10 | 34 | 26 | +8 | 36 | |
| 8 | Los Angeles Blues | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 26 | 29 | −3 | 30 | |
| 9 | Dayton Dutch Lions | 24 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 29 | −9 | 22 | |
| 10 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 24 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 39 | −19 | 17 | |
| 11 | Antigua Barracuda | 24 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 16 | 50 | −34 | 16 | |

### Women's Premier Soccer League Elite

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Boston Breakers | 14 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 28 | 9 | +19 | 30 | 2012 WPSL Elite playoffs |
| 2 | Western New York Flash (C) | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 29 | 8 | +21 | 30 | 2012 WPSL Elite playoffs |
| 3 | New York Fury | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 8 | +17 | 29 | 2012 WPSL Elite playoffs |
| 4 | Chicago Red Stars | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 26 | 11 | +15 | 28 | 2012 WPSL Elite playoffs |
| 5 | New England Mutiny | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 34 | −9 | 21 | |
| 6 | ASA Chesapeake Charge | 14 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 15 | 35 | −20 | 9 | |
| 7 | Philadelphia Fever | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 26 | −18 | 5 | |
| 8 | FC Indiana | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 33 | −25 | 5 | |
* ↑ The Boston Breakers forfeited the May 26 match against the Western New York Flash for fielding an ineligible player. The Boston Breakers won the match 3–2. The WPSL credited the Western New York Flash with a 1–0 victory with all previous goals of the match being nullified. Before the June 18 ruling, Breakers forward Katie Schoepfer led the league in scoring with 8 goals. However, her 3 goals at the May 26 match were all forfeited, as were goals by Flash players Adriana and Angela Salem.

## U.S. Open Cup

The 99th edition of the annual national championship, the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, ran from May 15 through August 8. Sporting Kansas City defeated Seattle Sounders FC on penalty kicks 3-2 for the championship. The winner qualified for the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League Group stage.

### Changes for 2012

In 2012, U.S. Soccer announced that the field would expand from 40 clubs to 64 clubs, that all MLS teams would receive an automatic berth, and that all 2nd and 3rd tier professional leagues would also receive an automatic berth.
The tournament is a single game, single elimination tournament with random drawings deciding the home team (provided the home team stadium meets USSF standards) for the first round through the quarterfinals. The home team for the semi-finals and finals will be determined through competitive bidding as has been done in prior years.

### Tournament format

Teams from the Premier Development League (16 berths), the United States Adult Soccer Association (9 berths), the National Premier Soccer League (6 berths), and US Club Soccer (1 berth) will enter the tournament in the first round. The winners will advance to the 2nd round where they will meet tier 3, USL Pro (10 berths) and tier 2 North American Soccer League professional teams. The second round winners will in turn meet the 16 MLS clubs in the third round. In the remaining rounds of the tournament, winners will advance in each round until the two teams meet in the finals on August 6 or 7th.
Qualification for the lower tiers of the soccer pyramid was mostly completed by April 29 and the pairings for the first two rounds were released on May 1.

## Honors
### Professional

Men :
| Competition | Competition | Winner |
| U.S. Open Cup | U.S. Open Cup | Sporting Kansas City |
| Major League Soccer | MLS Supporters' Shield | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Major League Soccer | MLS Cup | Los Angeles Galaxy |
| NASL | Regular season | San Antonio Scorpions |
| NASL | Playoffs | Tampa Bay Rowdies |
| USL Pro | Regular season | Orlando City |
| USL Pro | Playoffs | Charleston Battery |
Women :
| Competition | Winner |
| WPSL Elite | Western New York Flash |
| W-League | Ottawa Fury Women |
| Women's Premier Soccer League | Gulf Coast Texans |

### Amateur

Men :
| Competition | Team |
| USL Premier Development League | Forest City London |
| National Premier Soccer League | FC Sonic Lehigh Valley |
| NCAA Division I Soccer Championship | Indiana |
| NCAA Division II Soccer Championship | Lynn University |
| NCAA Division III Soccer Championship | Messiah College |
| NAIA Soccer Championship | Belhaven (MS) |
Women :
| Competition | Team |
| NCAA Division I Soccer Championship | North Carolina |
| NCAA Division II Soccer Championship | West Florida |
| NCAA Division III Soccer Championship | Messiah College |
| NAIA Soccer Championship | Lindsey Wilson (KY) |

## American clubs in international competition

| Club | Competition | Final round |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League | Quarterfinals |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League | Quarterfinals |
| Houston Dynamo | 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League | Quarterfinals |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League | Semifinals |
| Real Salt Lake | 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League | Group stage |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League | Semifinals |