MLS 2012 kicks off coverage with FC Dallas vs New York on NBC Sports

* The MLS 2012 season kicks off this weekend, with five games on Saturday, March 10. Television coverage begins on Sunday, March 11, when NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus) airs FC Dallas vs New York Red Bulls at 3pm. Galavision will air Chivas USA vs. Houston Dynamo on Sunday at 7pm, and ESPN2 picks up MLS coverage on Monday, March 12 with Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union at 9:30p.

For some terrific season insights, be sure to check out Grant Wahl’s excellent – and concise – MLS 2012 preview. By the way folks, if you love soccer and you’re not following this guy’s stuff, you probably ought to be publicly shamed.

Click here to see the full MLS 2012 television schedule.

* Lionel Messi – the best ever? (Psst… the answer is YES. Feel free to disagree below, but it won’t make you any less wrong.)

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Where to watch the best soccer games on US television networks. All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
3:00a Australian A-League Wellington Phoenix vs. Gold Coast United Fox Soccer Replay
3:00a UEFA Europa League Atletico Madrid vs. Besiktas GolTV Replay
4:00a English Premier League Wigan Athletic vs. Aston Villa Fox Soccer Plus Replay
9:00a English npower Championship Cardiff City vs. West Ham United Fox Soccer Plus Replay
11:00a UEFA Champions League Apoel vs. Olympique Lyonnais Fox Soccer Replay
11:00a English Premier League Fulham vs. Wolverhampton Fox Soccer Plus Replay
2:00p UEFA Europa League Manchester United vs. Athletic Bilbao GolTV Replay
2:25p German Bundesliga VfB Stuttgart vs. Kaiserslautern ESPN Deportes Live
2:30p Italian Serie A Chievo vs. Inter Milan Fox Soccer, ESPN3 Live
2:45p Italian Serie A Napoli vs. Cagliari ESPN3 Live
5:30p The FA Classic Collection Manchester United vs. West Ham United Fox Soccer Replay
7:30p UEFA Europa League Manchester United vs. Athletic Bilbao GolTV Replay
8:00p Italian Serie A Chievo vs. Inter Milan Fox Soccer Replay
9:30p Mexican Soccer Correcaminos UAT vs. Altamira GolTV Live
11:00p UEFA Champions League Arsenal vs. AC Milan Fox Soccer Replay

SATURDAY, MARCH 10

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
3:00a UEFA Champions League Benfica vs. Zenit St Petersburg Fox Soccer Replay
3:00a Mexican Soccer Correcaminos UAT vs. Altamira GolTV Replay
6:00a UEFA Champions League Arsenal vs. AC Milan Fox Soccer Plus Replay
7:30a English Premier League Bolton Wanderers vs. Queens Park Rangers ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 Live
9:30a UEFA Europa League Manchester United vs. Athletic Bilbao GolTV Replay
9:45a German Bundesliga Bayern Munich vs. 1899 Hoffenheim ESPN Deportes Live
10:00a English Premier League Chelsea vs. Stoke City Fox Soccer Live
10:00a English Premier League Sunderland vs. Liverpool Fox Soccer Plus Live
12:15p English npower Championship Bristol City vs. Cardiff City Fox Soccer Plus Live
12:30p English Premier League Everton vs. Tottenham Hotspur Fox Soccer Live
12:30p German Bundesliga Augsburg vs. Borussia Dortmund GolTV Live
2:00p Spanish Primera Division Sporting Gijon vs. Sevilla ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 Live
2:30p English Premier League Wolverhampton vs. Blackburn Fox Soccer Plus Taped
2:30p Spanish Primera Division Malaga vs. Levante GolTV Same-day Tape
2:45p Italian Serie A Palermo vs. AS Roma ESPN3 Live
3:15p Portuguese Liga FC Porto vs. Academica de Coimbra ESPN3 Live
3:55p Spanish Primera Division Real Betis vs. Real Madrid ESPN Deportes Live
4:30p English npower Championship Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Portsmouth Fox Soccer Plus Taped
4:30p Brazilian Soccer Corinthians vs. Guarani GolTV Live
5:00p English Premier League Aston Villa vs. Fulham Fox Soccer Taped
5:55p Mexican Primera Division Jaguares de Chiapas vs. Tigres U.A.N.L. ESPN Deportes Live
5:55p Mexican Primera Division Monterrey vs. Queretaro Telefutura Live
6:30p English Premier League Sunderland vs. Liverpool Fox Soccer Plus Replay
6:30p Argentine Soccer: B Nacional Defensa y Justicia vs. River Plate GolTV Live
8:00p English Premier League Chelsea vs. Stoke City Fox Soccer Replay
8:00p Mexican Primera Division Chivas de Guadalajara vs. Cruz Azul Telemundo Live
8:00p Mexican Primera Division Santos vs. Puebla Telefutura Live
8:30p German Bundesliga Augsburg vs. Borussia Dortmund GolTV Replay
9:00p English npower Championship Bristol City vs. Cardiff City Fox Soccer Plus Replay
9:00p Spanish Primera Division Real Betis vs. Real Madrid ESPN Deportes Replay
9:30p Mexican Primera Division San Luis vs. Pachuca Galavision Live
10:00p Mexican Primera Division Atlante vs. Atlas Telefutura Live
10:30p Spanish Primera Division Malaga vs. Levante GolTV Replay

SUNDAY, MARCH 11

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
12:00a English Premier League Wolverhampton vs. Blackburn Fox Soccer Plus Replay
1:00a Australian A-League Brisbane Roar vs. Adelaide United Fox Soccer Live
4:00a Argentine Soccer: B Nacional Defensa y Justicia vs. River Plate GolTV Replay
7:25a Dutch Eredivisie NAC Breda vs. PSV Eindhoven ESPN Deportes Live
8:00a English Premier League Sunderland vs. Liverpool Fox Soccer Plus Replay
10:00a English Premier League Manchester United vs. West Bromwich Albion Fox Soccer Live
10:00a English Premier League Swansea City vs. Manchester City Fox Soccer Plus Live
10:00a Italian Serie A AC Milan vs. Lecce ESPN3 Live
10:00a Italian Serie A Genoa vs. Juventus ESPN3 Live
10:30a German Bundesliga Werder Bremen vs. Hannover 96 GolTV Live
10:50a Spanish Primera Division Valencia vs. Mallorca ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 Live
12:00p Italian Serie A AC Milan vs. Lecce Fox Soccer Taped
12:00p English Premier League Norwich City vs. Wigan Fox Soccer Plus Live
1:00p Spanish Primera Division Racing Santander vs. Barcelona GolTV Live
2:00p English npower Championship Middlesbrough vs. Leeds United Fox Soccer Plus Taped
2:00p Mexican Primera Division Pumas U.N.A.M. vs. Estudiantes Tecos de U.A. de G. Univision Live
2:55p Brazilian Soccer Botafogo-SP vs. Palmeiras ESPN Deportes Live
3:00p MLS Soccer FC Dallas vs. New York Red Bulls NBC Sports Net Live
3:30p Italian Serie A Lazio vs. Bologna Fox Soccer, ESPN3 Live
3:45p Italian Serie A Novara vs. Udinese ESPN3 Live
3:55p French Ligue 1 Montpellier Herault SC vs. SM Caen Fox Soccer Plus Live
4:30p Spanish Primera Division Osasuna vs. Athletic Bilbao GolTV Live
5:00p Mexican Primera Division Jaguares de Chiapas vs. Tigres U.A.N.L. ESPN Deportes Replay
6:00p English Premier League Swansea City vs. Manchester City Fox Soccer Taped
6:30p Argentine Soccer Boca Juniors vs. Independiente GolTV Live
8:00p Italian Serie A Novara vs. Udinese Fox Soccer Plus Taped
9:00p Spanish Primera Division Real Betis vs. Real Madrid ESPN Deportes Replay
10:00p Spanish Primera Division Racing Santander vs. Barcelona GolTV Replay
11:00p English Premier League Manchester United vs. West Bromwich Albion Fox Soccer Replay

MONDAY, MARCH 12

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
12:00a Australian A-League Brisbane Roar vs. Adelaide United Fox Soccer Plus Replay
12:00a Argentine Soccer Boca Juniors vs. Independiente GolTV Replay
3:00a Italian Serie A Lazio vs. Bologna Fox Soccer Replay
3:00a Spanish Primera Division Osasuna vs. Athletic Bilbao GolTV Replay
4:00a Italian Serie A Novara vs. Udinese Fox Soccer Plus Replay
4:00a Spanish Primera Division Valencia vs. Mallorca ESPN Deportes Replay
9:00a Australian A-League Brisbane Roar vs. Adelaide United Fox Soccer Plus Replay
11:00a French Ligue 1 Montpellier Herault SC vs. SM Caen Fox Soccer Plus Replay
1:00p Australian A-League Brisbane Roar vs. Adelaide United Fox Soccer Replay
1:00p Spanish Primera Division Real Betis vs. Real Madrid ESPN Deportes Replay
1:00p Argentine Soccer Boca Juniors vs. Independiente GolTV Replay
3:00p Italian Serie A Chievo vs. Inter Milan Fox Soccer Replay
3:00p German Bundesliga Augsburg vs. Borussia Dortmund GolTV Replay
3:55p English Premier League Arsenal vs. Newcastle ESPN2, ESPN Deportes Live
5:00p English Premier League Manchester United vs. West Brom Fox Soccer Replay
5:00p Italian Serie A Novara vs. Udinese Fox Soccer Plus Replay
5:00p Spanish Primera Division Racing Santander vs. Barcelona GolTV Replay
7:00p MLS Soccer Chivas USA vs. Houston Dynamo Galavision Live
7:30p The FA Classic Collection: 1999/00 Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur Fox Soccer Replay
8:00p English Premier League Everton vs. Tottenham Hotspur Fox Soccer Replay
9:00p English Premier League Sunderland vs. Liverpool Fox Soccer Plus Replay
9:30p MLS Soccer Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3 Live
11:00p English Premier League Chelsea vs. Stoke City Fox Soccer Replay

TUESDAY, MARCH 13

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
3:00a German Bundesliga Werder Bremen vs. Hannover 96 GolTV Replay
4:00a English npower Championship Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Portsmouth Fox Soccer Plus Replay
9:00a English npower Championship Bristol City vs. Cardiff City Fox Soccer Plus Replay
11:00a English Premier League Sunderland vs. Liverpool Fox Soccer Plus Replay
12:00p English Premier League Aston Villa vs. Fulham Fox Soccer Replay
1:00p English npower Championship Middlesbrough vs. Leeds United Fox Soccer Plus Replay
3:00p Spanish Primera Division Osasuna vs. Athletic Bilbao GolTV Replay
3:30p UEFA Champions League Inter Milan vs. Marseille Fox Soccer Live
3:30p UEFA Champions League Bayern Munich vs. FC Basel Fox Soccer Plus Live
3:55p English Premier League Liverpool vs. Everton ESPN Deportes Taped
5:00p AC Milan Channel AC Milan vs. Lecce GolTV Replay
6:00p UEFA Champions League Bayern Munich vs. FC Basel Fox Soccer Replay
6:00p UEFA Champions League Inter Milan vs. Marseille Fox Soccer Plus Replay
8:00p UEFA Champions League Inter Milan vs. Marseille Fox Soccer Replay
8:30p UEFA Champions League Bayern Munich vs. FC Basel Fox Soccer Plus Replay
10:00p CONCACAF Champions League Monterrey vs. Monarcas Morelia Galavision Live
11:30p UEFA Champions League Bayern Munich vs. FC Basel Fox Soccer Replay

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
12:00a UEFA Champions League Inter Milan vs. Marseille Fox Soccer Plus Replay
3:00a Italian Serie A AC Milan vs. Lecce Fox Soccer Replay
4:00a Australian A-League Brisbane Roar vs. Adelaide United Fox Soccer Plus Replay
9:00a English Premier League Wolverhampton vs. Blackburn Fox Soccer Plus Replay
11:00a UEFA Champions League Bayern Munich vs. FC Basel Fox Soccer Plus Replay
12:00p UEFA Champions League Inter Milan vs. Marseille Fox Soccer Replay
1:00p French Ligue 1 Montpellier Herault SC vs. SM Caen Fox Soccer Plus Replay
3:00p Brazilian Soccer Corinthians vs. Guarani GolTV Replay
3:30p UEFA Champions League Chelsea FC vs. SSC Napoli Fox Soccer Live
3:30p UEFA Champions League Real Madrid vs. CSKA Moskva Fox Soccer Plus Live
5:00p Argentine Soccer Boca Juniors vs. Independiente GolTV Replay
6:00p UEFA Champions League Real Madrid vs. CSKA Moskva Fox Soccer Replay
6:00p UEFA Champions League Chelsea FC vs. SSC Napoli Fox Soccer Plus Replay
8:00p CONCACAF Champions League: Quarterfinal, Leg 2 Santos Laguna vs. Seattle Fox Soccer, Telefutura Live
8:00p Spanish Primera Division Racing Santander vs. Barcelona GolTV Replay
8:30p UEFA Champions League Real Madrid vs. CSKA Moskva Fox Soccer Plus Replay
10:00p CONCACAF Champions League: Quarterfinal, Leg 2 Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Toronto FC Fox Soccer, Telefutura Live

THURSDAY, MARCH 15

Time League or Competition Teams Network Live or Replay?
12:00a UEFA Champions League Chelsea FC vs. SSC Napoli Fox Soccer Plus Replay
3:00a CONCACAF Champions League: Quarterfinal, Leg 2 Santos Laguna vs. Seattle Fox Soccer Replay
3:00a Brazilian Soccer Corinthians vs. Guarani GolTV Replay
4:00a Italian Serie A Novara vs. Udinese Fox Soccer Plus Replay
9:00a Italian Serie A Novara vs. Udinese Fox Soccer Plus Replay
11:00a UEFA Champions League Inter Milan vs. Marseille Fox Soccer Plus Replay
1:00p UEFA Champions League Chelsea FC vs. SSC Napoli Fox Soccer Plus Replay
2:00p UEFA Europa League Athletic Bilbao vs. Manchester United GolTV Live
3:00p CONCACAF Champions League: Quarterfinal, Leg 2 Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Toronto FC Fox Soccer Replay
4:00p UEFA Europa League Manchester City vs. Sporting Lisbon GolTV Live
5:00p UEFA Champions League Bayern Munich vs. FC Basel Fox Soccer Replay
5:00p English npower Championship Bristol City vs. Cardiff City Fox Soccer Plus Replay
8:00p UEFA Champions League Chelsea FC vs. SSC Napoli Fox Soccer Replay
9:00p English Premier League Wolverhampton vs. Blackburn Fox Soccer Plus Replay
10:00p CONCACAF Champions League Pumas vs. Isidro Metapan Galavision Live
11:00p UEFA Champions League Real Madrid vs. CSKA Moskva Fox Soccer Replay