MLS schedule looks front-loaded

Balance may be the byword when it comes to this year's MLS schedule, but in terms of identifying individual games with maximum intrigue, the league's slate of games is heavily front-loaded.

With 16 teams now on board, MLS will operate more like other leagues around the world. In the past the number of teams, the conference format, and an emphasis on rivalry games resulted in an unbalanced schedule. Not so this season, in which each team will square off against the other 15 clubs home and away for a total of 30 games.

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Sigi Schmid and the Sounders are looking to build on their impressive inaugural season.

Of course, some schedules are more equal than others. Those teams engaging in the SuperLiga and CONCACAF Champions League will face a more packed calendar, one that conveniently rears its head just as the playoffs are approaching. This will be a new experience for the likes of Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders FC, while the Columbus Crew -- courtesy of their progression to the quarterfinals of this year's edition of the CCL -- could play more than 50 competitive games this year. How those extracurricular activities affect each of these squads during the campaign's stretch run could have a telling effect on the playoff race.

Historically, the World Cup has also tended to create some competitive disparities, with teams often forced to do without their top stars for the better part of two months. Given what will likely be a reduced number of MLS players comprising the U.S. World Cup roster, this impact should be lessened a bit this time. The playing field has been leveled even further when you consider that the league has gone to a drastically reduced schedule during the tournament. It's not perfect, since players will begin departing for the national teams in early May, but the decision to schedule fewer games during soccer's biggest party will at least allow teams to field their strongest lineups more often.

Given the league's status as a warm-up act to the World Cup, perhaps that explains why so many of the more interesting matchups are shoehorned into the opening weeks of the season, lest they get swallowed up in the dog days of summer. Here are some of the more captivating encounters.

1. Seattle Sounders vs. Philadelphia Union, March 25

Peter Nowak's side will get quite an MLS baptism. Not only are eight of the Union's first 10 games on the road, but they'll make their league debut against what is easily the best-supported team in MLS. As for Seattle, after enjoying an inaugural season in which it did nearly everything right, the Sounders will be aiming to prove it wasn't a fluke.

2. New York Red Bulls vs. Chicago Fire, March 27

The fact New York's Hans Backe and Chicago's Carlos de los Cobos will each be making their MLS coaching debuts is absorbing enough, but the focus of this match will surely be on the opening -- at least in MLS terms -- of Red Bull Arena. The process by which the stadium was built was tortured to say the least, with numerous false starts. Red Bulls fans will be hoping their long wait will be worthwhile.

3. Kansas City Wizards vs. D.C. United, March 27

Talk about instant karma. When ex-Wizards manager Curt Onalfo signed on to take the same position with D.C. United, the intrigue-meter went off the charts for this match. The pregame handshake between Onalfo and the man who fired him, Wizards head coach Peter Vermes, should be chilly to say the least.

4. Philadelphia Union vs. D.C. United, April 10

After spending the first two weeks of the season on the road, Philly will finally get to play in front of the home folks, with the Sons of Ben expected to be in full voice. The fact Nowak will be facing the team he led to a championship back in 2004 only adds to the festivities.

5. Houston Dynamo vs. L.A. Galaxy, April 10

The Dynamo has spent most of the offseason wondering how Andrew Hainault's apparent goal in the Western Conference final against L.A. was waved off, a match in which the Galaxy ultimately prevailed 2-0. An early season victory over L.A. won't make up for that defeat, but it is an opportunity for Houston to establish some early season mojo, something it's struggled to do each of the past three years.

6. Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake, April 17

Speaking of revenge, L.A. will no doubt be aiming to put one over on its MLS Cup nemesis in this early season encounter. RSL meanwhile will just be hoping to safely navigate its way through a brutal stretch of games in April. In addition to facing the Galaxy, RSL host Seattle and are away to Houston and Columbus. Nasty indeed.

7. Philadelphia Union vs. Seattle Sounders FC, June 27

It seems a shame that Philadelphia will christen its new stadium, PPL Park, when the World Cup is in full swing. But so the scheduling gods (as well as those in charge of stadium construction) have decreed. With the season around the halfway point, it will be an interesting time to gauge how the Union have survived their brutal opening run of games.

8. San Jose Earthquakes vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, Aug. 21

This incarnation of the California Clasico will have a twist. It will be the first time that David Beckham and Landon Donovan will get to experience the intimate surroundings of Buck Shaw Stadium. Ever since the rivalry was renewed in 2008, the Northern California derby matches have taken place at the Oakland Coliseum. On this occasion fans will get a much closer view of their archenemies.

9. Chivas USA vs. Toronto FC, Oct. 9

It's a bit long to wait for a homecoming, but perhaps that's the way Toronto FC manager Preki prefers things after spending the previous four seasons on the Goats' staff, either as an assistant or as head coach. And among the familiar faces he'll see when he looks at the opposing bench is his former assistant, Martin Vasquez, who is now Chivas USA's manager.

10. Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado, Oct. 23

This now annual fixture on the last week of the regular season has had playoff implications each of the past two years. And on both occasions RSL has prevailed. Both teams are hoping that their playoff fate will have long been decided, but given the enmity that has built up expect some heated exchanges no matter what the stakes.

Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPNsoccernet. He is also the author of "Soccer's Most Wanted II: The Top 10 Book of More Glorious Goals, Superb Saves and Fantastic Free-Kicks." He also writes for Centerlinesoccer.com and can be reached at eljefe1@yahoo.com.