Soccer Focusing on National Teams as Spring Passes Into Summer

Now that the soccer leagues other than America's Major League Soccer have finished their seasons, the summertime soccer focus has switched to national teams.  In men's soccer, there are many exhibition games, for some reason called "Friendlies", going on between national teams.  Today, for example, the USA team plays against Germany in such a contest (which can be seen on TV).  There are World Cup tournaments going on this summer as well: the U20 World Cup featuring players under the age of 20 and the Women's World Cup.  The U20 play is currently in the quarterfinal stage, while the Women's competition has just begun its group stage...

In the Women's World Cup there are six groups, each with four teams that will play the teams within each group twice, one "at home" and one "away"...actually, the games are all being played at various locations within Canada.  The top two finishers in each group will advance to the "sixteen" stage, along with the four third place finishers with the best records.  The United States is in the same group as Sweden, Nigeria, and Australia.  They defeated Australia 3-1 in their first match.  Both the Women's World Cup and the U20 World Cup are being shown at various times on TV...check your listings if you're interested.  There is also a U17 World Cup, but I haven't seen any TV broadcasts of their games...

And, of course, there is still MLS, which plays its games (generally) over the weekend...