:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/5747171/20120229_mje_se2_253.jpg)
This week is a fairly busy one in North American soccer, though you wouldn't be blamed for not knowing it. CONCACAF is holding it's Olympic Qualifying tournament on US shores, with The Home Depot Center and LP Field hosting the group stages, with the US in Tennessee and Mexico in California. This means MLS youth like Brek Shea and the LA Galaxy's own Michael Stephens were not available for matches last weekend as they held camp and warmed up against the Atlanta Silverbacks.
The good news is Michael Stephens scored in that warmup, midway through the second half. Stephens isn't starting for that potential Olympic squad yet, but does seem to be making a name for himself. The US is favored to come out of their group top of the table.
At The Home Depot Center this weekend is the other group, this one with Mexico as the favorite to emerge. Mexican national team fans can watch the future of their team emerge on Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday. Of course not every star makes a stop on the U-23 team. Javier Hernandez went from U-20 to the Senior Team.
GREEN: Let the Games begin ... at Home Depot Center - The Daily Breeze
Want a taste of the Olympic experience without the cost and hassle of traveling to London this summer? The Olympics - in a sense - comes to Carson this week when regional qualifying gets under way for the mens soccer tournament.