The 2019 United Soccer Coaches Convention Is Here

After months of wintry dormancy, Chicago Soccer is back.

The Chicago Fire will host their home opener in just about two months. The Chicago Red Stars will kick off their 2019 campaign shortly after. Preseason for both teams is just weeks away. But the fun starts in earnest this week.

The 2019 edition of the United Soccer Coaches convention, a must-attend event for soccer professionals from across the US and around the world, is coming to Chicago. McCormick Place will host this massive gathering from Wednesday to Sunday, bringing together coaches, players, fans, front office executives, and media.

Two of the biggest days in the American Soccer calendar happen during the convention, the NWSL College Draft and the MLS SuperDraft. The Red Stars will make their moves on Thursday, while the Fire will are on the clock on Friday. There will be trades. There will be surprise picks. There will be drama. It’s going to be a wild ride.

And Hot Time In Old Town will be right there in the thick of it.

We’ll be bringing you full, comprehensive coverage live from McCormick Place throughout the week, with both the NWSL and MLS Drafts serving as centerpieces.

For NWSL coverage, Sandra and Claire will be kicking things off with a special preview episode of South Side Trap. During the Draft itself on Thursday, Sandra will be in the scrum getting quick reactions from rookie players, Rory Dames, and league officials, while Claire and Adriana bring you updates on Twitter. Claire will round up the day’s action later in the day on Thursday.

From the Fire Desk, we’ll get things started tomorrow with out pick in the SBNation Mock Draft. We’ll also bring you breaking news as it comes in, along with analysis and speculation. On Friday, Ruben, RJ, and myself will be in the ballroom as the Fire look to rebuild their roster with promising young rookies. RJ will be in the scrum while Ruben and I fight over the Twitter account. And when the smoke clears, I’ll bring you a recap of the Fire’s Draft Day business.

Throughout the week, I’ll be wandering the halls of the convention to take American Soccer’s temperature. Stay tuned for updates— and maybe one or two surprises.

Check back throughout the week for updates, analysis, and more from the United Soccer Coaches convention.