Soccer Watch

Austin Aztex season tickets went on sale this week – still $50, for seven games, plus the first round U.S. Open Cup game (if the Aztex are selected to host), and any home playoff games. See www.austinaztex.com for the schedule (weekend nights, 7:30pm, May 18 to July 13 at House Park), or to buy tickets.

The final round of World Cup Qualifying starts this week for the U.S. men, who open the six-team, 10-game hexagonal in Honduras. The Americans should be favorites on paper, but Central America is a notoriously tough place for visiting teams, and the U.S. is coming off a very dismal, scoreless draw with Canada in their final tune-up. True, the U.S. wasn't fielding their A-team of European-based players, but it doesn't at this point look like they'll be getting much production from the guys who are supposed to be role players for this squad. The game is at 3pm Wednesday, Feb. 6, on beIN Sport, available only on DirecTV, Dish Network, and closed-circuit at Fadó, and perhaps other soccer bars around town.

Monday, Feb. 4, is the last day to register for the second annual Copa Esperanza 7x7 co-ed soccer tournament, presented by the Austin Co-ed Soccer Association, Saturday, Feb. 16, at Northeast Metro Park in Pflugerville. Teams or players interested in playing should consult www.acsasoccer.org/copa.php. All proceeds benefit two excellent local nonprofits – Casa Marianella and Villa Esperanza.