| Country: | the United States |
| Soccer: | yes |
| Season: | 2012 |
| Division1: | Supporters' Shield |
| Champions1: | San Jose Earthquakes |
| Division2: | NASL |
| Champions2: | San Antonio Scorpions |
| Division3: | USL Pro |
| Champions3: | Charleston Battery |
| Division4: | NPSL |
| Champions4: | FC Sonic |
| Division5: | PDL |
| Champions5: | Forest City London |
| Domestic: | US Open Cup |
| Dchampions: | Sporting Kansas City |
| Leaguecup: | MLS Cup |
| Lchampions: | Los Angeles Galaxy |
| Prevseason: | 2011 |
| Nextseason: | 2013 |
| Flagicon: | yes |
The 2012 season is the 100th season of competitive soccer in the United States.
| Team | Outgoing | Manner | Date | Table | Incoming | Date | Table | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Rapids | Gary Smith | Fired | November 7, 2011 | 5th (Western Conference) | Óscar Pareja | January 5, 2012[1] | Off-season | |
| Philadelphia Union | Peter Nowak | Resigned | June 13, 2012 | 9th (Eastern Conference) | John Hackworth | June 13, 2012[2] | 9th (Eastern Conference) | |
| Portland Timbers | John Spencer | Fired | July 9, 2012 | 8th (Western Conference) | Gavin Wilkinson | July 9, 2012[3] | 8th (Western Conference) | |
| C.D. Chivas USA | Robin Fraser | Fired | November 9, 2012 | 9th (Western Conference) | José Luis Sánchez Solá | December 8, 2012[4] | Off-season | |
| New York Red Bulls | Hans Backe | End of Contract | November 9, 2012 | 3rd (Eastern Conference) | Mike Petke | November 9, 2012[5] | Off-season |
See main article: 2012 North American Soccer League season.
See main article: 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The 99th edition of the annual national championship, the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, ran from May 15 through August 8. Sporting Kansas City defeated Seattle Sounders FC on penalty kicks 3-2 for the championship.The winner qualified for the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League Group stage.
In 2012, U.S. Soccer announced that the field would expand from 40 clubs to 64 clubs,[6] that all MLS teams would receive an automatic berth, and that all 2nd and 3rd tier professional leagues would also receive an automatic berth.
The tournament is a single game, single elimination tournament with random drawings deciding the home team (provided the home team stadium meets USSF standards)[7] for the first round through the quarterfinals. The home team for the semi-finals and finals will be determined through competitive bidding as has been done in prior years.
Teams from the Premier Development League (16 berths), the United States Adult Soccer Association (9 berths), the National Premier Soccer League (6 berths), and US Club Soccer (1 berth) will enter the tournament in the first round. The winners will advance to the 2nd round where they will meet tier 3, USL Pro (10 berths) and tier 2 North American Soccer League professional teams. The second round winners will in turn meet the 16 MLS clubs in the third round. In the remaining rounds of the tournament, winners will advance in each round until the two teams meet in the finals on August 6 or 7th.
Qualification for the lower tiers of the soccer pyramid was mostly completed by April 29[8] and the pairings for the first two rounds were released on May 1.[9]
| U.S. Open Cup | Sporting Kansas City | |
| Major League Soccer | MLS Supporters' Shield | San Jose Earthquakes |
| MLS Cup | Los Angeles Galaxy | |
| NASL | Regular season | San Antonio Scorpions |
| Playoffs | Tampa Bay Rowdies | |
| USL Pro | Regular season | Orlando City |
| Playoffs | Charleston Battery | |
| WPSL Elite | Western New York Flash | |
| W-League | Ottawa Fury Women | |
| Women's Premier Soccer League | Gulf Coast Texans |
| USL Premier Development League | Forest City London | |
| National Premier Soccer League | FC Sonic Lehigh Valley | |
| NCAA Division I Soccer Championship | Indiana | |
| NCAA Division II Soccer Championship | Lynn University | |
| NCAA Division III Soccer Championship | Messiah College | |
| NAIA Soccer Championship | Belhaven (MS) |
| NCAA Division I Soccer Championship | North Carolina | |
| NCAA Division II Soccer Championship | West Florida | |
| NCAA Division III Soccer Championship | Messiah College | |
| NAIA Soccer Championship | Lindsey Wilson (KY) |
| Club | Competition | Final round |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Galaxy | 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League | Quarterfinals |
| Seattle Sounders FC | Quarterfinals | |
| Houston Dynamo | 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League | Quarterfinals |
| Los Angeles Galaxy | Semifinals | |
| Real Salt Lake | Group stage | |
| Seattle Sounders FC | Semifinals |