By Jayda Evans

The Seattle Times

I’m pretty sure I shoved my work calendar off my desk when an April email from the Sounders FC hit my inbox.

Stars, arrows and X’s were how I figured to clarify a MLS schedule with breaks, transfer windows and a U.S. Open Cup tournament intertwined with regular-season matches. Then the club released it would play a friendly on July 17.

An exhibition in the middle of the season? Check that. An exhibition in the middle of a week where the Sounders were already hosting the defending MLS Cup champions, defeating Atlanta on July 14, and archrival Portland on Sunday?

Sure, a meaningless Wednesday match makes total sense.

“(Scheduling) is one of the most complicated issues we have,” said Garth Lagerwey, general manager and president of soccer for the Sounders, before decoding the sport’s matrix.

Everything starts with FIFA, the governing body of professional soccer. Clubs have to be FIFA compliant in order to attract the elite players, who still prioritize playing for country over leagues.

To make that happen, there’s a FIFA calendar noting when international games or friendlies can happen — like the slating of the women’s World Cup alongside the men’s Copa America and CONCACAF Gold Cup, playing the finals of each on the same day to the ire of many fans.

Plenty of leagues across the globe simply take the FIFA calendar and design theirs, typically running from August to May.

But there are approximately 100 men’s leagues in the world. And not every country can play in December. So, it’s not just MLS being a relatively new league (established in 1996) with goals of being in line with the top leagues globally that puts a wrinkle in its scheduling.

Lagerwey said the league also has to consider weather in its mainly U.S.-based locale and stadium access for clubs like the Sounders and New England Revolution, who share stadium space with their NFL brothers.

True, soccer can be played in the snow. However, MLS would lose a matchup with the NFL over a desired Sunday in November.