• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, February 18, 2011

The Fox Soccer outlet has extended its relationship with Major League Soccer to include this season, bringing around 31 games to the network, along with some playoff games under the one-year deal. Fox Soccer has carried MLS games since 2003.

Among the games in 2011, 15 will be on Saturday in prime time and 14 on Fridays in the evenings. The season begins March 19 with the Portland Timbers playing their first game, part of a "First Kick" backed by Dick's Sporting Goods.

Fox Soccer executive vice president David Nathanson stated that the network is "committed to providing soccer fans in America the best coverage possible, and this extension helps us keep that commitment."

The network is in 38 million-plus homes and also covers the English Barclays Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

MLS games are also carried on ESPN, and in Spanish by broadcast network TeleFutura and cable outlet Galavision, both part of Univision.

Fox Soccer recently named Jason Wormser as its vice president of production, after seven years at the NFL Network. Before that, he had worked at Fox in NFL and Major League Baseball production.