Canadian Dwayne De Rosario will try to lead the Houston Dynamo to their second straight Major League Soccer title. (Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

If all of the pre-season hype is any indication, 2007 could be the year that Major League Soccer sheds its "bush league" reputation and firmly establishes itself within the sporting conscience of American and Canadian sports fans.

This year, MLS expands to 13 clubs as Toronto FC makes its debut as the first Canadian team in the history of the league. With a new 20,000 seat stadium on the Toronto lakeshore and sold out crowds expected, the expansion franchise will breathe some new life into the league as it looks to increase its popularity and further grow the game of soccer in Canada and the United States.

Of course, everybody is counting down to Aug. 5th when David Beckham, the most famous athlete on the planet, is expected to make his MLS debut for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Toronto. If all goes well, the arrival of the former Manchester United star will give MLS major media coverage and exposure for the first time since the league's inaugural season in 1996.

Aside from Beckham, all eyes will be on defending MLS champions Houston Dynamo, led by Canadian midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, and whether they can become the first club to repeat since D.C. United won back-to-back titles in 1996 and 1997.

This will also be a critical year for the New England Revolution, the league's perennial bridesmaids. After finishing as runner-up three times (2002, 2005 and 2006), New England is anxious to finally deliver a championship to their long-suffering fans and prove that they can win the big one.

Here's a breakdown of the teams and players to watch on the road to the MLS Cup on Nov. 18 in Washington.

THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Toronto FC
As an expansion franchise, Toronto FC harbours no illusions of winning the MLS Cup. Coach Mo Johnston has said he all he wants to do this season is field a team that is entertaining to watch and can be relatively competitive in the Eastern Conference. It'll be up to a pair of Canadians - goalkeeper Greg Sutton and midfielder Jim Brennan - to anchor the team. American Richard Mulrooney and Irishman Ronnie O'Brien will help Brennan shoulder the load in midfield, while the goal-scoring burden will be split between forwards Alecko Eskandarian and Edson Buddle, both from the U.S. With surprising depth in midfield for an expansion club, Toronto FC could just squeak into the playoffs, which would have to be considered a major accomplishment. It won't be easy though and the club will have to fight for every point it earns in its first season.
Canadians on the roster: Richard Ashante (defender); Adam Braz (defender); Jim Brennan (midfielder); Tomer Chencinski (goalkeeper); Andrew Gray (midfielder); David Guzman (midfielder); Tyler Hemming (defender); Andrea Lombardo (forward); Stephen Lumley (defender); Chris Pozniak (defender); Marco Reda (defender); Greg Sutton (goalkeeper)
Key player: Jim Brennan - the veteran Canadian will be expected to hold together the midfield in Toronto's first season.

THE FAVOURITES

Houston Dynamo
2006 record: 11-8-13 (2nd in Western Conference)
2006 result: MLS Cup champions
What can the Dynamo, who relocated from San Jose last season, do for an encore after winning the MLS Cup in their first campaign in Houston? Hopes are high that the Dynamo can repeat as league champions after an excellent pre-season that saw the club win the Carolina Challenge Cup. Houston also re-signed forward Brian Ching to a new deal; a smart move, considering the American tallied 11 goals last season. Aside from Adrian Serioux (now with FC Dallas), Houston didn't lose any key players from last year's championship squad. And any team with Canadian midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, one of the most creative and dangerous players in the league, has to be considered a serious title challenger.
Canadians on the roster: Dwayne De Rosario (midfielder); Pat Onstad (goalkeeper)
Key player: Dwayne De Rosario - the Canadian bagged 11 goals last season and was the major reason why Houston won the MLS Cup.

D.C. United
2006 record: 15-7-10 (1st in Western Conference)
2006 result: lost in conference final
D.C. United were the best team during last year's regular season, but a lack of offensive firepower cost them in the Eastern Conference finals. The team addressed that problem by signing Brazilian forwards Luciano Emilio (from CD Olimpia of Honduras) and Fred (from Melbourne Victory FC).The Brazilian duo will compliment Bolivian forward Jaime Moreno, the team's career goals leader. Opponents will have trouble scoring against a United team that is solid at the back with Troy Perkins (voted goalkeeper of the year in 2006) and Bobby Boswell (defender of the year).
Key player: Christian Gomez - last year's league MVP, the veteran Argentine will run United's potent attack from midfield.

OUTSIDE CONTENDER

New England Revolution
2006 record: 12-8-12 (2nd in Eastern Conference)
2006 result: MLS Cup finalists
Runners-up the last two years, the Revolution will try to break through the glass ceiling this season and win its first MLS Cup. New England has quality players at each position, including Matt Reis, one of best goalkeepers in MLS, while Taylor Twellman and Pat Noonan give coach Steve Nicol a dangerous 1-2 scoring punch up front. Even with the loss of Clint Dempsey (sold to English club Fulham) and Jose Cancela (taken by Toronto in the expansion draft), the Revolution have plenty of depth in midfield and veteran Avery John is a rock in defence.
Key player: Taylor Twellman - the St. Louis native will be looking to improve on his 11 goals from a season ago.

DARK HORSE

Coming to America: David Beckham. (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty Images)

Los Angeles Galaxy
2006 record: 11-15-6 (5th in Western Conference)
2006 result: didn't make playoffs

The Galaxy have a point to prove after missing the playoffs in 2006, a year after it won its second MLS Cup. Led by one of the best coaches in the league in Canadian Frank Yallop, Los Angeles also have added incentive in 2007 - veteran Cobi Jones, one of the top American players of all-time, is retiring at the end of the season. And of course there is the Beckham factor. The former England captain won't join the team until the summer after half the season is completed, but when he does arrive, he'll elevate the Galaxy to an entirely new level.
Canadians on the roster: Ante Jazic (midfielder); Frank Yallop (head coach)
Key player: David Beckham - who else? The Galaxy can't help but improve on their mediocre form from a year ago with the Englishman in their lineup.

ON THE RISE

Real Salt Lake
2006 record: 10-13-9 (6th in Western Conference)
2006 result: didn't make playoffs
Owner Dave Checketts put pressure on his players when he publicly said the club has to make the playoffs this year, something the team has yet to do since joining MLS in 2005. The additions of midfielder Freddy Adu will bolster the team's playoff hopes. Jason Kreis, the league's all-time leading scorer, recently switched from forward to midfielder. He'll be expected to quickly adapt to his new position as a playmaker and provide scoring chances for the dangerous Jeff Cunningham, who will lead the line up front.
Key player: Freddy Adu - the teenager under-whelmed in his first three seasons in MLS with D.C. United. A change in scenery could lead to him finally breaking out as a major star.

ON A SLIDE

New York Red Bulls
2006 record: 9-11-12 (4th in Eastern Conference)
2006 result: lost in conference semifinals
Coach Bruce Arena will have his work cut out for himself in his first full season in charge at New York, especially after the Red Bulls failed to strengthen their squad in the off-season. Claudio Reyna, the former U.S. national team captain, will be called upon to lead the charge in the centre of midfield, but the veteran is a bit of question mark - he's suffered with knee problems the past few years playing in England. And who will score the goals? Lacking depth at the forward position, New York traded for Clint Mathis but it's hard to see him having much of an impact.
Key player: Claudio Reyna - the former Manchester City star will orchestrate New York's attack in midfield, if he can stay healthy.