Hard to believe, but 2015 is here. From a soccer perspective, that’s welcome news. While we’ve forlornly left a World Cup year in our wake, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into over the coming year. From YNT World Cups to a major senior tournament to another exciting year in college soccer, here’s a glimpse at what’s coming down the pipe this year. 

U17 World Cup (Oct. 17-Nov. 8)

This is a monster year for youth national team enthusiasts. While the U20 World Cup is generally a closer approximation to senior team projection, the U17 World Cup should be of particular interest to U.S. soccer fans. In 2013, the U17 team flamed out spectacularly in CONCACAF qualifying by losing to Honduras 3-1 in the quarterfinals. While that particular team might not have been a World Cup finals contender, failing to advance out of a relatively weak CONCACAF was unacceptable.

Head coach Richie Williams is back for another crack at it this year, but there’s even more pressure this time around. That isn’t just because he couldn’t take his side to the semifinals two years ago. This team is loaded with talent, maybe the most it’s had in recent memory, and failing to get this side through to the World Cup would be an even bigger disaster than 2013. The U.S. U17 team has enough talent to make a serious run, and a quarterfinals or semifinals appearance doesn’t seem all that outlandish for this side. But first it has to get through CONCACAF.

U20 World Cup (May 30-June 20) 

In 2007, the U.S. U20 team made its best World Cup run by winning its group, beating Uruguay in the first knockout stage and reaching the quarterfinals. It’s been a mixed bag at the three tournaments since. The U.S. didn’t emerge from its group in 2009, didn’t qualify in 2011 and was stomped by an unholy group alliance of Ghana, France and Spain in 2013. The team drew eventual champ France but didn’t win a game. So where do we go in 2015? Anyone’s guess, but there’s little question that getting out of CONCACAF qualifying for a second straight tournament is an absolute baseline must.

Considering qualifying starts later this month, we’ll know how ready this team is pretty quickly. Key European-based players like Fulham’s Emerson Hyndman and Utrecht’s Rubio Rubin might not be made available through qualifying, which will stretch depth and force coach Tab Ramos to get creative. But the story with the U20s isn’t dissimilar to that of the U17s. This team is as talented top to bottom as any in recent memory, and there will be no excuses for another poor showing. The keeping, defending, midfield and forward line are all very good.

Judging Ramos based on the 2013 U20 World Cup was almost impossible. The U.S.’s group made the USMNT group from the Brazil World Cup look like a game of paddy-cake, and the Americans were far and away the least talented of the four teams there. That hamstrung Ramos’ ability to coach his way out of a stifling group that begged for a magician more than a manager. That said, the gloves are off for 2015. Ramos has had a full cycle to prune his U20 side for this tournament, and expectations should reflect that.

Women’s World Cup (June 6-July 5)

With due respect to the two YNT World Cups going in 2015, the biggest soccer tournament of the year is the women’s showpiece in June. We’ve waited four years to see if the USWNT can avenge a brutal shootout loss to Japan in the final of the 2011 tournament, and that time arrives this summer in Canada. Questions mount around coach Jill Ellis’ stewardship of this side through a period of bizarre results, and there’s still the matter of 1999. For all its dominance the U.S. hasn’t won a Women’s World Cup in nearly 16 years. This is perhaps the least convincing the U.S. has been headed into a World Cup in recent memory, so maybe that’s the charm.

CONCACAF Gold Cup (July 7-26)

The Gold Cup is a soccer nerd’s dream tournament. Since it coincides with the heart of the MLS season and takes place during one of the few down periods for Europe-based players, it’s essentially a tournament for fringe senior team players and hot young prospects to take center stage. The plan worked in 2013 with the U.S. winning the tournament. Even Brek Shea didn’t look terrible. The pool for this tournament is always of interest to those who pay attention to the recesses of U.S. soccer, and this time there’s added incentive. If the U.S. wins the tournament again, it’ll automatically qualify for the 2017 Confederation’s Cup.