Major League Soccer announces schedule for 2020 continuation

SEATTLE, WASH. – Major League Soccer today announced its schedule for the initial phase of the continuation of the regular season 2020, with Sounders FC set to play their first game after the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando on Sunday, August 23 against the Portland Timbers at Providence Park (7.00 PT / FS1). The initial tenure of six games includes other road fixtures against the LA Galaxy (August 26) and Real Salt Lake (September 2). The club returns for CenturyLink Field for the first time since March with a home date on August 30 against Los Angeles FC (7pm PT / FS1), with other home games scheduled against Portland (September 6) and San Jose (September 10). Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis for public health, these home games are scheduled to be played without fans.

Due to travel restrictions between the US and Canada, MLS today announced the initial phase of the league’s revised schedule with each American club playing six games through September 14th. Major League Soccer continues to work with the league’s three Canadian clubs regarding plans to advance to the regular season. More details on schedules for the Canadian teams will be announced in the near future. MLS plans to announce the balance of the regular season schedule in early September, as the league continues to work with infectious disease experts, league and club medical staff, and government officials in all markets to map out a course for completing the 2020 season.

Each club plays 18 extra regular season games in a phased approach, culminating in Decision Day on Sunday 8 November. To win the three games missing from the tournament, FC Dallas and Nashville SC will play an additional three games, against each other, with the first two games on August 12 and 16 and a third game to be scheduled in the fall schedule. being. In an extension of the postseason for 2020, 18 clubs will participate in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs – up from 14 teams last year. MLS Cup will be played on December 12th.

“While we wish we could play this first batch of home games for our incredible fans, we have always said that public health should come first, and we will continue to let our regional health protocols guide this process,” said Sounders FC General Manager and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. ‘Some really valuable lessons were learned on the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, and collectively we know what we need to do to continue playing games safely. Hopefully we can enjoy our club with the appropriate security measures in place for our community in these sad times as we all continue to do our part in the fight against COVID-19. “

Rave Green’s regional television house, Q13 FOX / JOEtv is ready to broadcast Sounders FC’s matches in West Washington. Over on Sportradio KJR 950 AM, Sounders Weekly with Jackson Felts resuming, Tuesday at 7 p.m., broadcast PT. Fans can vote on August 18 to see the fixture of the weekend against the Timbers. All six scheduled matches will be broadcast on Sports Radio 950 AM KJR. The club’s Spanish language house El Rey 1360 AM also hosts every contest, with its studio show Somos Sounders FC continue on Saturday morning at 10:30 PT. Both radio broadcasts have 30-minute pre- and post-match shows around each match.

As with the MLS is Back Tournament, COVID-19 test protocols again play an important role in the competitive framework of MLS. MLS stays closely with the infectious disease advisors and the MLSPA advisors on the testing plan. All clubs form test partnerships with a locally certified lab, and all players, technical staff and essential club staff are tested every other day, including the day before each match day. Guidelines are also given to players, coaches and essential staff to avoid the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 in their time away from club facilities.

In addition to following health, safety and medical protocols, another focus of the new scheme is efficient travel. Teams take charter flights, and for the majority of road trips, they arrive at the host market on match day and will depart later that evening after the match.

2020 MLS CONTINUATION OF PLAY INITIAL PHASE SCHEDULE – SOUNDERS FC

DAY	DATE	SERVICE	KICKOFF (PT) / TV
Sunday	August 23	in Portland	19.00 hrs / FS1
Wednesday	August 26th	by LA Galaxy	TBD / JOEtv
Sunday	August 30th	against Los Angeles FC	19.00 hrs / FS1
Wednesday	2 September	by Real Salt Lake	18:30 hrs / Q13
Sunday	6 September	vs. Portland	19.00 o’clock / JOEtv
Thursday	10 September	against San Jose	19.00 o’clock / JOEtv