Major League Soccer announced Saturday that the opening MLS is the Back Tournament Group B game between FC Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps, originally scheduled for July 9, to be postponed to a later date.
Vancouver was expected to arrive in Orlando for the tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 1. However, his trip was delayed due to two inconclusive COVID-19 tests. The tests later turned negative and the team will now depart for Orlando on Monday.
FC Dallas, who arrived in Florida on June 27, announced Wednesday that all players and staff were in quarantine after six players tested positive for COVID-19.
The postponement of the opening game for both teams in the tournament will provide additional days for training before Dallas and Vancouver begin the tournament on July 15, against the Seattle Sounders and San Jose Earthquakes, respectively. The rescheduled date for the FC Dallas vs. Vancouver Whitecaps will be announced at a later date.
Read the full MLS statement below:
Major League Soccer announced today that MLS is the Back Tournament Group B game between FC Dallas and Vancouver Whitecaps FC that has been postponed and will be played at a later date in the Group Stage presented by Heineken. More details will be announced at a later date.
Both teams will now play their first MLS games in the Returning Tournament on July 15, as FC Dallas will face Seattle Sounders FC at 9 am ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, TSN) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC will face the San Jose Earthquakes at 10:30 pm ET (TUDN, TSN).
The post match date will allow both teams additional training days in Orlando before their first match.
Vancouver was originally scheduled to arrive on July 1, but the team’s departure was delayed due to two inconclusive COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) test results during the pre-trip assessment. Subsequent test results were confirmed to be negative and the club will depart for Orlando on Monday, July 6.
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