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Jeff Carlisle
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American football correspondent- Jeff Carlisle covers the MLS and the US national team for ESPN FC.
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Stefano Fusaro
Four more members of the FC Dallas contingent at the MLS Is Back Tournament, three players and a coach, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Athletic was the first to report the news.
The new results bring the total number of positive tests since the team reached Orlando to 10, nine of which are players.
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Both MLS and FC Dallas declined to comment.
Earlier that day, MLS confirmed that six FC Dallas players had tested positive since their arrival in Orlando. This adds to three positive tests for FC Dallas players before the team leaves for Central Florida. It was unclear whether the three players who tested positive for the first time traveled with the team to Orlando.
Additional positive evidence has questioned Dallas’ participation in the tournament. Dallas currently has 19 players remaining in Orlando who have tested negative for COVID-19.
A source with knowledge of the situation said several FC Dallas-related scenarios are being considered, including the delay of their first game, scheduled for July 9 against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Other programming modifications are also being considered. The source added that canceling the tournament is not something that has been discussed by the league.
According to the MLS Players Tournament Manual, a copy of which has been obtained by ESPN, anyone testing positive for COVID-19 should immediately put on a face mask and participate in a triage assessment conducted by a telehealth provider in Orlando Health. The individual will be transported to an isolation area where repeated tests will be performed. The individual will receive meals, will be monitored and will remain isolated until they receive authorization from MLS medical personnel. All close contacts will be identified, and those people will be quarantined in their room and provided with evidence.
The complex where the team will be staying will immediately provide cleaning and disinfection of the areas where the individual had recently been.
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