Major League Soccer is almost back, with the aptly named MLS is Back Tournament kicking off on July 8 in Florida. After the league suspended play on March 12 amid the coronavirus pandemic, the regular season will resume in a tournament format at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort, just outside Orlando. . (ESPN is owned by The Walt Disney Company).
The 26 clubs will participate, as the league divides them into five groups of four and one group of six. The top two in each group, and the top four third-place finishers, will advance to the knockout stages on the way to the final taking place on August 11.
How does MLS is Back work?
In the group stage, the MLS is Back Tournament works just like the regular season. The results of the three matches of each team will count towards the 2020 classification.
Those who advance from their groups will advance to the knockout rounds. These matches will not count towards the regular season total points, but the tournament winner will earn a place in the CONCACAF Champions League 2021. Players will also be eligible for $ 1.1 million prize bonuses.
By the time the tournament ends on August 11, MLS expects restrictions across the country to be relaxed enough that games can be held in a team’s stadium. Those games are likely to happen without fans, though there is hope that if the situation improves enough, fans will be able to attend the games before the season ends.
How often will there be tests?
All individuals considered “essential members” of a team delegation will be evaluated both before and after traveling to Orlando. Before the trip, these tests include two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests 24 hours apart. Players will also undergo a baseline serology (antibody) test as part of a physical examination that also includes a temperature check and a screening questionnaire.
Players, coaches and support staff will be evaluated every other day for two weeks after arriving in Florida. Those individuals, as well as the referees, will be evaluated regularly, even before each day.
MLS is back groups
Group A (Eastern Conference)
1. Orlando City SC
2. Inter Miami CF
3. New York City FC
4. Union of Philadelphia
5. Chicago Fire FC
6. Nashville SC
Group B (Western Conference)
1. Seattle Sounders FC
2. FC Dallas
3. Vancouver Whitecaps
4. San José earthquakes
Group C (Eastern Conference)
1. Toronto FC
2. New England Revolution
3. Montreal Impact
4. DC United
Group D (Western Conference)
1. Real Salt Lake
2. Sporting Kansas City
3. Colorado Rapids
4. Minnesota United FC
Group E (Eastern Conference)
1. Atlanta United FC
2. FC Cincinnati
3. New York Red Bulls
4. Columbus Crew SC
Group F (Western Conference)
1. LAFC
2. LA Galaxy
3. Houston Dynamo
4. Portland Timbers
MLS is the return schedule and tuning information
Wednesday, July 8
Orlando City SC vs. Inter Miami CF, 8 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Nashville SC vs. Chicago Fire FC, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Thursday, July 9
New York City FC vs. Philadelpia Union, 9 am ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Montreal Impact vs. New England Revolution, 8 pm ET, TUDN
FC Dallas vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 10:30 pm ET, TUDN
Friday, July 10
Toronto FC vs. DC United, 8 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Seattle Sounders FC vs San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Saturday, July 11
Atlanta United FC vs. New York Red Bulls, 8 pm ET, Fox / TUDN
FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew SC, 10:30 pm ET, FS1 / TUDN
Sunday july 12
Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United FC, 8 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Monday july 13
LAFC vs. Houston Dynamo, 8 pm ET, FS1 / TUDN
LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers, 10:30 p.m. ET, FS1 / TUDN
Tuesday July 14
Inter Miami CF vs. Chicago Fire FC, 9 am ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Philadelphia Union vs. Nashville SC, 8 pm ET, TUDN
Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC, 10:30 pm ET, TUDN
Wednesday July 15
Seattle Sounders FC vs FC Dallas, 9 am ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC, 8 pm ET, TUDN
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 pm ET, TUDN
Thursday July 16
Atlanta United FC vs. FC Cincinnati, 9 am ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
DC United vs. New England Revolution, 8 pm ET, FS1 / TUDN
Columbus Crew SC vs. New York Red Bulls, 10:30 pm ET, FS1 / TUDN
Friday, July 17
Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids, 8 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United FC, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Saturday, July 18
Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo, 8 pm ET, ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes
LAFC vs. LA Galaxy, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Sunday July 19
New York City FC v. Chicago Fire FC, 8 pm ET, FS1 / TUDN
Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami CF, 10:30 pm ET, FS1 / TUDN
Monday July 20
Orlando City SC vs. Nashville SC, 9 am ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
FC Dallas vs San Jose Earthquakes, 8 pm ET, TUDN
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 10:30 pm ET, TUDN
Tuesday July 21
Toronto FC vs. New England Revolution, 9 am ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Atlanta United FC vs. Columbus Crew SC, 8 pm ET, TUDN
Montreal Impact vs. DC United, 10:30 pm ET, TUDN
Wednesday July 22
Real Salt Lake vs. Sporting Kansas City, 9 am ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls, 8 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Colorado Rapids vs. Minnesota United FC, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Thursday, July 23
LA Galaxy vs Houston Dynamo, 8 pm ET, FS1 / TUDN
LAFC vs. Portland Timbers, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes
Saturday July 25
TBD round of 16 match, 8 pm ET, ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes
TBD round of 16 match, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes
Sunday, July 26
TBD round of 16 match, 8:30 pm ET, FS1
TBD round of 16 match, 11 pm ET, FS1 / TUDN
Monday July 27
TBD round of 16 match, 8:30 pm ET, FS1
TBD round of 16 match, 11 pm ET, FS1 / TUDN
Tuesday, July 28 TBD round of 16 match, 8 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
TBD round of 16 match, 10:30 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Thursday, July 30
TBD quarterfinals, 8 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
Friday, July 31
TBD quarterfinals, 8 pm ET, FS1 / TUDN
Saturday August 1
TBD quarterfinals, 8 pm ET, ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes
TBD quarterfinals, 10:30 pm ET, FS1 / TUDN
Wednesday August 5
TBD semifinal, 8 pm ET, FS1 / TUDN
Thursday August 6
TBD semifinal, 8 pm ET, ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes
Tuesday August 11
Final TBD, 8 pm ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes
.
