Major League Soccer returns Wednesday with a World Cup-style tournament – the MLS is Back Tournament – that will be held at the ESPN Wide World…
Major League Soccer returns Wednesday with a World Cup-style tournament – the MLS is Back Tournament – that will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, and is scheduled to complete with the championship game on Aug. 11.
Group stage games count toward the league’s standings for the 2020 season, which was suspended March 12 after just two weeks of play. The MLS is Back Tournament winner earns a spot in the 2021 Concacaf Champions League.
The top three teams in Group A as well as the top two teams in Groups B, C, D, E and F advance to the knockout round. The next three highest-ranked teams in the group stage based on points also advance to complete the 16-team knockout round field.
But it has not gotten off to a perfect start. FC Dallas was forced to withdraw from the tournament after 10 players tested positive for coronavirus. Additionally, Nashville SC has had five positive tests, resulting in the postponement of one of their matches. The league said it “will continue to evaluate Nashville SC’s participation in the MLS is Back Tournament following the results of additional testing.”
Players and coaches in Orlando, however, expressed confidence in the bubble system while speaking at media days ahead of the tourney.
“It’s complicated in terms of what’s being experienced around the world, and yes there is some fear not to get sick, but we’re here with another idea,” Alan Polido of Sporting KC said. “We’re following the protocol and focused on why we’re here.”
ESPN will broadcast games between ESPN and ESPN2, with those games also available to be streamed live on the ESPN app and on Watch ESPN. Fox Sports will air matches between Fox and FS1, and Univision (TUDN) will air the other matches.
