Schedule, format, rules (no jersey-swapping) for MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando
Major League Soccer on Wednesday announced details for the league’s plan to restart the 2020 season with the MLS is Back Tournament at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.
The 26-team made-for-T.V. event, which will be played without fans in attendance, begins July 8 with the group stage and concludes with the championship on Aug. 11. The three group-stage matches count in the MLS regular-season standings and the tournament winner earns a spot in the 2021 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League. The draw will take place Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
All teams and league personnel -- a traveling party of over 1,200 people -- will be sequestered at the sprawling Swan and Dolphin resort, which will provide enhanced cleaning and capacity management. Everyone in the MLS bubble will be tested regularly for the coronavirus. Teams are required to travel to Orlando on charter flights and must arrive no later than seven days before their first game. Prior to traveling, all members of each team’s delegation must undergo two COVID-19 tests 24 hours apart and undergo a baseline antibody test and temperature check.
Teams will travel around Orlando on their own buses, meals will be regulated and on-site, and leisure activities such as golf and swimming will be on Disney property. No visitors will be allowed, including family members. Players and coaches must wear face masks on the bench, and jersey-swapping and kissing of the ball are prohibited. There will be no national anthem ceremonies.
There is a chance MLS players may attend NBA games, and vice versa, as the NBA is also resuming its season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in July.
Inter Miami players, who began full-squad training this week and have been tested for COVID-19 every other day since last Friday, are eager to resume competing. Their inaugural season was abruptly interrupted after two games in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic, just a few days shy of their scheduled home debut at their new Fort Lauderdale stadium.
“We’re all excited to be able to get back out there and do what we love and start playing soccer again,” said veteran Inter Miami midfielder Lee Nguyen. “We’re ready to get the season rolling again. This is what we live for. It’s great to train every day and whatnot, but we want to get out there, play games and compete for titles. This is a way for us to get out there and start doing that.”
Inter Miami midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro, one of the team’s designated players and a member of the Mexican national team, added: “Our aspirations are to be the champions of the tournament. That’s what we’re going to fight for in every match, to be champions. We ask our fans to follow us on TV because we’re going to give it all out on the field to bring joy to them.”
As the club prepares for the summer tournament, one of the priorities is a support group for the players’ families, said Inter Miami COO and Sporting Director Paul McDonough. Players will be gone from home for as long as five weeks, so the club wants to make sure spouses, children, girlfriend, and even their dogs are taken care of. The team will leave for Orlando “as late as possible” so players can enjoy the comforts of home and club facilities.
“Wil Trapp’s wife has a young baby, so she’s probably going to need some help, groceries, rides to Dr. appointements. Lewis Morgan’s girlfriend is here from overseas, doesn’t know anyone, so we need someone checking in on her, socializing, we have to help young guys take care of their dogs,” McDonough said.
Although a five-week tournament away from home is not ideal, under the circumstances, Inter Miami players and personnel welcome the challenge.
“Nothing will be perfect in the post-pandemic era, but we just have to accept that’s what it is and the most important thing is it gets us back playing,” McDonough said.
MLS is Back Tournament schedule
Clubs will begin arriving in Orlando as early as June 24 for preseason training. Clubs such as Inter Miami that can conduct full team training in their markets pursuant to the league’s medical and testing protocols can arrive in Orlando a week later.
Similar to a FIFA World Cup format, the tournament will feature matches nearly every day, with games beginning at 9 a.m., 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. EDT. The majority of the matches will be played in the evening. Game times were chosen because of the summer weather in Orlando in an attempt to avoid the hottest, wettest parts of the day.
After 16 consecutive days of group stage matches, the top two teams from each group along with the four best third-place finishers will move on to the knockout stage.
The knockout stage will include a Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Championship match will take place on August 11. Matches tied at the end of regulation in the knock-out phase will proceed directly to a penalty kick shootout.
In addition to matches that count in the regular season standings and the Champions League berth, players will have the opportunity to earn additional bonuses as part of a $1.1 million prize pool.
The player substitution rules for the tournament will follow the new protocol set by the IFAB and allow five substitutions per match. In addition, teams may name up to 23 players on each official match day roster. Also, video review will be used by referees.
“We are pleased to team up with Disney to relaunch the 2020 MLS season and get back to playing soccer,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “The opportunity to have all 26 clubs in a controlled environment enables us to help protect the health of our players, coaches and staff as we return to play. We also recognize that the death of George Floyd and others has focused our country on issues of racial injustice, inequality and violence against black men and women. Together with our owners, players and staff, the League and its Clubs are deeply committed to creating meaningful and impactful programs to address these issues that have plagued our society for far too long.”
Major League Soccer is familiar with the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, as it held its 1998 preseason at the complex, and hosted events for the 1998 and 2019 MLS All-Star Games at the facilities.
“Sports have the power to unify and inspire, particularly during challenging times,” said Josh D’Amaro, chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. “And we’re looking forward to bringing this exciting sport back to millions of fans, while prioritizing the health and well-being of the players, coaches and support staff as well as our cast members.”
Garber said he is “very optimistic” that games will return to home stadiums at some point this season, but he is not sure when or if any fans will be allowed to attend.
MLS tournament seedings
The 26 teams in the MLS is Back Tournament will be drawn into one of six groups during a live draw that will take place Thurs. June 11 at 3:30 p.m. EDT. For the remainder of the 2020 MLS season, Nashville SC will be moved to the Eastern Conference. The Eastern Conference will have three groups, one consisting of six teams and two consisting of four teams each. The Western Conference will have three groups, each consisting of four teams.
As the host club, Orlando City SC will be given the top seed in Group A, which will be the six-team group, and will play in the first match on July 8. The five remaining seeds will consist of the four semifinalists from the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs – Atlanta United, Los Angeles Football Club, Seattle Sounders FC, Toronto FC – and Real Salt Lake (the team with the next highest points total in the Western Conference from the 2019 season). The seeded teams will be drawn into their respective groups first and then the remaining 20 clubs will be drawn and distributed across the conference-based groups.
Inter Miami coach Diego Alonso said his players look in good shape despite the time off, and that the Orlando tournament is “the best option we have” to re-boot the season.
Key Dates:
June 24: Teams begin arriving in Orlando
July 8: MLS is Back tournament group stage begins
July 25-28: Round-of-16
July 30- Aug. 1: Quarterfinals
August 5-6: Semifinals
August 11: Championship Final
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 9:05 AM.