MLS is Back Tournament schedule revealed. Here is who and when Inter Miami will play
Inter Miami fans, mark your calendars: July 8, July 14, July 19.
Major League Soccer released the full schedule for the upcoming MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando and Inter Miami will play the opening match July 8 at 8 p.m. against in-state rival Orlando City.
The game will be televised on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and TSN. It will be followed by a 10:30 p.m. game between Nashville SC and the Chicago Fire.
Miami’s other two group-stage games are July 14 at 9 a.m. against Chicago Fire (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, TSN) and July 19 at 10:30 p.m. against the Philadelphia Union (FS1, TUDN, TSN).
The tournament is being held at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
“Unfortunately, we had to stop for three months, we’re excited to get back and we’re preparing for the tournament and it’s very important for us to get good results,” said Inter Miami midfielder Victor Ulloa. “We want to win. We’re counting down the days. … We hope we can get back to playing in front of our fans soon.”
The 26-team made-for-TV 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 will count in the MLS regular-season standings and the tournament winner will earn a spot in the 2021 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.
“Everyone’s excited to finally be back playing,” Inter Miami defender Dylan Nealis said. “The season started off pretty well, even though the results [two road losses] were not quite what we wanted. We’re waiting for that July 8 opener against Orlando. Everybody knows what’s at stake, prize money and a spot in the Champions League.”
Inter Miami is in Group A along with Orlando City, New York City FC, Philadelphia Union, Chicago Fire and Nashville SC. It is the only group with six teams. The other five groups have four teams each. The top three finishers in Group A advance to the 16-team knockout round, as do the top two from the other groups as well as the top three third-place teams.
All teams and league personnel — a traveling party of more than 1,200 people — will be sequestered at the sprawling Swan and Dolphin resort. Everyone in the MLS bubble will be tested regularly for the coronavirus.
Teams will travel 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.
Inter Miami players, who began full-squad training June 9, have been tested for COVID-19 every other day. One unnamed player tested positive last week and is in isolation. He is asymptomatic and must have back-to-back negative results before he can rejoin the team.
The club’s 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.
Nealis said the players have enjoyed being back at their training grounds.
“People don’t want to leave the facility now that we’re back there,” he said. “Breakfast and lunch here, guys have finally been able to spend some time together, learn about each other. It’s been great.”
The team played a scrimmage in the stadium.
“It was unbelievable,” Nealis said. “That stadium is our home. We are looking forward to playing it, eventually, whenever that time comes. I wish our fans could be there with us in Orlando, but I hope they will be rooting us on from home. Hopefully watching us win the final.”
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 3:46 PM.