The MLS has announced it will return on July 8th - playing a World Cup style tournament in Orlando.
Teams were split into six groups, three for each conference, and will then go into a knockout stage.
The situation in the USA presents a unique challenge for the continuation of local sports leagues, as the pandemic in the country is still nowhere near being under control - although with a severity that differs from state to state.
Additionally, the MLS season was stopped before it gained any momentum, halting after two games. Unlike European football leagues who completed a large portion of their seasons and could continue from the same point, MLS had to improvise a condensed schedule to salvage the 2020 season, therefore a summer tournament seems like the most logical solution - at least for the meantime, as there is still hope the traditional league will resume later on.
The summer tournament will start on July 8th and conclude on August 11th, and will be played behind closed doors in Orlando. Florida state has earlier deemed sports and live entertainment shows as “essential services” to the public, a controversial decision that allowed organizations such as WWE and UFC to operate freely under its jurisdiction. More leagues, such as MLS and NBA, will now follow.
Due to the Florida heat, the games’ hours will be played in slightly unconventional time slots - 9 am, 8 pm and 10:30 pm (ET). However, this fact can also give the league more exposure in other markets around the world.
Teams are split into six groups (five groups of four teams, and one of six teams), with the first two automatically qualifying for the knockout stage. The four best third-placed teams will complete the bracket. The tournament winner will enter the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.
Being the first major sports league in the USA to return to action after the covid-19 pandemic, MLS will hope for a successful summer, both in terms of football quality, drama and additional exposure, and also by setting the protocol standards for other leagues in the country as they resume activity.
