Nashville SC will help kick off MLS is Back Tournament

AP photo by Mark Zaleski / Nashville SC's Walker Zimmerman, third from right, celebrates his goal against Atlanta United FC during the first half of the Tennessee team's MLS debut on Feb. 29 at Nissan Stadium. Atlanta won 2-1.
AP photo by Mark Zaleski / Nashville SC's Walker Zimmerman, third from right, celebrates his goal against Atlanta United FC during the first half of the Tennessee team's MLS debut on Feb. 29 at Nissan Stadium. Atlanta won 2-1.

Major League Soccer will open its World Cup-style return tournament in Florida on July 8 with a doubleheader.

Orlando City will play expansion Inter Miami CF in the first match, followed by a game between the Chicago Fire and Nashville SC. The games will be the first time the league has been in action since play was shut down on March 12 because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The all-Florida opener is a nod to the tournament's host state. All games for the MLS is Back Tournament will be played without fans in attendance at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando.

The league released the schedule Wednesday, the first day teams could arrive for the tournament. The San Jose Earthquakes, who were limited in practice by local restrictions, were the first team to travel to Florida. Players will be tested upon arrival and then quarantined for 24 hours while awaiting the results.

MLS will be the second professional team sports league in the United States to return to the field. The National Women's Soccer League will play a tournament in Utah starting Saturday.

The 26 MLS teams will be divided into six groups for the opening round of the tournament, which will be played over 16 consecutive days. Group matches will count toward the regular-season standings.

Sixteen teams will advance to the knockout round, with the winner of the Aug. 11 title game earning a spot in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.

Among the highlights of the group stage is a match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and LA Football Club on July 18, and a Canadian rivalry match between the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC on July 15. The Seattle Sounders, the reigning league champions, open play against the Earthquakes on July 10.

The teams and select staff members will be sequestered during the tournament at two resorts for the duration of the tournament.

Upcoming Events