• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 18, 2025

MLS Set To Return With Tournament Starting July 8

  • Fans will not be in attendance for the tournament’s matches.
  • When the tournament is completed on August 11, MLS is aiming to resume its regular season.
Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
MLS tournament
Photo Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports

MLS will officially restart its 2020 season on July 8 with a tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

All 26 clubs will begin arriving in Florida on June 24 to prepare for the ‘MLS Is Back Tournament,’ which will run through August 11. The event will include 54 total matches, which will be held nearly every day. Matches will be held at 9 am, 8 pm, and 10:30 pm ET, with the vast majority being played in the evening.

The MLS Players Association approved a proposal from the league on June 3 which opened the door for the tournament to be held, but also modified the league’s new collective bargaining agreement. That agreement, a contentious process that led MLS to threaten locking out the players, saw a number of economic concessions agreed to by the player base including a league-wide salary cut of 7.5% and a cap on performance and individual bonuses. The CBA was also extended an additional year through the 2025 season.

Group stage matches during the tournament will count in the MLS regular season standings and the winner of the tournament will receive a spot in the Concacaf Champions League. Players will also be able to earn bonuses as part of a $1.1 million prize pool.

READ MORE: NWSL Stands to Gain Plenty of Exposure as First U.S. Team Sport Back

Fans will not be in attendance for the tournament’s matches. The league is expected to announce more details regarding the broadcasting of the event soon. ESPN is expected to produce the event, with that feed shared with other rightsholders. MLS said that the tournament’s broadcasts will “feature unique and experimental technologies, including virtual commercial displays, new camera positions, advanced audio and fan integration elements,” as well as additional access to players and coaches.

When the tournament is completed on August 11, MLS is aiming to resume its regular season in its home markets with a revised schedule. The league is also planning to hold its playoffs and MLS Cup championship game.

To ensure the safety of the players, the league has created a protocol that will ensure players are tested regularly. There will also be temperature screenings and questionnaires for Individuals traveling the tournament site or at the hotel or convention center where the players and staff will be staying. Players and coaches not on the field will also be required to wear masks.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Barstool-Fox Deal Shows NFL’s Portnoy Cold War Is Thawing

The Barstool-Fox alliance is a signal of how times have changed.

ESPN Bidding Against NBC, Apple for MLB Rights Package

The league continues to negotiate with multiple media-rights bidders.
exclusive

Clint Dempsey on New Job, USA’s ‘Once in a Lifetime’ World Cup

Dempsey said the World Cup is an enormous opportunity for the U.S.

Featured Today

Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
FIFA

Saudis Awarded 2034 World Cup in Uncontested Vote

Saudi Arabia was the only option after Australia decided not to bid.
May 20, 2024

Top Sports Business Jobs This Week (May 2024)

Each week, our staff combs through the thousands of job listings from…
The stands at the Solheim Cup
September 13, 2024

LPGA Apologizes for Solheim Cup Fan Bus Debacle That Left Stands Half-Empty

The USA-Europe women’s team golf event teed off Friday morning.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
October 3, 2022

Real Madrid President Renews Call for Super League

Real Madrid’s president believes that soccer is losing ground.
August 10, 2022

PGA Tour Touts Projected Earnings to Keep Players

The PGA Tour is asking its players to consider their potential futures.
August 10, 2022

Bayern Munich to Make Growth Push in U.S. Market

Bayern Munich is looking to expand its reach in the U.S.
Nintendo-logo
August 3, 2022

Nintendo Profits Underwhelm, Switch Sales Decline

Nintendo failed to meet expectations in the company’s latest earnings report.