The MLS is Back Tournament is set to begin on July 8 to mark the league’s return from its coronavirus pandemic hiatus.
The league’s 26 teams will be split into six groups for the tournament which will be held without fans. All teams will play three group matches with the top 16 teams advancing to the knockout round and the winner earning a spot in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.
Group play will run through July 23.
The final match will be played on August 11 and the prize pool for the tournament is $1.1 million.
A full look at the MLS is Back Tournament schedule can be seen below.
2020 MLS is Back Tournament Groups
MLS MLS2020 MLS is Back Tournament Schedule
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| Group stage | July 8 – 23 |
| Round of 16 | July 25 – 28 |
| Quarter-finals | July 30 / August 1 |
| Semi-finals | August 5 / 6 |
| Final | August 11 |
The coronavirus outbreak has led to the cancellation or postponing of many large events including The Masters, NCAA Tournament, Coachella, SXSW, the Winter X Games, Stagecoach, Ultra Music Festival in Miami, and more. The NBA, NHL, and MLS temporarily suspended their seasons.
The coronavirus mainly comes from animals and a majority of those who were infected early either worked at or frequently visited the Huanan seafood wholesale market in Wuhan, according to The Guardian. The virus is similar to Severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (Mers).
The Wuhan coronavirus is transmitted from person to person through “droplet transmission.” That means an infected person can pass the virus by sneezing or coughing on another person as well as by direct contact.
While a majority of the cases have been detected in the United States and China — with more than 123,000 deaths in the United States — it has now reached many countries around the world. It has also been confirmed in Italy, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and many other eastern countries.
