Editor's note: This first appeared on AMNY.com
Major League Soccer is poised to reach new heights in popularity as its MLS is Back tournament begins.
Originally, all 26 teams were invited to the summer tournament — which provided a World-Cup-like feel coupled with regular-season implications.
The teams were split up into six groups — one of six teams and five of four squads. However, Group B has been decreased to three teams after FC Dallas was forced to withdraw from the tournament after nine players and one staff member tested positive for coronavirus.
The groups are as follows along with their schedules:
Group A
Orlando City SC
Inter Miami CF
NYCFC
Philadelphia Union
Chicago Fire
Nashville SC
Group A Schedule (All times Eastern)
July 8: Orlando City vs. Inter Miami, 8 p.m., ESPN
July 8: Chicago vs. Nashville SC (POSTPONED)
July 9: NYCFC vs. Philadelphia, 9 a.m., ESPN
July 14: Inter Miami vs. Chicago, 9 a.m., ESPN
July 14: Philadelphia vs. Nashville, 8 p.m., Twitter
July 14: Orlando City vs. NYCFC, 10:30 p.m., Twitter
July 19: NYCFC vs. Chicago, 8 p.m., FS1
July 19: Philadelphia vs. Inter Miami, 10:30 p.m., FS1
July 20: Orlando City vs. Nashville, 9 a.m., ESPN
Group B
Seattle Sounders
Vancouver Whitecaps
San Jose Earthquakes
FC Dallas (OUT OF TOURNAMENT)
Group B Schedule
July 10: Seattle vs. San Jose, 9 p.m., ESPN
July 15: Vancouver vs. San Jose, 10:30 p.m., Twitter
July 20: Seattle vs. Vancouver, 10:30 p.m., Twitter
Group C
Toronto FC
New England Revolution
Montreal Impact
DC United
Group C Schedule
July 9: Montreal vs. New England, 8 p.m., Twitter
July 12: Toronto vs. DC United, 9 a.m., ESPN2
July 15: Montreal vs. Toronto, 8 p.m., Twitter
July 16: DC United vs. New England, 8 p.m., FS1
July 21: Toronto vs. New England, 9 a.m., ESPN
July 21: Montreal vs. DC United, 10:30 p.m., Twitter
Group D
Real Salt Lake
Sporting Kansas City
Colorado Rapids
Minnesota United
Group D Schedule
July 12: Sporting KC vs. Minnesota, 8 p.m., ESPN
July 12: Salt Lake vs. Colorado, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
July 17: Sporting KC vs. Colorado, 8 p.m., ESPN
July 17: Salt Lake vs. Minnesota, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
July 22: Salt Lake vs. Sporting KC, 9 a.m., ESPN
July 22: Colorado vs. Minnesota, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Group E
Atlanta United
FC Cincinnati
New York Red Bulls
Columbus Crew
Group E Schedule
July 11: Atlanta vs. RBNY, 8 p.m., FOX
July 11: Cincinnati vs. Columbus, 10:30 p.m., FS1
July 16: Atlanta vs. Cincinnati, 9 a.m., ESPN
July 16: Columbus vs. RBNY, 10:30 p.m., FS1
July 21: Atlanta vs. Columbus, 8 p.m., Twitter
July 22: Cincinnati vs. RBNY, 8 p.m., ESPN
Group F
Los Angeles FC
LA Galaxy
Houston Dynamo
Portland Timbers
Group F Schedule
July 13: LAFC vs. Houston, 8 p.m., FS1
July 13: LA Galaxy vs. Portland, 10:30 p.m., FS1
July 18: Portland vs. Houston, 8 p.m., ESPN2
July 18: LAFC vs. LA Galaxy, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
July 23: LA Galaxy vs. Houston, 8 p.m., FS1
July 23: LAFC vs. Portland, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2
The top three teams in Group A and the top two teams in Groups B, C, D, E, F gain automatic entry into the knockout round. The next three highest-ranked teams in the group stage based on points total will also advance.
Each group game will also have regular-season implications that will count toward the standings, which is MLS’ traditional format that began back in March. The league was able to complete two weeks before it was forced to stop play.
