With COVID-19 bringing sport to a screeching halt back at the start of the year, many sports leagues worldwide are looking for a return to normality- and it could only be expected that soccer would be one of them. Following the return of many soccer leagues- most notably leagues such as the German Bundesliga, the USA have announced the return of 2 of their professional leagues: the National Women’s Soccer League and Major League Soccer.
The National Women’s Soccer League announced their return in the NWSL Challenge Cup due to take place in Utah on June 27th and will be one of the first major American sports leagues to return after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following this news, after the Major League Soccer schedule came to a sudden stop a mere 2 weeks into the regular season, it has been released that the 26 MLS teams are to compete in the ‘MLS is Back’ tournament from July 8th in Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida to resume the MLS 2020 season.
The MLS is back tournament is set to be similar to a FIFA World Cup format, beginning with a group stage, then a round of 16, progressing to quarterfinals, semi-finals and eventually the championship final game.
The Group Stage Tournament Draw (that took place last Thursday) determined the pools for the group stage, with the 26 MLS teams split into 6 groups. The Western Conference has 3 groups, consisting of 4 teams each, while the Eastern Conference will have 3 groups; 2 compiled of four teams and 1 with 6 teams.
With a packed MLS schedule, there is a lot of great MLS action just around the corner, so we picked a few games from the group stages that are not to be missed.
NYCFC vs Philadelphia Union
The last time these two teams met was on October 6th, 2019 in a regular-season MLS game, and the score ended 2-1 in favour of NYCFC. However, before the MLS schedule was postponed, NYCFC sat bottom of the Eastern conference having won no games. Philadelphia Union have also not pulled out a win yet but sit 4 places above NYCFC due to goal difference. Both teams have various other outside factors making them hungry to prove themselves; with Kevin Durant recently buying into Philadelphia Union while NYCFC sister team, Manchester City FC are one of the favourites to win the English premier league. Philadelphia Union will be expecting to see young centre-back Mark McKenzie leaving imprint against NYCFC, after injuries prevented him from shining during the MLS 2019 season.
Minnesota United vs. Sporting Kansas City
As two rivals brought together by their close proximity from one another, these two teams were vying for the Western conference’s top 2 spots during the first few games of the MLS 2020 season. Sporting Kansas City took the lead in the table, but Minnesota United sat only a point of goal difference behind, with both teams winning their first two games of the MLS season. With the MLS Schedule postponement so early on in the season, it is difficult to tell who would have come out on top- but that makes for an even more exciting matchup during the MLS is Back tournament. The last time the teams met was back on August 23rd, 2019, and resulted in SKC taking a 1-0 win, meaning both will be hungry for a win upon their meeting in Orlando.
Photo: Colin E. Barley/AP
Orlando City vs. Inter Miami
Playing as the opening game in the MLS is Back tournament, both Orlando City SC and Inter Miami CF will both be coming in strongly. As the first Florida derby in over 19 years, both teams will be looking to prove themselves as superior. Orlando, as tournament hosts, will especially be looking to assert themselves early on in the group stage as serious contenders, whereas David Beckham’s Inter Miami will be searching for their first-ever win in franchise history. Inter Miami lost both games they managed to play during the MLS 2020 season against LAFC and DC United, so will come out hungry for a win against the hosts.
Photo: SBI
LAFC vs. LA Galaxy
Although a short one to date, the rivalry between these two teams, El Tráficio, has been dubbed as one of Major League Soccer’s biggest clashes – so both teams will be eager to get out of the blocks quickly upon meeting in the Orlando tournament. In their last meeting, LAFC came out on top for the first time, so will want to keep their winning streak up. This will be the Galaxy’s first meetup with LAFC without Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimović so they will have to adjust with youngster Julian Araujo up top, but LA Galaxy will be hungry to redeem themselves against their local rivals after their loss in last year’s MLS playoffs.
Photo: AS Football
Atlanta United vs. New York Red Bulls
With Atlanta United sitting at the top of the Major League Soccer Eastern conference 2 points clear after only playing 2 games, they are definitely the team to beat in group E. Having said that, the New York Red Bulls are not far behind, sitting at 3rd only 2 points behind Atlanta. Additionally, the Five Stripes have only managed to take a win over the NY Red Bulls once in the past 8 times the two teams have matched up, meaning that this meeting will definitely be an explosive one to watch.
Photo: Atlanta United Twitter
Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC
As the proximity between the 2 cities adds to the tension, this highly-anticipated matchup has been nicknamed the ‘401 Derby’, after the Highway 401 which connects the two cities. The playing field is seemingly even, as both teams had a solid beginning to the 2020 MLS season, before COVID-19 brought the MLS schedule to a halt. This will be Montreal Impact manager Thierry Henry’s first taste of the 401 derby, and Canadian soccer fans will definitely be paying attention to this group C showdown during the MLS is Back tournament.
FC Dallas vs Seattle Sounders
The last time FC Dallas met Seattle Sounders was in the MLS Cup 2019 playoffs, when the Sounders came out on top 4-3. Both teams had a relatively solid start to the MLS 2020 season, with FC Dallas 4th in the western conference and Seattle Sounders at 6th– neither recording a loss. The two teams were due to meet on March 21st during the regular MLS season, but were the first game to be postponed due to COVID-19 before the whole MLS schedule was brought to a stop, meaning the teams will be raring to go in the MLS is Back tournament.
FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew SC
The Ohio Derby, unofficially known as the ‘Hell is Real’ derby by many Major League Soccer fans, is a relatively new rivalry between these two Ohio-based franchises but is an explosive one. With 3 meetings to date, the teams have recorded a win each and a draw, so enter the MLS is Back tournament on equal terms. Additionally, FC Cincinnati will be looking to determine themselves as a force to be reckoned with after recently changing head coach. In their last meetup, the Crew won 3-1 thanks to young winger Luis Diaz, who will be looking to make his mark on the game once again.