As the 2020 MLS is Back tournament prepares to kick off, there are naturally some major concerns due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 int the USA. Over in women's football, Orlando Pride was forced to withdraw after several players and staff contracted the contagion, and now there are concerns as to whether the MLS tournament will face many difficulties as the tournament is being staged in Florida - a state that has seen a terrible resurgence in the number of cases.
Here's all you need to know ahead of the tournament.
Highlight match: Orlando City vs Inter Miami
Hosts Orlando City will kick things off with a clash against fellow Florida-based club Inter Miami. This will be an interesting match as it will mark the first time in nearly 20 years that two competitive clubs from Florida are locking horns; the last time this happened was in 2001, when Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion squared off.
It's also going to be the first time Inter Miami, who were only recently founded, face Orlando, and certainly the new club's fans will hope this can become a big derby clash to follow in the ensuing years to come. Both teams will be eager to get up and running after failing to win their last two games, and this match will present that perfect opportunity - albeit there will be no fans in attendance due to COVID-19.
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Talking points ahead of matchday 1
How will the withdrawal of FC Dallas affect the tournament? And will COVID-19 cause more issues?
So far, one team, FC Dallas, has been forced to withdraw due to an outbreak of COVID-19 in their ranks. As things stand, this will affect the tournament as fixtures now have to be re-jigged in order to make up for the the team's absence. Already, there have been some dramatic changes and the competition hasn't kicked off, with Nashville SC in forced quarantine due to five players testing positive. As a result, their match against Chicago Fire, which was scheduled for Wednesday, now has been postponed, with a new date yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, Toronto FC's clash with DC United has also been postponed, albeit the match has a new date following Toronto's late arrival to the tournament's site. Rather than featuring on playing on July 10th (Friday), the match will take place on the 12th. As such, the tie featuring the Seattle Sounders and San Jose Earthquakes has been moved up from 10:30 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST.
Matchday 1 listings
Below are the 12 fixtures set to take place on matchday 1 of the 2020 MLS is Back tournament:
Wednesday, July 8th:
17:00 PST/19:00 CST/20:00 EST/00:00 GMT - Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami
USA: Sling TV, ESPN Deportes, ESPN, ESPN Deportes+
Canada: TSN4, TSN1, MLS App, MLSsoccer.com, TSN App, TSN.ca
Australia: WatchESPN Australia, Kayo Sports, ESPN
Mexico: ESPN Norte, ESPN Play Norte
UK: Sky Sports Football, SKY GO Extra
19:30 PST/21:30 CST/22:30 EST/02:30 GMT - Nashville SC vs Chicago Fire* POSTPONED
USA: Sling TV, 94.9 GAME 2, ESPN Deportes+, ESPN Deportes, ESPN
Canada: TSN.ca, TSN1, MLS App, TSN4, MLSsoccer.com, TSN App
Australia: WatchESPN Australia, Kayo Sports, ESPN
Mexico: ESPN Norte
UK: FreeSports TV UK
Thursday, July 9th:
06:00 PST/08:00 CST/09:00 EST/13:00 GMT - New York City vs Philadelphia Union
USA: Sling TV, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio, ESPN, ESPN Deportes+
Canada: TSN App, TSN.ca, MLSsoccer.com, TSN5, TSN4, MLS App
Australia: WatchESPN Australia, ESPN, beIN Sports Connect, Kayo Sports
Mexico: ESPN2 Norte
UK: SKY GO Extra, Sky Sports Football
17:00 PST/19:00 CST/20:00 EST/00:00 GMT - Montreal Impact vs New England
USA: FuboTV, Sling TV, 98.5 The Sports Hub, MLSsoccer.com, NBC Sports App, TUDN App, MLS App, TUDN USA, TUDN.com, NBC Sports Boston
Canada: TSN1, TSN.ca, MLSsoccer.com, TSN App, MLS App, TVA Sports, TSN4, TSN Radio 690 Montreal
Australia: Kayo Sports, beIN Sports Connect
Mexico: ESPN Play Norte, ESPN Norte
UK: FreeSports TV UK
Friday, July 10th:
18:00 PST/20:00 CST/21:00 EST/01:00 GMT - Seattle Sounders FC vs SJ Earthquakes
USA: Sling TV, ESPN Deportes+, KKMO El Rey 360, ESPN, KJR Sports Radio 950, ESPN Deportes
Canada: TSN App, TSN4, TSN1, MLS App, TSN.ca, MLSsoccer.com
Australia: beIN Sports Connect, ESPN, Kayo Sports
Mexico: ESPN Norte, ESPN Play Norte
UK: FreeSports TV UK
Saturday, July 11th:
17:00 PST/19:00 CST/20:00 EST/00:00 GMT - Atlanta United vs New York RB
USA: FuboTV, Sling TV, Foxsports.com, TUDN.com, TUDN App, FOX Network, Red Bulls Radio, TUDN USA, MLS App, FOX Deportes, MLSsoccer.com
Canada: MLS App, TSN.ca, TSN5, TSN App, MLSsoccer.com
Australia: Kayo Sports, beIN Sports Connect
Mexico: ESPN Norte, ESPN Play Norte
UK: FreeSports TV UK
19:30 PST/22:30 EST/02:30 GMT - Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew
USA: FuboTV, Sling TV, WSTR Star 64, MLSsoccer.com, TUDN.com, FOX Deportes, Foxsports.com, TUDN USA, MLS App, TUDN App, Fox Sports 1, WDJO
Canada: TSN5, TSN1, TSN.ca, MLS App, FloSports, TSN App, MLSsoccer.com
Australia: Kayo Sports, beIN Sports Connect
Mexico: ESPN Norte, ESPN Play Norte
UK: FreeSports TV UK
Sunday, July 12th:
06:00 PST/08:00 CST/09:00 EST/13:00 GMT - Toronto FC vs DC United
USA: Sling TV, ESPN Deportes+, ESPN, ESPN Deportes
Canada: TSN.ca, TSN 1050 Toronto, TSN App, MLS App, TSN4, TSN1, MLSsoccer.com
Australia: ESPN, Kayo Sports
Mexico: ESPN Play Norte, ESPN Norte
UK: FreeSports TV UK
17:00 PST/19:00 CST/20:00 EST/00:00 GMT - Sporting KC vs Minnesota United
USA: FuboTV, Sling TV, ESPN Deportes, ESPN, ESPN Deportes+, Sports Radio 810 WHB, SKOR North, Fox Sports Kansas City
Canada: TSN App, TSN.ca, MLS App, MLSsoccer.com, TSN1, TSN4
Australia: Kayo Sports, ESPN
Mexico: ESPN Norte, ESPN Play Norte
UK: FreeSports TV UK
19:30 PST/21:30 CST/22:30 EST/02:30 GMT - Real Salt Lake vs Colorado Rapids
USA: Sling TV, ESPN, Altitude Sports AM 950, ESPN Deportes+, ESPN Deportes, Altitude Sports
Canada: TSN1, MLS App, TSN4, MLSsoccer.com, TSN.ca, TSN App
Australia: beIN Sports Connect, Kayo Sports, ESPN
Mexico: ESPN Play Norte, ESPN Norte
UK: FreeSports TV UK
Monday, July 13th:
17:00 PST/19:00 CST/20:00 EST/00:00 GMT - Los Angeles FC vs Houston Dynamo
USA: FuboTV, Sling TV, MLSsoccer.com, KFWB 980 AM, ESPNLA 710 AM, Fox Sports 1, TUDN.com, Foxsports.com, MLS App, TUDN App, TUDN USA
Canada: TSN1, TSN4, MLSsoccer.com, TSN.ca, TSN App, MLS App
Australia: No available channel
Mexico: ESPN Play Norte, ESPN Norte
UK: FreeSports TV UK
19:30 PST/21:30 CST/22:30 EST/02:30 GMT - LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers
USA: FuboTV, Sling TV, Foxsports.com, 750 The Game, MLSsoccer.com, TUDN.com, TUDN App, MLS App, Fox Sports 1, TUDN USA
Canada: TSN1, TSN4, MLSsoccer.com, TSN.ca, TSN App, MLS App
Australia: No available channel
Mexico: ESPN Play Norte, ESPN Norte
UK: FreeSports TV UK
If you do not live in the US, Australia, Canada, Mexico or the UK, or live in a GMT/EST/CST/PST timezone, please check the schedule below for geo-targeted kick-off times and live broadcast listings for each of the MLS is Back matchday 1 fixtures:
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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Match details, result and original broadcast info
New York City 0 - 1 Philadelphia Union
July 9, 2020 9:00amESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, FLThis match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
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Match details, result and original broadcast info
Seattle Sounders FC 0 - 0 SJ Earthquakes
July 10, 2020 9:00pmESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando, FLThis match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
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Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
