Group Stage Matchups Set for MLS is Back Tournament

Group Stage Matchups Set for MLS is Back Tournament
Group play to kick off 16 consecutive days of competition at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
All group stage matches will count in 2020 MLS regular season standings
NEW YORK
(June 11, 2020)
– Major League Soccer today conducted the official live draw for the
MLS is Back Tournament
to determine the group stage matchups of the competition. Each club will play three group stage matches, all counting towards the 2020 MLS regular season standings, and the tournament winner will earn a spot in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
Similar to a FIFA World Cup format, the tournament will feature a continuous schedule of matches with group stage play featuring 16 consecutive days of action beginning on July 8 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The top two teams from each group along with the four best third-place finishers will move on to the knockout stage.
As the host club, Orlando City SC was placed in the top spot in Group A, which will be the six-team group. In addition, Inter Miami CF will join Orlando in Group A. As part of Major League Soccer’s decision to restart the season in the state of Florida, the inaugural match between Orlando City SC and Inter Miami CF will kick off the tournament on July 8.
The remaining clubs in Group A will face three opponents set on their draw position. The matchups are ordered by slot number and not placed in order of game schedule:

The remaining top seeds in each group were determined by their performance in the 2019 season. In the Eastern Conference, 2019 MLS Cup finalist Toronto FC was drawn into Group C, while 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs semifinalist Atlanta United was drawn into Group E. In the Western Conference, 2019 MLS Cup Champion Seattle Sounders FC was drawn into Group B, while 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs semifinalist Los Angeles Football Club was drawn into Group F. Real Salt Lake, the team with the next highest points total in the Western Conference from the 2019 season, was drawn into Group D.

The tournament schedule, including specific matchup dates and broadcast details, will be announced at a later date.
Clubs will begin arriving in Orlando as early as June 24 for preseason training. Clubs that can conduct full team training in their markets pursuant to the league’s medical and testing protocols must arrive no later than seven days before their first match. 
Following group stage play, the advancing clubs enter the knockout stage which will include a Round-of-16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Championship match will take place on August 11. Matches tied at the end of regulation in the knock-out phase will proceed directly to a penalty kick shootout. Click
HERE
for the
MLS is Back Tournament
Competition Guidelines.
In addition to group stage matches that count in the regular season standings and the Champions League berth, players will have the opportunity to earn additional bonuses as part of a $1.1 million prize pool.
The MLS medical department and the league’s infectious disease experts have developed a comprehensive COVID-19 testing plan which will be implemented for the entire
MLS is Back Tournament
. An overview of health, safety and medical protocols can be found
HERE
.  In addition, MLS will make a contribution of serology (antibody) tests to Central Florida residents beginning June 18.
KEY DATES
June 24:
Teams begin arriving in Florida 
July 8:
MLS is Back Tournament
group stage begins
July 25-28:
Round-of-16
July 30- Aug. 1:
Quarterfinals
August 5-6:
Semifinals
August 11:
MLS is Back Tournament Final
MEDIA RESOURCES

• Soundbytes and b-roll from the live draw can be found here
  
• MLS is Back Tournament Logo and Assets can be found here
  
• Photos and Video of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex can be found here
  
• General MLS footage, including players at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from 2019 MLS All-Star week, can be found here
  
• For more information about the MLS Return to Play Medical Protocol, click here
  

MLS Communications will be offering assets and information via the
MLS Media Resource Site
throughout the
MLS is Back Tournament
.
Due to health and safety regulations, a limited number of media members will be accredited to attend each game. For more information about how to cover the
MLS is Back Tournament
in person and to apply for a media credential, please click
HERE
. Without exception, the deadline to apply for credentials is June 16 at noon ET.
About Major League Soccer


Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer 
– celebrating its 25^th Season in 2020 – 
features 26 clubs throughout the United States and Canada, in addition to future expansion teams in Austin, St. Louis, Sacramento, and Charlotte. For more information about MLS, visit 
www.MLSsoccer.com
.
About ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, located at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, is one of the premier sites for amateur sports in the nation. The complex hosts more than 100 entertainment and sporting events each year and has accommodated 70 different sports featuring athletes from 70 different countries. Designed to provide professional, amateur and youth athletes with experiences synonymous with the names Disney and ESPN, the 220-acre facility features multiple competition venues, including 16 baseball/softball fields, a 9,500-seat ballpark, 18 multi-purpose outdoor fields for soccer, football and field hockey, three indoor venues for basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, dance and other indoor sports, a track & field facility and a cross country course. For more information, visit 
www.disneysportsnews.com
 for news releases, photos and videos. Follow us on Twitter at @ESPNWWOS and at Facebook at ESPNWWOS.