Major League Soccer Announces Schedule for Canadian Teams
- Canadian teams will play each other three times in local markets during phase one of MLS regular season schedule
- All matches will be televised nationally in Canada on TSN and TVA Sports
NEW YORK (August 13, 2020) – Major League Soccer today announced that the league’s three Canadian clubs will continue the 2020 regular season in their respective home markets beginning Aug. 18. The Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC will play matches against each other during the first phase of the revised regular season schedule. Each Canadian team will play the other two Canadian teams three times for a total of six games during phase one of the MLS schedule.
Major League Soccer’s decision to have the three Canadian teams play each other during phase one of the schedules is a result of the Canada-U.S. border being closed for non-essential travel until Aug. 21. Today’s announcement follows theAug. 8 newsregarding the schedules and comprehensive health and safety protocols for the 23 MLS clubs based in the United States.
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The return to play for the Canadian teams will feature the same strict protocols, including regular testing of players, coaches and essential staff for COVID-19. All players, technical staff, and essential club staff with Toronto FC, the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps FC will be tested every other day, including the day before each match. Guidelines to avoid the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 during time away from club facilities will also be provided to players, coaches and staff.
Continuing the league’s commitment to protecting the health of the players and all participants, the schedule for Canadian teams was built to maximize travel efficiency. Teams will take chartered flights and matches between Montreal and Toronto will see the visiting club arrive in the host market on matchday and depart after the game. Due to the long distance between Vancouver and the other two clubs, the Whitecaps will open their schedule with a road trip in which the club will play matches in Toronto on Aug. 18 and 21, and in Montreal on Aug. 25.
In addition to the Canadian MLS home matches being part of the MLS regular season standings, the Canadian team that earns the most points against the other Canadian clubs during this first phase of the revised regular season schedule in home markets will qualify for the 2020 Canadian Championship Final. The Canadian Championship Final will be a one-match winner take all Final against the winner of the eight-team Canadian Premier League Island Games. The winner of Canada’s Battle of the North will lift the Voyageurs Cup and qualify for the next edition of Concacaf Champions League.
The continuation of Major League Soccer’s 25th Season will air nationally in Canada on TSN and TVA Sports and in the U.S. on ESPN+. All nine matches involving the Canadian clubs will be aired on TSN and all six Montreal Impact matches will air on TVA Sports.
MLS plans to announce the balance of the regular season schedule by early September, as the league continues to work with infectious disease experts, league and club medical personnel, and government officials in all markets.
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer – celebrating its 25th 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.
