MLS Is Back

Unlike baseball where the owners and players cannot come up with an agreement to play a shortened 2020 season due to the Coronavirus, MLS is set to open up on July 8 in Orlando. Major League Soccer is calling it “MLS Is Back Tournament” which consists of MLS teams that will play for the MLS Is Back Tournament Crown. This tournament will run from July 8 – July 23. After the tournament is over all teams in the league will return to play the rest of the season at their home stadiums and other teams’ stadiums. The MLS has been back for a little over a month, setting protocols with practices as players are wearing masks and making sure of proper cleanliness during this time. The Atlanta United FC (5 Stripes) was the first team to be back and begin practices.

Orlando City SC is going to be the host team for the tournament where all games will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Below is the brackets for each team.

This tournament is going to be as big or even bigger than the MLS Cup itself. The reason is fans are starving for sports and any sort of normalcy. And this is it. This will help soccer fans have something to look forward too. Nascar is back, golf and now MLS, and the NFL is planning on keeping same schedule with certain policies for this virus.

Founded in 2014, the Atlanta United played their first game in 2017. In its fourth season as a team, they have done more than any other professional team in the city of Atlanta has done in in 50 years. In just its second season Atlanta United won their first MLS Cup Championship. For those that don’t know, the star above their logo represents the number of championships that the team has won. This team has become a fan favorite in Atlanta where soccer continues to grow more and more here in the deep south.

The Atlanta United plays its home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Kennesaw State University Stadium. The United shares Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the NFL team Atlanta Falcons. Before Mercedes-Benz Stadium was ready for play in late 2017, the Atlanta United also played their home games at Bobby Dodd Stadium, home of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Football Team.

Soccer is a fun sport to watch and I am happy that the MLS is back. Enjoy the tournament on stations ESPN and ABC. See you on the pitch.

Pictures courtesy of Atlanta United, MLS Soccer.

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