Major League Soccer unveiled its plans for returning to play in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with the league set to resume on July 8 with what it is calling the MLS is Back Tournament.
All 26 MLS teams will participate in the competition, which will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort, just outside Orlando, Florida. (ESPN is owned by the Walt Disney Company.)
Teams will head to Orlando starting on June 24, though arrival dates will vary because most teams will prefer to train in their home market. Teams must arrive no later than seven days before their first match.
MLS has been shut down because of the pandemic since March 12, when the regular season was just two matches old. Teams have gradually returned to training, though local restrictions have delayed the return in some instances. The San Jose Earthquakes resumed training on Tuesday, making them the last MLS team to get back on the practice field.
The tournament will consist of a group stage with each team playing three matches, followed by a knockout stage. The final will be played Aug. 11. The teams will be divided into a total of six groups, with the top two teams in each group, plus the four best third-place finishers qualifying for the round of 16.