IN WHAT WAS one of the worst kept secrets, MLS finally unveiled its plans to return to play with a tournament that will take place in Orlando, Florida at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex.

The tournament is billed as the “MLS is Back Tournament” and MLS will have the advantage of being the first men’s professional league in the United States or Canada to return to action.

Similar to a World Cup format, teams will be drawn into groups of four teams. After each team plays three group stage games, the top two teams and the four best third place finishers will advance to the knockout stages. This will begin in the round of 16 and go through single-elimination until the final.

Games ending in draws will proceed directly to penalties and teams will follow the substitution rules being used in Europe where five changes are allowed but each team may only stop the game three times for substitutions.

Here are some of the unique features:

• The winner will earn a spot in the 2021 Concacaf Champions League, regardless of whether it is a U.S. or Canadian club. The winner would replace the berth previously awarded to the MLS regular season points leader in the conference opposite of the 2020 Supporters’ Shield winner. This is a one-time exception to the rules for the CONCACAF Champions League berth. Following this year, the normal format for earning a spot in the Champions League will resume.
• The tournament features 16 straight days of games for group stages. Games begin at 9 a.m., 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. EDT. The vast majority of games will be in the evening. 
• Each team will play three group stage matches. Those results will count in the 2020 MLS regular season standings.
• Games will be televised on ESPN
• In addition to 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.
• There are six seeds for this tournament. 1) Orlando (host), 2) Atlanta (2019 semifinalists), 3) Toronto (2019 semifinalists), 4) Seattle (2019 semifinalists), 5) Los Angeles FC (2019 semifinalists), 6) Real Salt Lake (the next highest point total in Western Conference in 2019).

Don Garber will address the media and the release and the topic of safety and testing was greatly emphasized in the release. There are plans to test players for COVID-19 regularly and a protocol plan is in place.

Here are the key dates for the tournament.

• Here are the key dates for the #MLS tournament in Orlando
• June 11: Draw (3:30pm EST)
• June 24: Teams begin arriving in Florida
• July 8: Group stage begins
• July 25-28: R16
• July 30- Aug. 1: Quarterfinals
• August 5-6: Semifinals
• August 11: Final

Following the tournament, MLS plans to continue to the season with a revised schedule with teams playing in home markets. That will be followed by a full slate of playoffs and MLS cup. The exact number of games and the schedule will be announced in the weeks ahead.

The remainder of this season will also feature a realignment. Following this season, the original format will resume. In 2020, Nashville SC will be moved to the Eastern Conference. The Eastern Conference will have three groups, one consisting of six teams and two consisting of four teams each. The Western Conference will have three groups, each consisting of four teams.

Some thoughts

In all honesty, good for the league. This is not an easy hand to be dealt and restarting a league in these two countries is different than in Europe. The size of the United States and Canada makes travel and moving around the country a lot harder. A tournament in Orlando at one location is a logical step. But MLS Can't be in a position where other soccer leagues in the world resume and other sports leagues in the United States return and MLS can't figure out a way. 

This new plan from MLS is very complicated. The three group stage games count in the regular season. The knockout games do not. There is incentive to do well with the Champions League berth on the line but this won’t be easy to follow.

It is also questionable how Orlando will play on television. No crowds is something that everyone has to deal with but playing on practice fields (like at Disney) simply doesn’t look as important than at an empty stadium – like what we see in the Bundesliga. Making the game attractive on television will be an important test for ESPN and the league.

Following Orlando, it appears as if the league will adopt a regionalized format. Unfortunately, with the two games in March and the three games in Orlando, there is really going to be an unbalanced schedule. The regionalization is great and might be something for the league to think about more going forward.

But this return is welcome news. It is probably the best of a tough situation and sports can be a unifying and powerful force in a country that needs it.