By now, you've heard the news. MLS is back, starting July 8 with a tournament in Orlando.
It's an unprecedented return to play plan. Something that has been in the works for months. It took input from the league office, players, staff, medical experts, and the CDC to make it all happen. And the result is a unique tournament where every match matters and the champions get a coveted 2021 Concacaf Champions League place and a hefty sum of prize money.
So, how does the tournament work? Well, it's a bit like the World Cup. All participating teams in one location with a group stage proceeding knockout rounds. Let's take a look at the tournament via the numbers:
26All 26 MLS teams will take part in the tournament. The teams will be broken up by conferences into six groups (five groups of 4 and one group of six)The 26 teams will all be located at the Disney World Resort and all matches will be played at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex.
54The tournament will consist of 54 matches total. Each team will participate in a minimum of three group-stage matches. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout rounds along with four third-placed teams with the highest points total.
$1.1MIn addition to securing a place in the 2021 Concacaf Champions League, the winner of the tournament will receive $1.1 million in prize pool money via additional bonuses.
5Teams will be granted five substitutions in each match as opposed to the usual three. This new protocol approved by the IFAB provides teams three opportunities to make substitutions during the run of play. Substitutions made at halftime will not count towards one of the three opportunities.
16
The tournament starts on July 8 with 16 consecutive days of matches. All matches will be televised nationally via one of three broadcasters: ESPN, FS1 & Univision.
23
Matchday rosters will be expanded from 18 to 23 for matches to compensate for the additional substitutions.
7
The maximum number of matches a team will play in the tournament.
8/11
The date of the tournament final.
