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Whitecaps FC get set for MLS Is Back Tournament

Posted on by Jay Minter

This week Major League Soccer confirmed the group stage matches, and broadcast schedules, for the MLS is Back Tournament.  Kicking off July 8, without fans, at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, the World-Cup style tournament will feature all 26 MLS teams, in 56 matches until August 11, 2020. 

Vancouver Whitecaps FC feature in Group B matches with other Western teams: Seattle Sounders, FC Dallas, & San Jose Sharks. 

Group B Schedule:

  • Thursday, July 9 Whitecaps FC versus FC Dallas
  • Wednesday, July 15 Whitecaps FC versus San Jose Earthquakes
  • Monday, July 20 Whitecaps FC versus Seattle Sounders FC

All three ’Caps matches are due to kick off at 7:30pm PST, broadcast live on TSN and TSN 1040 Radio.  TSN will air all 54 matches of the MLS is Back Tournament in English including in-depth coverage of all Canadian club matches.

“We feel it’s a very balanced group,” said Marc Dos Santos, Whitecaps FC head coach. “The first match has a lot of importance to set the tone to qualify to the knockout stage, but we also understand that each game in the group phase counts in the regular season standings. I like that we have four to five days between games, which will allow for good recovery and preparation. Everyone is in a good frame of mind as we continue to train in Vancouver. We have already played one intra-squad match at a very high level, and will play one more before we depart for Florida next week.”

The Group Stage of the MLS Is Back Tournament will be played over 16 consecutive days, with all clubs having at least four full days between matches.

From the Group Stage, the top three teams from Group A (a six-team group), will advance to the Knockout Stage, along with the top two teams from Groups B to F, in addition to the next three highest ranked teams from the Group Stage based on points, goal difference, goals for, fair play points.

The knockout stage will include a Round-of-16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, with the Championship match will take place on August 11. If the match is a draw at the end of regulation in the knockout phase it will proceed directly to a penalty kick shootout.  

For the full schedule and tournament details of the MLS is Back Tournament visit mlssoccer.com/mls-is-back-tournament

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