Sporting KC Learns Opponents for MLS Is Back Tournament
June 11, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City learned today their three group stage opponents for the historic MLS is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, joining Group D alongside fellow Western Conference clubs Real Salt Lake, Colorado Rapids and Minnesota United FC.
MLS is Back Tournament: Group D
Sporting Kansas City
Real Salt Lake
Colorado Rapids
Minnesota United FC
Sporting Kansas City's three group stage matches will count toward the 2020 MLS regular season standings, with a full tournament schedule-including match dates and broadcast details-to be announced in the near term.
The MLS is Back Tournament draw unfolded today, placing all 26 clubs into six separate groups. Groups A, C and E consist of the 14 Eastern Conference clubs-six teams in Group A and four each in Groups C and E-while Groups B, D and F each consist of four Western Conference teams. Nashville SC has moved to the Eastern Conference for the remainder of the 2020 campaign.
The top two finishers in each group and the four best third-place finishers will advance to the knockout rounds, with a single-elimination bracket from the Round of 16 onward. Matches tied at the end of regulation in the knockout phase will proceed directly to a penalty kick shootout. Click here for the MLS is Back Tournament competition guidelines.
Group stage play will begin July 8 with the tournament opener between Orlando City SC and Inter Miami CF, the league announced today. The Round of 16 will run from July 25-28, followed by the Quarterfinals (July 30 - Aug. 1), Semifinals (Aug. 5-6) and Championship on Aug. 11.
The tournament winner will earn a spot in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League and all clubs will have the opportunity to earn additional bonuses as part of a $1.1 million prize pool.
Sporting and Real Salt Lake share a rich history as fierce rivals over the last decade. Manager Peter Vermes' men notably defeated RSL in MLS Cup 2013 and the 2018 Western Conference Semifinals at Children's Mercy Park as well as the 2015 and 2018 editions of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Colorado Rapids are Sporting's most frequent opponent in club history, as the sides have met 78 times since the inaugural 1996 MLS campaign. Across all competitions, Sporting owns a 5-3-2 mark against regional foes Minnesota United FC since the Loons joined MLS in 2017.
Upon completion of the MLS is Back Tournament, MLS plans to continue its regular season with a revised schedule in home markets, followed by the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and the 25th MLS Cup. The final number of matches and the revised schedule for the remainder of the 2020 MLS regular season will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
KEY DATES
June 24: Teams begin arriving in Florida
July 8: MLS is Back Tournament group stage begins
July 25-28: Round of 16
July 30- Aug. 1: Quarterfinals
Aug. 5-6: Semifinals
Aug. 11: MLS is Back Tournament Final
MLS IS BACK TOURNAMENT
Number of Matches: 54 (39 group; 15 knockout)
No. of matchdays: 26
Format: Group Stage, followed by Round-of-16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Championship match
Minimum Matches: 3 (per club)
Maximum Matches: 7 (per club)
Major League Soccer Stories from June 11, 2020
- Nashville SC Placed into Group a for MLS Is Back Tournament, Will Face Orlando, Philadelphia and Chicago - Nashville SC
- Sounders FC Hires Adam Owen as High Performance Director & Technical Advisor - Seattle Sounders FC
- Whitecaps FC Drawn into Group B at MLS Is Back Tournament - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- LA Galaxy to Compete in Group F of the MLS Is Back Tournament - LA Galaxy
- Toronto FC Drawn into Group C for MLS Is Back Tournament - Toronto FC
- FC Dallas to Face Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and San Jose Earthquakes in MLS Is Back Tournament - FC Dallas
- Timbers Draw Los Angeles FC, La Galaxy and Houston Dynamo for MLS Is Back Tournament - Portland Timbers
- Chicago Fire FC Drawn into Group a in the MLS Is Back Tournament - Chicago Fire FC
- Sounders FC Drawn into Group B for MLS Is Back Tournament in Orlando - Seattle Sounders FC
- Group Stage Matchups Set for MLS Is Back Tournament - MLS
- Philadelphia Union Drawn into Group a of MLS Is Back Tournament - Philadelphia Union
- MLS Is Back Tournament Draw: Revolution Drawn into Group C - New England Revolution
- Real Salt Lake Learns MLS Is Back Tournament Opponents - Real Salt Lake
- Earthquakes Drawn into Group B for MLS Is Back Tournament - San Jose Earthquakes
- Montreal Impact in Group C for Orlando Tournament - Club de Foot Montreal
- FC Cincinnati Drawn into Group E for MLS Is Back Tournament - FC Cincinnati
- Atlanta United Draws FC Cincinnati, New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew SC for MLS Is Back Tournament - Atlanta United FC
- D.C. United Draw Toronto FC, New England Revolution and Montreal Impact in Group C of MLS Is Back Tournament - D.C. United
- Sporting KC Learns Opponents for MLS Is Back Tournament - Sporting Kansas City
- Orlando City SC to Face Inter Miami in MLS Is Back Opener; Group Draw Today - Orlando City SC
- MLS Is Back Tournament Group Draw Today - MLS
- #MLSisBack Tournament Draw Preview - Orlando City SC
- New York Red Bulls Resume Full Team Training - New York Red Bulls
- Houston Dynamo Sign Winger & Academy Alum Nico Lemoine from Rio Grande Valley FC - Houston Dynamo FC
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