Your Black and Gold guide through the MLS Is Back Tournament: What you need to know as LAFC prepares

Since the Coronavirus pandemic first struck the United States and suspended the MLS regular season, four months of no football in North America becomes no more as MLS Commissioner Don Garber has announced a profound World Cup style tournament that involves all 26 teams and a few stipulations to enhance the competition. The Announcement comes a few weeks after the state of Florida commences the re-opening of the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando to select sports leagues and organizations in the United States.

Here is how the tournament format will play out, according to MLSSoccer.com:

Group Stage:

• The 26 teams will be split into six groups.

• Nashville SC will move to the Eastern Conference and will remain in the Eastern Conference for the remainder of the 2020 season.

• The Eastern Conference will have three groups, one of six teams and two with four teams each.

• The Western Conference will have three groups, each consisting of four teams.

• Each team will play three group stage matches over the course of 16 consecutive days.

• The top two teams from each group along with the four best third-place finishers will move on to the knockout stage, beginning with the Round of 16.

• If two or more clubs are tied on points in the group stage, MLS Regular Season tiebreakers procedures are used.

• The tiebreakers for determining the four 3rd-placed clubs are: (1) points, (2) goal differential, (3) goals scored, (4) fewest disciplinary points.

Stipulations:

• Regular Season points: Each of the 39 group-stage games will count for points toward the 2020 regular-season standings.

  1. Concacaf Champions League spot: In a one-time change to MLS berths to the annual Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, the MLS is Back Tournament winner will earn a spot in the 2021 Concacaf Champions League, regardless of whether it is a U.S. or Canadian club. This berth replaces the one traditionally awarded to the regular-season conference leader that did not win the Supporters’ Shield.

  2. Prize Money: In addition to matches that count in the regular-season standings and competing for bragging rights, the MLS is Back Tournament will give players the opportunity to earn additional bonuses as part of a $1.1 million prize pool.

Groups

After the tournament, MLS plans to resume back to its standard regular season format with teams playing at their home stadiums. With that, the MLS held a tournament draw to place the teams in six different groups. Here are the results:

LAFC headline a star-studded Group F, grabbing group stage ties against two rivals, LA Galaxy and Portland Timbers, and a reunion with former striker Christian Ramirez in the MLS is Back tournament. Graphic created and posted by LAFC via social media (@lafc).

Eastern Conference

1. Orlando City SC

2. Inter Miami CF

3. New York City FC

4. Philadelphia Union

5. Chicago Fire FC

6. Nashville SC

GROUP B

Western Conference

1. Seattle Sounders FC

2. FC Dallas

3. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

4. San Jose Earthquakes

GROUP C

Eastern Conference

1. Toronto FC

2. New England Revolution

3. Montreal Impact

4. D.C. United

GROUP D

Western Conference

1. Real Salt Lake

2. Sporting Kansas City

3. Colorado Rapids

4. Minnesota United FC

GROUP E

Eastern Conference

1. Atlanta United FC

2. FC Cincinnati

3. New York Red Bulls

4. Columbus Crew SC

GROUP F

Western Conference

1. LAFC

2. LA Galaxy

3. Houston Dynamo

4. Portland Timbers FC

LAFC have reported for full team training and are making final preparations before their trip to Orlando on June 24th.