MLS is back home: League announces return to play in two weeks

It’s difficult to say if it’ll actually happen, but the league’s trying.

In what is likely the worst kept secret this year, Major League Soccer has announced that they’ll be returning to play in local markets this month.

The revived MLS has planned 18 regular season games in what the league is calling a “phased approach.” The season will end on Nov. 8, and the playoffs will begin Nov. 20. It’s likely there won’t be any stoppages for international play, but at this point, I don’t think you can rule anything out.

Various reports, including this one from Salt Lake Tribune reporter Alex Vejar, indicate that the club is seeking for matches to be played in front of fans, which at this point would be fairly unprecedented.

Real Salt Lake’s first match is scheduled for Aug. 22 against Colorado Rapids, who are the only team they had any success against in MLS is Back, which may be a small relief.

MLS will do well to look at Major League Baseball’s woes since returning to play, as there have been a spate of cancelled matches owing to large portions of teams testing positive for COVID-19.