Note: The original release has been updated to reflect match schedule changes
- Coverage kicks off July 8 with Orlando City SC vs. Inter Miami CF
- ESPN to serve as the production services provider for the month-long, 54-match tournament
- Match times: 9 a.m., 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes
ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will combine to televise 28 of the 54 total matches of the MLS is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida beginning Wednesday, July 8, through Tuesday, Aug. 11. In addition, ESPN will serve as the production services provider for the MLS is Back Tournament. Highlights:
- ESPN will air 22 matches including the opener, all seven matches in the 9 a.m. ET window, and the Final
- ESPN2 will televise six matches including one match in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds
- ESPN Deportes will carry Spanish-language telecasts of the 28 ESPN matches
- All ESPN MLS is Back Tournament matches will stream live on the ESPN App
- Jon Champion (play-by-play) and analyst Taylor Twellman call the matches in English. Adrian Healey and Alejandro Moreno will handle commentary on select matches
- Richard Mendez and Alex Pareja will be the lead Spanish-language commentary team on ESPN Deportes, joined by Mauricio Pedroza and Herculez Gomez who will call some matches as well
- General assignment reporter Stefano Fusaro will be on-location in Orlando to cover the tournament as a bilingual reporter across ESPN’s English- and Spanish-language platforms. He will serve as sideline reporter for matches on ESPN networks
- ESPN platforms will provide comprehensive surround coverage of the tournament across SportsCenter, ESPN FC on ESPN+, ESPN.com digital hub, and on ESPN Deportes studio programs.
The tournament will kick off July 8 with an opening day doubleheader on ESPN and ESPN Deportes featuring Orlando City SC vs. Inter Miami CF – the first-ever meeting between MLS’s new Florida rivals – at 8 p.m. ET and Nashville SC vs. Chicago Fire FC at 10:30 p.m. [Note: late match was postponed] on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
The MLS is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is Major League Soccer’s innovative approach to resume its 25th season with all 26 clubs competing in a 54-match tournament. The matches will be played without fans in attendance. The group stage matches will count in the league’s regular season standings and the tournament winner will earn a spot in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
ESPN – MLS is Back Tournament production services provider:
ESPN will serve as the MLS is Back Tournament production services provider, led by veteran soccer producer Amy Rosenfeld, ESPN’s vice president of production. ESPN will produce all 54 matches and provide clean television feeds for each match to Major League Soccer and its media partners in the US, Canada, and to the league’s international broadcast partners.
Rosenfeld said: “The return of Major League Soccer is fantastic news for sports fans. We are proud to be the production services provider for the MLS is Back Tournament in addition to presenting 28 matches across ESPN networks.”
Key dates:
- July 8 – Opening day: The tournament starts with the opening day match featuring state of Florida rivals on ESPN networks
- July 18 – “MLS is Back” El Tráfico: The only scheduled El Tráfico match – Los Angeles FC vs. LA Galaxy – in the tournament on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 10:30 p.m.
- July 22 – Tripleheader MLS matches: Beginning with Real Salt Lake vs. Sporting Kansas City at 9 a.m., all three matches on this day will air exclusively on an ESPN network
- August 11 – The Final: The winner of the tournament final earns a spot in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, the region’s prestigious international club competition.
MLS is Back Tournament Groups:
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F |
| Orlando | Seattle | Toronto | Salt Lake City | Atlanta | LAFC |
| Miami | Chicago | New England | Kansas City | Cincinnati | LA Galaxy |
| New York City | Vancouver | Montreal | Colorado | New York RB | Houston |
| Philadelphia | San Jose | Washington, DC | Minnesota | Columbus | Portland |
* Dallas (originally in Group B) and Nashville (Group A) withdrew
^ Chicago (originally in Group A) replaced Dallas in Group B
MLS is Back Tournament Schedule on ESPN Networks:
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Platforms |
| Wed, Jul 8 | 8 p.m. | Orlando City SC vs. Inter Miami CF
John Champion and Taylor Twellman Richard Mendez and Alex Pareja |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| Thu, Jul 9 | 9 a.m. | New York City FC vs. Philadelphia Union
Champion and Twellman; Mendez and Pareja |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| Fri, Jul 10 | 9 p.m. | Seattle Sounders vs. San Jose Earthquakes
Champion and Twellman Mauricio Pedroza and Herculez Gomez |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| Sun, Jul 12 | 8 p.m. | Sporting Kansas City vs. Minnesota United FC
Champion and Twellman; Mendez and Pareja |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| 10:30 p.m. | Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids
Healey and Moreno; Pedroza and Gomez |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes | |
| Mon, Jul 13 | 9 a.m. | Toronto FC vs. DC United
Adrian Healey and Alejandro Moreno Mendez and Pareja |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes |
| Tue, Jul 14 | 9 a.m. | Chicago Fire FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC
Champion and Twellman Jorge Ramos and Diego Cora |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| Thu, Jul 16 | 9 a.m. | Atlanta United vs. FC Cincinnati
Champion and Twellman; Ramos and Cora |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| Fri, Jul 17 | 8 p.m. | D.C United vs. New England Revolution
Champion and Twellman; TBD |
ESPN, ESPN3 |
| 8 p.m. | Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids
Steve Cangialosi and Shep Messing Mendez and Pareja |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes | |
| 10:30 p.m. | Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United FC
Healey and Moreno; Pedroza and Gomez |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes | |
| Sat, Jul 18 | 8 p.m. | Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo
Healey and Moreno; Mendez and Pareja |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| 10:30 p.m. | LAFC vs. LA Galaxy
Champion and Twellman; Ramos and Gomez |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes | |
| Mon, Jul 20 | 9 a.m. | Inter Miami CF vs. New York City FC
Healey and Moreno; Ramos and Cora |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| 8 p.m. | Philadelphia Union vs. Orlando City SC
Champion and Twellman |
ESPN | |
| Tue, Jul 21 | 9 a.m. | Toronto FC vs. New England Revolution
Healey and Moreno; Mendez and Pareja |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| 8 p.m. | Atlanta United vs. Columbus Crew
Champion and Twellman |
ESPN2 | |
| 10:30 p.m. | Montreal Impact vs. D.C. United
Cangialosi and Messing |
ESPN2 | |
| Wed, Jul 22 | 9 a.m. | Real Salt Lake vs. Sporting Kansas City
Champion and Twellman; Ramos and Cora |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| 8 p.m. | FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls
Healey and Moreno; Mendez and Pareja |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes | |
| 10:30 p.m. | Colorado Rapids vs. Minnesota United FC
Champion and Twellman; Pedroza and Gomez |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes | |
| Thu, Jul 23 | 9 a.m. | Chicago Fire FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Healey and Moreno; Ramos and Cora |
ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| 10:30 p.m. | LAFC vs. Portland Timbers
Champion and Twellman; Pedroza and Gomez |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes | |
| Sat, Jul 25 | 8 p.m. | Round of 16 – 1A vs. 3 (BCDE) | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes |
| 10:30 p.m. | Round of 16 – 2A vs 2C | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes | |
| Tue, Jul 28 | 8 p.m. | Round of 16 – 1E vs. 2D | ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| 10:30 p.m. | Round of 16 – 1F vs. 2E | ESPN, ESPN Deportes | |
| Thu, Jul 30 | 8 p.m. | Quarterfinal I | ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
| Sat, Aug 1 | 8 p.m. | Quarterfinal III | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes |
| Thu, Aug 6 | 8 p.m. | Semifinal II | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes |
| Tue, Aug 11 | 8 p.m. | MLS is Back Tournament Final | ESPN, ESPN Deportes |
* All matches will stream live on the ESPN App* Schedule Subject to Change
* Stefano Fusaro will serve as on-site reporter for ESPN and ESPN Deportes matches
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