(Updated May 15, 2020)
Major League Soccer extended its team-training moratorium through June 1, it announced on May 14. Voluntary individual workouts at teams’ outdoor facilities were allowed by the league on May 1. Access to team gyms and training rooms is still prohibited, save for players who are receiving rehab.
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(Updated April 24, 2020)
The training moratoriums for Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League have been extended through May 15. MLS announced its decision on April 23, and the NWSL announced Friday afternoon.
MLS players are expected to remain in their respective markets, but the league is open to assisting in relocating individual players by car. As for the NWSL, its latest statement made no mention of restrictions to players’ movements in and out of their markets.
The NWSL echoed its support stay-at-home orders and stated as the league works to accommodate new preseason and regular-season schedules.
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(Updated April 14, 2020)
Major League Soccer said in an official press release Tuesday morning that returning to regular-season play in mid-May is “extremely unlikely.” Furthermore, the league said there are still sufficient days to play the full season but recognize the window is shrinking. More details regarding when MLS can return to play is expected in the “coming weeks,” the statement read.
The league’s full statement:
“Major League Soccer continues to regularly evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including how it will affect our plans for the 2020 season. Although we hoped to return to play in mid-May, that is extremely unlikely based on the guidance of federal and local public health authorities. Our goal remains to play as many games as possible, and, while we currently have enough dates to play the entire season, we recognize at this time that it may become difficult to do so.
“We continue to learn more every day from the medical experts, and we expert to have additional details in the coming weeks regarding when we can return to play. As we have throughout this process, we will update our fans with every decision, and we thank them for their support and understanding during this extremely challenging time.”
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(Updated April 4, 2020)
The National Women’s Soccer League announced Saturday that its training moratorium is extended through and including May 5. Per the league’s official statement, the league is aiming to start the season by the end of June.
“After further discussion with our NWSL medical task force, the league has announced today an extension to our team training moratorium through and including Tuesday, May 5, 2020,” the league announced in its official release. “We will continue to work closely with our task force, governmental health authorities and our ownership group as we target an end-of-June regular-season start. As always, the safety of our players, staff and fans is our top priority.”
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(Updated April 2, 2020)
Major League Soccer has extended its training moratorium until at least April 24.
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(Updated March 25, 2020)
As expected, Major League Soccer’s training moratorium has, again, been extended. Teams cannot train until at least April 4. Only players who are undergoing rehab or need medical treatment can enter the team’s facilities.
In general, MLS players are expected to stay in their respective markets, but, with this updated training moratorium, players may seek travel arrangements by car to relocate to another state.
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(Updated March 21, 2020)
Major League Soccer has, once again, extended its training moratorium, this time until March 27. Per previous training moratoriums, players are not allowed to travel, as they are expected to stay in their respective markets.
Players can only enter training facilities for physical therapy if directed by the team medical staff.
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(Updated March 20, 2020)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines to not hold events that include 50 or more people for the next eight weeks, effectively postponing matches across all sports leagues for the next two months.
In a press release by Major League Soccer on March 19, the league said it still plans to play the entirety of the 2020 season and is “evaluating all options.” The league suggested the MLS Cup could be held in December.
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(Updated March 16, 2020)
Both the Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League have extended their training moratoriums.
MLS teams will not train until at least March 20, and the NWSL will not continue its preseason until at least March 22. Players for every club in both leagues are expected to not travel and remain in their respective markets.
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In response to the coronavirus, Major League Soccer has suspended its season for 30 days, effective immediately, the league announced just before noon Thursday. Per the league’s official statement, “At the appropriate time, the league and clubs will communicate plans for the continuation of the 2020 season and update the status of league events.”
“Our clubs were united today in the decision to temporarily suspend our season, based on the advice and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and other public health authorities, and in the best interest of our fans, players, officials and employees,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said, per the release.
“We’d like to thank our fans for their continued support during this challenging time.”
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Orlando City SC Chief Executive Officer Alex Leitão and the club expressed agreement with Garber and the league in an official statement.
“Our top priority as a club is the health and safety of everyone from our players, employees and fans,” Leitão said. “We are clearly dealing with an unprecedented health crisis and remain committed to keeping everyone within our club and community safe. We will continue to work with local, state and national health officials along with the CDC in monitoring the situation.”
Access beyond non-essential personnel to Exploria Stadium and to Orlando City’s training grounds in Kissimmee has been temporarily severed. A source from the club said there will be no access to any of the club’s three teams (i.e., the Orlando Pride and Orlando City B) until at least Monday.
According to the Orlando Sentinel’s Julia Poe, MLS is “mandating” teams to not hold any practices until Monday. Players can still use the clubs’ facilities for individual workouts, however.
Update on this — MLS is mandating teams not hold formal practices until Monday. Players can still use team facilities for individual workouts in the meantime. We’ll see whether former training recommences Monday. https://t.co/CFMKScD3GM
— Julia Poe (@jpoe24601) March 13, 2020
The Lions have started their 2020 campaign slowly, drawing Real Salt Lake 0-0 at home on Feb. 29 and losing to the Colorado Rapids 2-1 on the road on March 7. Before the league suspension was implemented, Orlando City were slated to host the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
Other matches that will be postponed: Orlando City’s upcoming two-game road trip that included, first, a trip to the Los Angeles Galaxy and, then, a trip to play the New York Red Bulls. The Lions would have hosted the Montreal Impact, thereafter.
Given the league’s current timetable, Orlando City will travel to play Columbus Crew SC on April 11 at 4:30 p.m.
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The Pride and the rest of the National Women’s Soccer League just started their preseason on March 9 but are already experiencing consequences from proactive coronavirus mitigation. The league announced all preseason matches would be cancelled, but, as it stands, all regular-season matches will still be played as scheduled.
Per the Sentinel’s Poe, the Pride’s players in Europe returned to the States before the European travel ban was implemented; however, Orlando still has players in Australia’s Westfield W-League.
A note for Orlando Pride fans — I’ve been told that all national team players returning to Orlando from Europe made it home safely before the COVID-19 travel ban went into effect. Next concern is whether players still in the W-League in Australia return on original schedule.
— Julia Poe (@jpoe24601) March 12, 2020
For more on the Lions and the Pride, as the coronavirus situation continues to evolve, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
To contact Victor for tips and/or memes (happy to send or receive), you can email him at vtan@newdayreview.com, or you can tweet at him.
[…] League Soccer also announced Tuesday morning that its mid-May return projection is “extremely unlikely.” Orlando City SC is 0-1-1 through two games in […]
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