MLS Players Association Approves Summer Tournament In Orlando

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) has voted and approved the league’s proposal to resume the 2020 season with a summer tournament in Orlando.

Along with the approval of the summer tournament, the MLSPA voted to approve a package of economic concessions for the 2020 season, salary reductions across the entire player pool as well as reduced team and individual bonuses.

The MLSPA released the following statement on Sunday evening:

“This evening, MLS Players voted to approve a package of economic concessions for the 2020 season, modifications to the recently agreed-upon CBA, including its extension by a year, and their agreement to participate in a summer tournament in Orlando. Included were salary reductions across the entire player pool, reduced team and individual bonuses, and additional concessions to existing and future terms of the CBA. While a difficult vote in incredibly challenging times, it was taken collectively to ensure that Players can return to competition as soon as they are safely able to do so. The package has been formally submitted to the league for a decision by the owners.”

Statement on the status of negotiations: pic.twitter.com/DesCGu9ymL

— MLSPA (@MLSPA) June 1, 2020

On May 13, the league proposed that all 26 teams head to Orlando, Florida and ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex to compete in a tournament. The clubs would go to Florida and train for three or four weeks before the tournament starts.

If the tournament were to occur, it is rumored that teams would be split into groups with each team roughly playing five group matches. The group matches would be followed by knockout rounds for teams that qualified and for the teams that did not qualify they would play in consolation games to ensure every team plays the same amount of games.

The league was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.