Now there are six groups of four remaining.
Major League Soccer has withdrawn Nashville SC from the MLS is Back Tournament and moved Chicago Fire FC to Group B with the Seattle Sounders, San Jose Earthquakes, and Vancouver Whitecaps.
Nashville’s opening match against the Chicago Fire set for Wednesday was postponed after five positive results were confirmed. The league said two Nashville players tested positive last weekend and three more positive tests were confirmed Monday night. Four more players received inconclusive results and required further testing.).
“We have withdrawn Nashville SC from the MLS is Back Tournament. Due to the number of positive tests, the club has been unable to train since arriving in Orlando and would not be able to play matches,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “For every decision we make in our return to play, the wellbeing of our players, staff, officials and all participants is our top priority.”
As a result, the schedule has been altered with the Fire’s first match now set for Tuesday at 8am CT against the defender MLS Cup champion Sounders. Below is the full list of schedule changes (all times Central):
July 14th:
Chicago Fire FC vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 8am
New York City FC vs. Orlando City SC, 7pm
Philadelphia Union vs. Inter Miami, 9:30pm
July 19th:
Chicago Fire FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7pm
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 9:30pm
July 20th:
Inter Miami vs. New York City FC, 8am
Philadelphia Union vs. Orlando City SC, 7pm
July 23rd:
Chicago Fire FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 8am
THOUGHTS: The Fire are not the only Chicago soccer team to have their schedule suddenly altered due to another team’s misfortune with COVID-19. The Red Stars had their schedule altered due to Orlando Pride’s withdrawal from the NWSL Challenge Cup. Instead of facing the bottom four sides from last season (Orlando, Utah, Houston, and Sky Blue), they got three of the top five (Washington, Portland, North Carolina),
Likewise, instead of the Fire getting two first-year sides and NYCFC, it is now the defending champs, and up-and-coming Quakes side, and a Whitecaps side who is also rebuilding and also has had more issues than the library.
The Whitecaps were due to open against FC Dallas, but that went out the window last week. However, they still have their brethren in the Sounders and Quakes to play.
It will be interesting to see how Raphael Wicky’s side will adapt to this sudden change of opponents (hopefully better than the Red Stars have theirs). Hopefully, there will not be any further disruption of the competition by COVID-19.
Chicago Fire
“Nashville
