Major League Soccer today announced the schedule and broadcast details for the continuation of its 25th season, which will continue in the home markets of the 26 clubs beginning Aug. 12. Atlanta United will play home-and-home matches against regional competition – Inter Miami CF, Nashville SC and Orlando City SC – for a total of six matches. It’s first match will be at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 22 against Nashville SC (7:00 p.m. EST, FOX Sports South/Southeast). MLS plans to announce the balance of the regular season schedule by early September as the league continues to work with infectious disease experts, league and club medical personnel, and government officials in all markets in charting a course for the completion of the 2020 season.
While the club works to refine the health and safety protocols for Atlanta United events in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the three home matches of this first phase will be played with no fans in attendance.
Atlanta (2-3-0, 6 points) will play a total of six matches in 22 days during this phase of the Regular Season schedule. After the opener against Nashville, Atlanta will travel to play expansion-side Inter Miami CF for the first time on Wednesday, Aug. 26 (8:00 p.m., FOX Sports South/Southeast). After that, Atlanta will host Orlando City SC on Saturday, Aug. 29 (3:30 p.m., Univision), followed by its third and final home match of this phase against Inter Miami on Wednesday, Sept. 2 (7:00 p.m., FS1). It’s final two matches will come on the road against Orlando City SC on Sunday, Sept. 6 (7:30 p.m., FOX Sports South/Southeast) and against Nashville SC on Saturday, Sept. 12 (8:30 p.m., FOX Sports South/Southeast).
Atlanta United matches
<p>Date</p> |
<p>Opponent</p> |
<p>Time (EST)</p> |
<p>TV</p> |
<p>8/22</p> |
<p>Nashville SC</p> |
<p>7:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>FSS</p> |
<p>8/26</p> |
<p>@ Inter Miami CF</p> |
<p>8:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>FSS</p> |
<p>8/29</p> |
<p>Orlando City SC</p> |
<p>3:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>UNI</p> |
<p>9/2</p> |
<p>Inter Miami CF</p> |
<p>7:00 p.m.</p> |
<p>FS1</p> |
<p>9/6</p> |
<p>@ Orlando City SC</p> |
<p>7:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>FSS</p> |
<p>9/12</p> |
<p>@ Nashville SC</p> |
<p>8:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>FSS</p> |
Each MLS club will play 18 additional regular season games in a phased approach, culminating with Decision Day on Sunday, Nov. 8. To make up the three matches missed from the tournament, FC Dallas and Nashville SC will play an additional three matches, against each other, with the first two games on Aug. 12 and 16 and a third game to be scheduled in the fall.
As with the MLS is Back Tournament, COVID-19 testing protocols will again play an important role in MLS’ competition framework. MLS continues to work closely with the league’s infectious disease advisors as well as advisors for the MLSPA on the plan for testing. All clubs are forming testing partnerships with a local certified lab, and all players, technical staff, and essential club staff will be tested every other day, including the day before each match day. Also, guidelines will be provided to players, coaches and essential staff to avoid the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 during their time away from club facilities.
In addition to adhering to health, safety and medical protocols, another focus of the new schedule is efficient travel. Teams will take chartered flights, and for the majority of road trips will arrive in the host market on matchday and depart after the match later that evening.
The continuation of Major League Soccer’s 25th Season will air nationally in the U.S. on ESPN, FOX Sports and Univision platforms, as well as regionally through individual club broadcast partners. All matches not aired by an English-language network will be streamed live in English on Twitter. Canadian broadcast schedules will be announced at a later date.
FOX Sports continues its coverage of the 2020 MLS regular season on Aug. 22, as the FOX Broadcast Network will air the El Trafico rivalry match that will see Carlos Vela and Los Angeles Football Club host crosstown rival LA Galaxy and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez. During the first phase of the schedule, Univision network will showcase the Atlanta United vs. Orlando City SC match on Aug. 29. During the continuation of play, all regional broadcasts will be showcased nationally, out-of-market, on ESPN+.
Key Dates
Aug. 12 FC Dallas vs. Nashville SC at Toyota Stadium in Frisco
Nov. 8 Regular season ends on Decision Day
Nov. 20 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs begin
Dec. 12 MLS Cup
MLS Schedule notes
•FC Dallas and Nashville SC will play twice – on Aug. 12 and Aug. 16 – before the other clubs kick off the continuation of their regular seasons. A third match will be played in Nashville later in the regular season.
•The Audi MLS Cup Playoffs will begin Nov. 20. Eighteen teams will compete in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. As the Eastern Conference has more teams (14) than the Western Conference (12), there will be a four-team play-in round for the Eastern Conference teams (Seed 7-10) - Seed 7 vs. Seed 10 and Seed 8 vs. Seed 9 - to advance to the Round-of-16.
•2020 expansion clubs Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC will play twice – Aug. 30 in Nashville and Sept. 6 in Miami.
•The continuation of regular season play will see six rivalries return to home markets as fans will be treated to the New York Derby on Thursday, Aug. 20, Texas Derby on Friday, Aug. 21, El Trafico and Inter Miami vs. Orlando City SC as well as the Rocky Mountain Cup on Saturday, Aug. 22, and closing out with the Cascadia matchup of Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday, Aug. 23.
•The Hell is Real Derby will be played twice during the first phase of the schedule as FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew SC face off on Aug. 29 and Sept. 6.
