Nashville Withdraws...

It’s the news most everyone was expecting. Nashville SC has become the second club, after FC Dallas, forced to withdraw from the MLS-is-Back tournament.

With nine players confirmed as receiving positive test results for COVID-19 since arriving in Orlando, the league said the decision was taken with the best interests of the health of all players competing at the tournament and in line with protocols created in conjunction with local and national health authorities and infectious disease experts.

“We have withdrawn Nashville SC from the MLS is Back Tournament.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.”

The withdrawal has forced the reconfiguration ion the groups into a more balanced 6 groups with four teams in each. The reconfiguration was not that difficult to process. Chicago Fire, who had yet to play in Group A have simply been placed into Group B, which had ben left with only three teams since the FC Dallas withdrawal.

Chicago will no play their opening fixture against Seattle Sounders at 0900 on the morning of July 14.

San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps are the other two clubs Fire will face in Group B.