The participating MLS clubs have arrived in Orlando ahead of the MLS is Back Tournament, which will get underway on July 8.
The San Jose Earthquakes were the first team to touch down in Florida and the final five teams joined them on July 6. A total of 25 of MLS's 26 clubs – FC Dallas were withdrawn from the tournament – are now situated at the MLS delegation hotel in compliance with health and safety protocols:
July 6: LAFC, LA Galaxy, Toronto FC, Colorado & Vancouver
Rivals LAFC and the LA Galaxy both embarked on cross-country flights to Orlando on Monday:
Here for the 🏆 #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/7MuDeZCIAF
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 7, 2020
Los Angeles ✈️ Orlando
— LAFC (@LAFC) July 6, 2020
🔜 https://t.co/ZAerDl5a5U pic.twitter.com/SgvlUwu1ew
The Vancouver Whitecaps also departed for the tournament site on Monday:
✌️ out @yvrairport
— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) July 7, 2020
Next stop @MCO 🛬 pic.twitter.com/1tpzCLpNCn
Toronto FC postponed their trip on July 4 and the Colorado Rapids did the same on July 5. But both teams made their way to Orlando on Monday:
TOR » ORL #MLSisBack | #TFCLive pic.twitter.com/Y5v64CpTaQ
— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC) July 7, 2020
It's go time ✈️#MLSisBack | @ridehermes pic.twitter.com/2b3zsjV1j6
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) July 7, 2020
July 5: Sporting KC & Houston Dynamo
Sporting Kansas City arrived in Orlando on Sunday evening after a socially-distanced sendoff the night before:
What a send-off. Thank you, @KCCauldron. Best supporters anywhere.
— Sporting KC (@SportingKC) July 5, 2020
Now, onward to Orlando. Let's go win a trophy. #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/YD0i2y0Fxu
The Houston Dynamo also touched down in Central Florida on Sunday evening:
.@HoustonDynamo have arrived! ✅ #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/mZp53x0ZUr
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 5, 2020
July 4: Atlanta United, NY Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake
Atlanta United made the short trek to Orlando ahead of their first match on July 11 against the NY Red Bulls:
We love you, ATL ❤️🖤
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) July 4, 2020
Now it’s time to conquer for the city. pic.twitter.com/49GvGpzvoq
The Red Bulls join Atlanta in Group E and also arrived later the same day:
Update: All follow up tests have been confirmed negative and the group will travel to Orlando by charter flight today.
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) July 4, 2020
It has to start somewhere. pic.twitter.com/ewDgTp1Ydn
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) July 5, 2020
Real Salt Lake, who play in Group D and open against the Colorado Rapids on July 12, also traveled to Orlando on Independence Day in the USA:
Bubble bound pic.twitter.com/cnkWfQVNAE
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 5, 2020
July 3: D.C. United, Nashville SC, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders
Four more teams made the journey to Orlando ahead of their opening games in the MLS is Back Tournament. MLS newcomers Nashville SC were the first team to touch down, marking their arrival with a suitably themed video.
Ready to make some magic. #EveryoneN #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/fiid3Fiko6
— Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) July 3, 2020
D.C. United, who kick off their tournament against Toronto FC in a week's time, also touched down in Florida.
📍Orlando, FL pic.twitter.com/ZaUvrOudIV
— dcunited (@dcunited) July 3, 2020
Two Cascadia Cup rivals – the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders – arrived in the evening, gearing up for the matches ahead. The Sounders, as shown by Nicolas Lodeiro's tweet, traveled in Black Lives Matter shirts.
💚😷💛 pic.twitter.com/OPmKnIH7po
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) July 4, 2020
Por fin ya acá en Orlando, una nueva temporada que se viene. Vamo’ arriba!
— Nicolas Lodeiro (@NicolasLodeiro) July 4, 2020
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Finally here in Orlando, new season coming over. Vamo’ arriba! pic.twitter.com/vEeCRZnwrO
July 2: New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union, Montreal Impact, NYCFC
A foursome of Eastern Conference clubs, all of which play their group openers on July 9, made their way down the East coast to Orlando. The Revs were the first to arrive:
🔛 site.
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) July 2, 2020
🦢🤝🐬#NERevs pic.twitter.com/xM3kHijJBB
The Union received a spirited send-off from fans as they left Subaru Park in Chester before touching down in Orlando on Thursday evening.
PHL ➡️ ORL#MLSisBack | #DOOP | @PhilaUnionPhang pic.twitter.com/8uTbnaTxjy
— PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) July 2, 2020
Now reporting from the bubble 💬#DOOP | #FightForPhilly pic.twitter.com/DfpWZAmOcC
— PhilaUnion (@PhilaUnion) July 2, 2020
The Montreal Impact, who face New England in Group C on July 9, traveled after full team training in Montreal.
New York City FC trained in market Thursday before leaving for the MLS is Back Tournament.
Here we go ✈️🎸🙏🏽😷 pic.twitter.com/NC79ZtYuvH
— Luis Barraza (@LuisBarrazaa) July 3, 2020
July 1: Chicago Fire FC, Inter Miami CF
Both Inter Miami and Chicago FC departed for Central Florida on Wednesday, with Miami even holding a send-off with their fans before boarding the bus.
Now that’s one way to start this business trip. Thanks for the love, #LaFamiliaIMCF!
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 1, 2020
📸 https://t.co/SJ2HUCJJql pic.twitter.com/ORrIGNjhdY
Chicago also shared footage of their departure:
Off to Orlando ✌️
— Chicago Fire FC (@ChicagoFire) July 1, 2020
Seven days until #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/zr32XQ9gyq
June 29: FC Cincinnati
FC Cincinnati arrived in Orlando on Monday, June 29, a day after in-state rivals Columbus, whom they will face in the tournament opener on July 11 (10:30ET on FS1, TUDN, TSN).
June 28: Columbus Crew SC & Minnesota United
It was the turn of Columbus and Minnesota to land in Orlando on Sunday, June 28.
While Crew SC open on July 11 with a "Hell is Real" rivalry match against FC Cincinnati, MNUFC begin group play a day later against Sporting Kansas City — aka the "Nicest Rivalry" (8ET on ESPN, TSN).
June 27: FC Dallas
The FC Dallas delegation arrived on Saturday, June 27, wearing black-and-white t-shirts with the words "History must not repeat itself" and the Black Lives Matter hashtag #BLM.
The first group match for FC Dallas falls on Thursday, July 9 against Vancouver (10:30 pm ET on TUDN & Twitter in USA; TSN in Canada).
June 25: Orlando City SC
After one last morning training session at their own facility, Orlando made the short journey to Walt Disney World on Thursday, June 25:
Riding in style to #MLSisBack 🚌@WaltDisneyWorld | #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/y3f3pv28Sq
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) June 25, 2020
June 24: San Jose Earthquakes
The Earthquakes were the first MLS team to arrive in Orlando on Wednesday, June 24:
Before embarking on the trip to Florida, San Jose coach Matias Almeyda made it clear that the club prioritized getting in early since they weren't able to conduct full-team training in their home market:
.@peladoalmeyda's ready for Orlando. #VamosSJ pic.twitter.com/rXXpVqA9nE
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) June 24, 2020
Health & Safety Protocol
Before, during and after each team's arrival, health and safety is at the forefront of considerations.
Prior to traveling to Orlando, all essential members of a club delegation are required to undergo two Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests 24 hours apart. Upon arrival in Florida, all individuals will immediately receive an additional PCR test and players may only begin training and staff may begin working upon receipt of a negative result from the first PCR test in Orlando.
The testing doesn't end there. During an individual’s first two weeks in Orlando, that person will be tested every other day. After those first 14 days, players, coaches and PRO staff will be tested regularly, including the day before each matchday.