After two postponements, TFC may travel to Orlando today

Major League Soccer will be hoping that three times is a charm for Toronto FC.

Twice, TFC’s trip to Orlando, Fla., for the MLS is Back Tournament, which begins this week, was postponed. First Friday and then again Saturday, when a member of the TFC travel party reported symptoms to the team medical staff.

According to a team release, the individual was isolating at home and is being assessed virtually by the medical staff. It was not reported whether the person with the symptoms is a player, coach or team official. The entire TFC travel party was scheduled to undergo another round of testing for COVID-19 and will not travel to Orlando for the start of the tournament until those tests are received.

There is no official word when the team will travel to Orlando, but according to Sports + Aviation, TFC is now expected to leave late Monday afternoon. The charter aircraft is expected to depart Atlanta at 1:30 p.m. for Toronto to retrieve the Reds and then the TFC travel party (players, coaches, support staff) is expected to depart Toronto at 5 p.m. and arrive in Orlando at 7:38 p.m.

Many MLS team officials, including TFC coach Greg Vanney, have expressed concern over his team travelling to Florida, which is currently a hot zone for COVID-19 cases, and said that he’s not sure if playing is worth it if means travelling to the Sunshine State.

Florida confirmed 11,458 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, breaking their previous record set on Thursday. There are at least 190,052 total cases reported in Florida and over 3,800 deaths.

The Reds face D.C. United in their opener on July 10, face 401 Derby rivals Montreal Impact on July 15, and New England Revolution on July 21. Spectators will not be allowed at the games and the team’s movements will be strictly controlled within the playing and training grounds and hotels.