Inter Miami to begin training camp Feb. 22; MLS sets start of regular season for April 3

Inter Miami, under new coach Phil Neville, will open preseason training Feb. 22 and kick off its second season in early April.

Major League Soccer announced Monday that the 2021 season will begin Saturday, April 3, and feature 34 matches for each of the league’s 27 clubs. The regular season will conclude Nov. 7, and the playoffs begin Nov. 19. MLS Cup will be played Dec. 11.

The season will feature the debut of expansion club Austin FC.

Players, coaches and staff will have to follow strict COVID-19 protocols, as they did last season, including quarantine before the start of training camp and testing every other day during the season. Also, teams will be required to take charter flights to all games until further notice.

It will be a busy year, as many players will be competing for their respective national teams in World Cup qualifying, Concacaf Nations League Finals, the Concacaf Gold Cup, Copa América, the European Championship and the Summer Olympics.

— MICHELLE KAUFMAN

Elsewhere: Gareth

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Bale scored only his fourth goal since returning to Tottenham in leading a comeback to beat Wycombe 4-1 in the FA Cup.

ALL-ACC ACADEMIC

They’re not just talented football players. They’re talented students, too.

Nine University of Miami football players were named to the 2020 AllACC Academic Football Team, a UM record. The nine selections were one more than the previous school best of eight, achieved in 2006.

The nine: Kicker Jose Borregales (liberal studies), safety Bubba Bolden (sociology), safety Amari Carter (public administration), cornerback DJ Ivey (sociology), long snapper Clay James (sport administration), quarterback D’Eriq King (liberal studies), defensive end

Jaelan Phillips (motion pictures production), defensive end Quincy

Roche (liberal studies) and offensive tackle Jarrid Williams (liberal studies).

Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average. Athletic achievements also considered in selecting the AllACC Academic Team.

— SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN

ETC.

Golf: The PGA Championship ● is headed back to Southern Hills next year, the Oklahoma course that gets its eighth major championship earlier than expected after the PGA of America cut ties with former President Donald Trump.

The 2022 PGA Championship originally was to be played at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey.