Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Remainder of schedule for MLS tournament revealed
The rest of Inter Miami CF’s schedule for the MLS is Back Tournament has been revealed.
In addition to facing off against in-state rival Orlando City SC for the first time in the tournament’s opening contest July 8, the club will play Chicago Fire FC and the Philadelphia Union in its three group-stage matches that will count toward the regular season.
The team’s game against Orlando City, which was announced June 11, will start at 8 p.m. and be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and TSN. Inter Miami will play the Fire at 9 a.m. on July 14 and the Union at 10:30 p.m on July 19.
The tournament games will be played without fans at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex due to the coronavirus pandemic and will be played in the morning and evening to avoid the heat.
Here is Inter Miami’s group-stage matches schedule for the tournament, with information about where the games will be broadcast:
■ Orlando City SC at 8 p.m. on July 8 (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, TSN);
■ Chicago Fire FC at 9 a.m. on July 14 (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, TSN);
■ Philadelphia Union at 10:30 p.m on July 19 (FS1, TUDN, TSN).
Inter Miami is in Group A of the tournament, along with the Fire, Union, Orlando City, New York City FC and Nashville SC.
The top three finishers in Group A, along with the top two teams from Groups B through F and the next three best teams across all groups, will advance to the 16-team knockout stage that will take place from July 25 to 28.
Group A is the only group with six teams. The five other groups have four teams each.
The tournament will conclude with the final Aug. 11 and the winner will receive an automatic berth to the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.
Inter Miami played two road games — a pair of losses — in its inaugural season before the league suspended play March 12 due to
the pandemic.
The club will have the option to travel to Orlando as late as July 1 since it’s been able to host full-team practices at its training facility in Fort Lauderdale since June 9. Teams were able to arrive starting Wednesday, with the San Jose Earthquakes being the first team to make the trip, according to ESPN.