Union to commence league re-opener tourney July 9

Even before getting official word of its first game at the MLS Is Back Tournament, Wednesday marked a big day for the Philadelphia Union.

After its first training session in Chester since the MLS season was put on hold in early March, the Union learned that they will open the MLS Is Back tournament with a game against New York City FC at 9 a.m. on July 9. That opponent is a change from what manager Jim Curtin was previously told, thinking his team would start against Nashville SC. But changes on other fronts were more directly beneficial for the Union.

First the schedule: The tournament begins July 8. The Union open with a breakfast kickoff against New York City FC the next day, one of seven morning kickoffs in the tournament to fit the league’s broadcast windows (in

this case, ESPN).

The Union take on Nashville July 14 at 8 p.m. (Univision) and finish with a 10:30 p.m. date against Inter Miami July 19 (FS1). All games will be at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

The formal schedule and the return to team facilities – the Union had trained at the 76ers Fieldhouse and Kirkwood soccer complex in Delaware – helps make the return from the COVID-19 stoppage feel more real.

“Going back to Chester for the first time and walking back into your actual office and looking around, you go, ‘oh, this is what we do for an actual living.’ And it kind of starts to click again,” Curtin said on a videoconference. “It’s been strange, but at the same time, we have a job

to do. We’ve adjusted now and our team seems to be embracing this challenge of the Orlando competition.”

The Union will charter to Orlando on July 2, which is the latest a team can leave its home market. The variety of start times present challenges, as does MLS having to schedule 26 clubs on 14 or so practice fields. Curtin said the team’s training times will vary day to day, but they’ve essentially been given one morning and one afternoon option each day and one weight-room slot, which the teams can utilize as need be.

The other change with Wednesday’s official release are updated rules of competition. The Union’s three group-stage games will count toward the MLS regular-season standings. The winner of the tournament gets a $1.1 million prize and a spot in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.