MLS announces 20 players have tested positive for COVID-19

20 MLS players have tested positive for the coronavirus since June.

The MLS is Back Tournament commences in a few days, but we have still have COVID-19.

This one-of-a-kind soccer tournament is slated to being at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida on July 8. There will be at least two matches each day in Orlando for at least a month in this tournament involving all 26 MLS clubs. While there will be certain protocols in place to attempt to control the spread of the virus, it’s still out there.

Major League Soccer sent out a memo on Sunday citing how testing is going and what to expect for the upcoming tournament. According to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, “MLS announces update to COVID19 testing; 18 players and 6 staff had positive PCR tests prior to traveling to Orlando. Total of 668 players have been tested since early June. In Orlando, there have been 329 tests on site with two players testing positive.”

When training for this tournament commenced back in early June, MLS implemented these two protocols.1. Two PCR tests completed 24 hours apart within 72 hours of initial training. 2. Additional PCR testing every other day after training commenced. This game two test within 72 hours rule was enforced prior to all the clubs traveling to Orlando.

MLS had 20 players test positive for coronavirus ahead of the tournament.

While some of the league’s best players will inevitably be affected by these positive tests, the good news is 668 players have been tested since early June and only 18 of them tested positive before their teammates headed to Orlando. Since heading to the tournaments site, 329 people have been given tests and only two additional players have tested positive.

These are some of the best conditioned athletes in the world. Soccer players do run pretty much non-stop for 90 minutes. With at least four days in between matches in group stage, there will be ample time for players to recover from the game, as well as be tested to see if anyone else comes up positive. It’s a bold move to come back, but you have to admire the MLS’ forward thinking here.

The winner of the MLS is Back Tournament will gain a spot in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League. Naturally, all 26 clubs want to win this tournament for the sake of getting on the biggest stage in North American professional soccer.

Despite the positive tests, the MLS looks to be back in full force on July 8 down in Orlando.