FC Dallas will not play in MLS is Back Tournament

FC Dallas will not participate in the MLS is Back Tournament.

Bringing sports back in the middle of a global pandemic has been a major challenge for every sports league in the United States, and MLS is certainly experiencing its fair share of problems ahead of Wednesday’s start for the “MLS is Back” Tournament.

As first reported by The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio, FC Dallas has decided not to compete in the upcoming tournament. ESPN’s Stefano Fusaro reports that the club has withdrawn from the tourney due to the high number of positive coronavirus tests within their traveling party.

Following the positive COVID-19 results for 10 players and one coach last week, the entire FC Dallas traveling party has been quarantined for seven days.

Initially, Dallas had three players test positive before the group arrived to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Reunion, Florida, on June 27. Since then, the number of cases within the club has ballooned to 14, prompting the decision to withdraw from the MLS is Back Tournament.

As the name indicates, this one-off tournament was supposed to mark MLS’ return to action in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with all 26 teams set to participate behind closed doors. Featuring a group stage and knockout rounds, the champion will qualify for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, with the regular MLS season scheduled to resume after the tournament.

The event is set to run from July 8-Aug. 11. FC Dallas was originally scheduled to play the Vancouver Whitecaps in their first match on the opening day of the tournament. It remains to be seen how MLS will adjust to an entire team dropping out of the competition, but at this point, it’s fair to wonder how safe it is to be bringing sports back at all.