- When: Tuesday, August 11, 8:30pm ET
- Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida
- Broadcast: ESPN and ESPN Deportes
- Streaming Services: Hulu Live TV, FuboTV, Sling TV, AT&T TV Now, YouTube TV, Vidgo
- Odds: Orlando City +145, Portland +175
MLS Is Back Tournament: What is it?
The MLS Is Back Tournament is the league’s answer to how to handle its 25th season, interrupted in March after most teams played just two of their 34 regular-season matches.
The knockout round field of 16 teams will be comprised of the first and second-place teams from each group, plus the top four third-place teams.
MLS Is Back Tournament Groups
Group A
- Inter Miami CF
- New York City FC
- Orlando City SC
- Philadelphia Union
Group B
- Chicago Fire FC
- San Jose Earthquakes
- Seattle Sounders FC
- Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Group C
- D.C. United
- Montreal Impact
- New England Revolution
- Toronto FC
Group D
- Colorado Rapids
- Minnesota United FC
- Real Salt Lake
- Sporting Kansas City
Group E
- Atlanta United FC
- Columbus Crew SC
- FC Cincinnati
- New York Red Bulls
Group F
- Houston Dynamo
- LA Galaxy
- LAFC
- Portland Timbers
MLS Is Back Tournament Schedule
Note that, in addition to the evening start times you’re more accustomed to, a number of the matches will have 9am ET start times (which, if you watch European soccer, you’re already accustomed to scheduling into your day).
Group Stage
- Wednesday, July 8, 8pm ET: Orlando City SC 2, Inter Miami CF 1 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Thursday, July 9, 9am ET: Philadelphia Union 1, NYCFC 0 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Thursday, July 9, 8pm ET: New England Revolution 1, Montreal Impact 0 (TUDN and Twitter)
- Friday, July 10, 9pm ET: Seattle Sounders FC 0, San Jose Earthquakes 0 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Saturday, July 11, 8pm ET: NY Red Bulls 1, Atlanta United 0 (Fox and TUDN)
- Saturday, July 11, 10:30pm ET: Columbus Crew SC 4, FC Cincinnati 0 (FS1 and TUDN)
- Sunday, July 12, 8pm ET: Minnesota United FC 2, Sporting Kansas City 1 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Sunday, July 12, 10:30pm ET: Real Salt Lake 2, Colorado Rapids 0 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Monday, July 12, 9am ET: Toronto FC 2, DC United 2 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Monday, July 13, 8pm ET: LAFC 3, Houston Dynamo 3 (FS1 and TUDN)
- Monday, July 13, 10:30pm ET: Portland Timbers 2, LA Galaxy 1 (FS1 and TUDN)
- Tuesday, July 14, 9am ET: Chicago Fire 2, Seattle Sounders FC 1 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Tuesday, July 14, 8pm ET: Orlando City SC 3, NYCFC 1 (TUDN and Twitter)
- Tuesday, July 14, 10:30pm ET: Philadelphia Union 2, Inter Miami CF 1 (TUDN and Twitter)
- Thursday, July 16, 9am ET: FC Cincinnati 1, Atlanta United FC 0 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Thursday, July 16, 8pm ET: Toronto FC 4, Montreal Impact 3 (TUDN)
- Thursday, July 16, 10:30pm ET: Columbus Crew SC. 2, NY Red Bulls 0 (FS1 and TUDN)
- Friday, July 17, 8pm ET: Sporting Kansas City 3, Colorado Rapids 2 (ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes)
- Friday, July 17, 8pm ET: DC United 1, New England Revolution 1 (FS1 and TUDN)
- Friday, July 17, 10:30pm ET: Real Salt Lake 0, Minnesota United FC 0 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Saturday, July 18, 8pm ET: Portland Timbers 2, Houston Dynamo 1 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Saturday, July 18, 10:30pm ET: LAFC 6, LA Galaxy 2 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Sunday, July 19, 8pm ET: San Jose Earthquakes 2, Chicago Fire FC 0 (FS1 and TUDN)
- Sunday, July 19, 10:30pm ET: Seattle Sounders FC 3, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 (TUDN and Twitter)
- Monday, July 20, 9am ET: New York City FC 1, Inter Miami CF 0 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Monday, July 20, 8pm ET: Philadelphia Union 1, Orlando City SC 1 (TUDN and Twitter)
- Tuesday, July 21, 9am ET: Toronto FC 0, New England Revolution 0 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Tuesday, July 21, 8pm ET: Columbus Crew SC 1, Atlanta United FC 0 (TUDN and Twitter)
- Tuesday, July 21, 10:30pm ET: Montreal Impact 1, DC United 0 (TUDN and Twitter)
- Wednesday, July 22, 9am ET: Sporting Kansas City 2, Real Salt Lake 0 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Wednesday, July 22, 8pm ET: FC Cincinnati 2, NY Red Bulls 0 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Wednesday, July 22, 10:30pm ET: Colorado Rapids 2, Minnesota United FC 2 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Thursday, July 23, 9am ET: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, Chicago Fire FC 0 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
- Thursday, July 23, 8pm ET: LA Galaxy 1, Houston Dynamo 1 (FS1 and TUDN)
- Thursday, July 23, 10:30pm ET: LAFC 2, Portland Timbers 2 (ESPN and ESPN Deportes)
Knockout Stage: Round of 16
- Saturday, July 25, 8pm ET: Orlando City SC 1,
Montreal Impact0 (ESPN2) - Saturday, July 25, 10:30pm ET: Philadelphia Union 1,
New England Revolution0 (ESPN2)
- Sunday, July 26, 8:30pm ET: NYCFC 3,
Toronto FC1 (FS1 and TUDN) - Sunday, July 26, 11pm ET: Sporting Kansas City 0(3),
Vancouver Whitecaps FC0(1) (FS1 and TUDN)
- Monday, July 27, 8:30pm ET: San Jose Earthquakes 5,
Real Salt Lake2 (FS1) - Monday, July 27, 11pm ET: LAFC 4,
Seattle Sounders FC1 (FS1)
- Tuesday, July 28, 8pm ET: Minnesota United FC 1(5),
Columbus Crew SC1(3) (ESPN) - Tuesday, July 28, 10:30pm ET: Portland Timbers 1(4),
FC Cincinnati 1(2)(ESPN)
Knockout Stage: Quarterfinals
- Thursday, July 30, 8pm ET: Philadelphia Union 3,
Sporting Kansas City1 (ESPN)
- Friday, July 31, 7:30pm ET: Orlando City SC 1(5),
LAFC1(4) (FS1)
- Saturday, August 1, 8pm ET: Minnesota United FC 4,
San Jose Earthquakes1 (ESPN2) - Saturday, August 1, 10:30pm ET: Portland Timbers 3,
NYCFC1 (FS1)
Knockout Stage: Semifinals
- Wednesday, August 5, 8pm ET: Portland Timbers 2,
Philadelphia Union1 (FS1)
- Thursday, August 6, 8pm ET: Orlando City SC 3,
Minnesota United FC1 (ESPN2)
Knockout Stage: Final
- Tuesday, August 11, 8:30pm ET: MLS is Back Tournament Final: Portland Timbers 2,
Orlando City SC1 (ESPN)
MLS Is Back Tournament Odds
According to BetMGM, these teams are the favorites (as of July 7) to lift the trophy:
- LAFC: +400
- Seattle Sounders FC: +800
- Atlanta United: +1200
- Toronto FC: +1200
- New York Red Bulls: +1400
- NYCFC: +1600
- Philadelphia Union: +1600
- San Jose Earthquakes: +1800
- Sporting Kansas City: +1800
Stream the MLS Is Back Tournament live: How to watch online
The following streaming services will carry the tournament online. (Fubo hasn’t quite yet delivered on its promise of ESPN coming to the service, but you can catch all the Fox and TUDN matches there. The other streaming services listed, which do carry ESPN and ESPN2, will have the majority of matches available.)
| 7 Day Trial | FREE |
| Live TV + Hulu | $54.99 |
Live TV + Hulu (no ads on Hulu content) | $60.99 |
Hulu Live TV is one of the most popular ways to stream live TV, as you have access to a massive library of on-demand content including classic and current TV shows, movies, and Hulu’s original programming. Channels like FS1, FS2, and NBCSN deliver some of the best soccer from Europe and North America direct to you.
FuboTV was created with soccer fans in mind; there’s even original content catering to that dedicated group. Whether you’re an MLS or Bundesliga fan checking out the action on FS1 and FS2, a Liga MX or El Tri fan tuning into TUDN, a La Liga fan tuning into BeIN Sports, or a Premier League fan rising early with NBCSN, Fubo delivers the beautiful game.
If you’re looking primarily for Spanish-language coverage from TUDN, TyC, and GolTV, as well as both the English and Spanish-language versions of BeIN Sports, you might consider Fubo Español. It provides access to La Liga, Concacaf Champions League, Copa Libertadores, and more.
| Sling Orange | $30 |
| Sling Blue | $30 |
| Sling Orange & Blue | $45 |
Sling TV is a great destination for soccer fans. It has two cable packages, Sling Orange and Sling Blue, which each cost $30 per month. Getting Sling Orange + Blue saves money and it provides the most access to sports. Sling Blue provides FS1 for MLS and Bundesliga matches, NBCSN for Premier League matches, and NFL Network for fans of the other kind of football. Sling Orange has ESPN and ESPN2 for MLS, USMNT, and USWNT fans, as well as those who want to catch international matchups. The World Sports package includes BeIN Sports and La Liga action for $10 a month. Completists will want FS2 through the Sling Blue Sports Extra package for just $10 a month. Here’s the complete guide to Sling TV channels.
| Plus | $65 |
| Max | $80 |
| Ultimate | $135 |
AT&T TV Now starts with access to 45+ channels, including local channels and even free HBO in the Plus and Max channel suites. With multiple packages to choose from, you can find a solution for all your soccer channels. Whether it’s ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, NBCSN, or TUDN, AT&T TV Now can get you there.
| Monthly | $49.99 |
YouTube TV is a great solution for families because one subscription can add up to six accounts, and each account comes with unlimited cloud DVR. You can’t beat the variety, either: There are sports channels like NBCSN, NBA TV, and four ESPN channels, while Disney, Disney XD, Disney Junior, and Cartoon Network will keep any kid (or kid at heart) busy for hours. It also comes with a few Spanish-language channels like Telemundo and NBC Universo. AMC, BBC America, and IFC are there too, so you won’t miss out on all that prestige TV. (You can find the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
Vidgo makes the suite of ESPN and Fox sports channels available at even its base English-language tier, and it also throws in ESPN Deportes and Fox Deportes to nod to its roots as a Spanish-language streaming service. If you prefer to stream en Español, its packages include TyC Sports to follow the South American soccer landscape.
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