MLS set to resume regular season on August 12th

We now know when the Philadelphia Union will play their next match. Saturday afternoon Major League Soccer announced the leagues 25th season will resume on August 12. Once play resumes in the team’s home market players, coaches and staff will continue to be tested for Covid-19.

The Union will play at least 18 more games this season with the final game being played on Decision Day, November 8. MLS also announced there will be an additional 4 teams that will compete in the playoffs, for a total of 18 teams. The Audi MLS Cup Playoffs will get underway on November 20. The league will crown their 25th champion on December 12.

MLS says the league will resume in phases, due to travel restrictions between the U.S and Canada. Because of this, the U.S. based clubs will play their first six games against other U.S teams. No plans have been released yet for the three Canada based teams.

“Since suspending play in March, we have been working on plans to play as much of our season as possible, beginning with the tournament in Florida and resuming in our local markets following the competition,” League Commissioner Don Garber said in a news release. “We remain focused on the health and safety of our players, coaches and staff, and look forward to continuing our season in our home markets.”

The boys in blue next game will be away against one of the teams they played in the MLS is Back tournament, New England Revolution. That game will be played on August 21 at 8 p.m. The U will play their first home game, and first game at the newly renamed Subaru Park, of the regular season on Tuesday August 25 at 7:30 p.m. against the New York Red Bulls. The first six games will be shown locally on PHL 17.

The released schedule looks like this.

Philadelphia Union at New England Revolution
Friday, August 21 - 8 p.m.

New York Red Bulls at Philadelphia Union
Tuesday, August 25 - 7:30 p.m.

D.C United at Philadelphia Union
Saturday, August 28 - 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia Union at Columbus Crew
Wednesday, September 2 - 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia Union at New York Red Bulls
Sunday, September 6 - 7:30 p.m.

New England Revolution at Philadelphia Union
Saturday September 12 - 7:30 p.m.

The rest of the schedule should be released by early September.