North America’s largest soccer league has put forward a plan that would see all 26 of its teams play a special tournament in Orlando beginning this June.
Under the proposal, the teams would have a few weeks to train and get into shape, followed by a group stage where each squad would play approximately five matches behind closed doors.
Major League Soccer is typically divided into Eastern and Western conferences, but this format could see some unusual team combinations. The teams would then meet in a knockout championship round, with lower-ranked teams receiving consolation games. The stakes of the tournament – whether it would be for a trophy like the MLS Cup or US Open Cup, or qualification for the CONCACAF Champions League – are yet to be decided.
The tournament would be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sport complex in Orlando, and potentially other locations. Players would stay at nearby hotels. The proposed plan would need to be approved by the MLS Players Association before being implemented. The league, which saw the addition of new teams representing Miami and Nashville this year, uses tools like banner printing and graphic design to recreate the feel of European soccer's supporter culture while maintaining the structure of a North American sports league.
The proposal would see teams beginning training in Orlando around June 1, with competitive matches after three or four weeks.
