LAFC and MLS today announced the 2020 regular season schedule and national broadcast details through the end of September, as well as Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs qualification and competition format. LAFC’s next announced match is scheduled for Friday, September 18 against the reigning MLS champion Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field.
As with the MLS is Back Tournament and phase one of returning to play in local markets, each team will adhere to comprehensive health and safety protocols, including regular testing of players, coaches and essential staff for COVID-19.
From Sept. 18-27, each MLS club will compete in three regular season matches. As the league continues to finalize travel protocols, the Canadian teams will play all three of their matches in the U.S., including each club hosting one home match in a U.S. city.
Additional 2020 MLS regular season matches will be announced pending further developments regarding travel protocols.
LAFC’s next phase of matches features three games against Western Conference Clubs including Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and San Jose Earthquakes.
<p>GM</p> |
<p>DATE</p> |
<p>OPPONENT</p> |
<p> VENUE</p> |
<p>PST</p> |
<p>1</p> |
<p>Friday, Sep 18 </p> |
<p>Seattle</p> |
<p>SEA - CenturyLink Field</p> |
<p>7:00 p.m</p> |
<p>2</p> |
<p>Wednesday, Sep 23</p> |
<p>Vancouver</p> |
<p>LAFC - Banc of California Stadium</p> |
<p>7:30 p.m.</p> |
<p>3</p> |
<p>Sunday, Sep 27 </p> |
<p>San Jose</p> |
<p>LAFC - Banc of California Stadium</p> |
<p>7:30 p.m.</p> |
Following the Sep. 18 match against Seattle, LAFC will host the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday, September 23 at Banc of California Stadium. The Black and Gold will then finish out this phase at home on Sunday, September 27 against the San Jose Earthquakes.
The continuation of Major League Soccer’s 25th Season will air nationally in the U.S. on ESPN, FOX and Univision platforms, as well as regionally through individual club broadcast partners. All matches not aired by an English-language network will be streamed live in English on Twitter. Canadian broadcast schedules will be announced at a later date.
In addition to announcing regular season match details through September, MLS also today confirmed qualification details and the competition format for the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The Audi MLS Cup Playoffs will again consist of single-elimination matches hosted by the higher-seeded team and follow a straight bracket format through MLS Cup on Dec.12.
As previously announced, in an expansion of the postseason for 2020, 18 clubs will compete in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs. Eight teams from the 12-team Western Conference will qualify directly to Round 1. The top six seeds from the 14-team Eastern Conference will qualify directly to Round 1. Eastern Conference seeds 7-10 will each compete in a play-in match (No. 7 vs. No. 10, and No. 8 vs. No. 9) to determine the two additional Eastern Conference teams that will qualify for the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs Round 1.
The lower-seeded advancing team will face the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed in Round 1, while the higher-seeded advancing team will face the Eastern Conference No. 2 seed. The Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs schedule and broadcast details will be announced at a later date.
