Soccer MLS COVID-19 Status and Return Date

Soccer MLS COVID-19 Status and Return Date

Okay MyBookie soccer betting faithful – there’s good news on the horizon, thanks to Tuesday’s announcement that Major League Soccer is coming back. On Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, the MLS Players Association voted to approve the latest return-to-play plan negotiated with Major League Soccer. Let’s take a closer look at the plan for the league to return so you can start planning your bets against their MLS odds.

Soccer MLS COVID-19 Status and Return Date

The MLSPA announced Wednesday morning that the vote passed and the new collective bargaining agreement had been ratified by the players and league owners.

“We hope our return to the field will allow fans a momentary release and a semblance of normalcy,” the union said in a statement.

The vote means that MLS will come out of its COVID-19 induced suspension with a summer tournament to be held in the Orlando area. The league suspended its 2020 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12th. With just two games played before its suspension, let’s find out which teams are poised to really challenge for this year’s MLS championship.

2020 MLS Championship Odds

Los Angeles FC +340
Atlanta United FC +750
Toronto FC +750
New York City FC +850
Seattle Sounders +1100
Philadelphia Union +1500
LA Galaxy +1800
FC Dallas +1900
Portland Timbers +1900
New York Red Bulls +2400
Sporting Kansas +2400
Chicago Fire +2900
Columbus Crew +2900
Houston Dynamo +2900
San Jose Earthquake +2900
Minnesota United +3000
Montreal Impact +3000
Real Salt Lake +3200
Inter Miami FC +3400
New England Revolution +3400
DC United +4400
Orlando City +5500
Colorado Rapids +9500
FC Cincinnati +10000
Nashville SC +12000
Vancouver Whitecaps +12000
 

Despite never winning an MLS title, Los Angeles FC (+340) tops the 26-team MLS odds as the favorite to win this year’s MLS Cup. The Galaxy did manage to win the Supporters’ Shield in 2019, given to the team with the best record in the league.

2018 MLS champion Atlanta is just +2 in goal differential, but the United are off to a fantastic 2-0 start that has many experts believing they can win it all this season. Seattle FC might be fresh off their second MLS title, but the Sounders, surprisingly, have just the fifth-best odds to win this season’s MLS crown.

Toronto won it all in 2017 and they managed to reach last season’s championship before falling to Seattle. Toronto also reached the finals in 2016 before losing to Seattle. New York is looking to make a real move to win their first MLS title after reaching the semis in 2018, 2015 and 2013.

The LA Galaxy are the only five-time MLS Cup winners in league history (2002, 2005, 2011, 2012) although their last title came back in 2014. Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC join the MLS this season as the 25th and 26th teams. Nashville SC is tied with the Vancouver Whitecaps as the biggest long-shots to win the 2020 MLS Cup. The 2020 MLS season is set to return to action on Saturday, June 6, with five matches.

On a side note, FC Dallas announced on Wednesday that a player has tested positive for COVID-19 and that the team has suspended its voluntary individual player workouts “out of an abundance of caution.” According to the statement, the positive case “does not present a risk” to anyone who has worked or trained at the club’s facilities in recent days. The unidentified player is the second known positive COVID-19 case among MLS players. Philadelphia Union forward Kacper Przybylko also tested positive for the virus back in March.

Eastern Conference
  • Atlanta FC 2-0-0
  • Montreal Impact 1-1-0
  • NY Red Bulls 1-1-0
  • Toronto FC 1-1-0
  • Columbus 1-1-0
Western Conference
  • Sporting Kansas City 2-0-0
  • Minnesota United FC 2-0-0
  • Colorado Rapids 2-0-0
  • FC Dallas 1-1-0
  • LAFC 1-1-0