Coronavirus: MLS cancels its 2020 All-Star game, two other events against Mexico's best
MLS announced on Tuesday that it was cancelling July’s All-Star game in Los Angeles and two other events that also pit the league’s players against opposition from Mexico’s Liga MX because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2020 MLS All-Star game was slated to take place July 29 at LAFC’s Banc of California Stadium, with the top players taking on a selection from Mexico’s first division. The annual midsummer classic has long featured MLS’ best taking on an international foe. The plan is to keep the same format and guest, invited as part of MLS’ growing partnership with Liga MX, and play the match the following summer instead.
“The 2021 MLS All-Star game and festivities are expected to take place in Los Angeles at the same venue,” the league said in a press release. “MLS and Liga MX will resume discussions regarding the event, and there is every expectation that next year’s All-Star Game will be MLS vs. Liga MX.”
Per the same statement, three MLS cities are vying to host the 2022 All-Star Game, with the finalist to named “at a later date.”
Two other competitions featuring MLS teams against Mexican squads were also scrapped in a joint decision by the two leagues. Those are the Campeones Cup, an annual one-off annual between the champions of MLS and Liga MX that began in 2018, and the Leagues Cup tournament that debuted last summer. Both of those competitions are expected to be revived in 2021 if possible.
MLS postponed its 2020 season on March 12 following just two rounds of games. Earlier this month, it began allowing players in some cities to resume individual training at team facilities with the aim of resuming its campaign later this summer without fans in attendance.
The league’s specific plans for returning to play have not yet been announced.
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