FC Dallas Withdraws From MLS is Back Tournament; Los Angeles FC Still Favorites

• FC Dallas withdrew from the MLS is Back Tournament as 10 players and one coach tested positive for COVID-19.
• FC Dallas was listed at +2500 odds to win the MLS is Back Tournament.
• Los Angeles FC has the shortest odds +500 to win the MLS is Back Tournament.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The MLS is Back Tournament will be without FC Dallas as the team has withdrawn due to a high number of players testing positive for the coronavirus.

A total of 10 players and one coach on FC Dallas tested positive for COVID-19 prompting the MLS to remove the team from contention swiftly as the group stage play begins Wednesday.

FC Dallas's first game was scheduled to be against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday.

“The decision to have them not participate in the tournament is in the best interests of everyone, of the Dallas players and the other 25 teams, and allows us to continue to manage the health and safety of our players while continuing to go forward with our plan,” said Don Garber, MLS Commissioner. "If there is a situation at any time that I believe that the protocols aren’t working, and the health and safety of our players is at risk, then I will make the decision to shut down the tournament."

FC Dallas was the first team to withdraw from the tournament due to coronavirus cases but weren’t the only team with positive cases. Nashville FC reported two positive COVID-19 tests while the Columbus Crew only had one player test positive for the virus.

Before being forced to withdraw from the tournament Dallas FC had +2500 odds to win the MLS is Back Tournament. Now that Dallas is out it removes the best value bet on teams to bet on in the +2500 odds tier as Dallas is better than the Columbus Crew, Montreal Impact, Orlando City, and Portland Timbers.

We absolutely agree with the league's decision to withdraw FC Dallas from the MLS is Back Tournament out of safety concerns for our players and staff," said Dan Hunt, FC Dallas president. "We're looking forward to resuming the 2020 season once the entire club is healthy and in position to play competitive matches at the highest level."

Dallas FC being out of the picture shouldn’t shake the odds board up much Los Angeles FC is still favored to win the tournament at +500 odds.

The full list of the MLS is Back Tournament odds can be found at many online betting sites like Bovada. For bettors looking to watch the first game of the MLS is Back Tournament will be Orlando City vs. Inter Miami at 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday on ESPN.