- The MLS makes its official return Wednesday with the beginning of the aptly-named ‘MLS Is Back’ tournament as Orlando City (+170) takes on Inter Miami (+145).
- A total of 24 MLS teams will be split into six groups and compete in a world cup-style format, with games counting for regular-season points.
- Los Angles FC (+400) leads the betting odds to win the tournament, followed by the Seattle Sounders (+800) and Atlanta United (+1000).
ORLANDO, Fla. – The MLS is ready to rejoin the world of active sports and officially resume their regular season with the kickoff of the MLS Is Back tournament.
The tournament features 24 of the MLS teams who will play in a closed-environment tournament at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, beginning Wednesday night.
With the sport eager to resume play, the dangers of the pandemic are still prevalent.
The teams will be split into six groups, with one group of five and one group of three. FC Dallas was forced to withdraw from the tournament on Monday, after 10 of their players and a coach, tested positive for COVID-19.
The #MLSisBack Tournament groups are set! 🔒 pic.twitter.com/VYNPixxtvC
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 11, 2020
MLS began their season back in February and made it barely two weeks before being shut down amongst the rest of the world.
Now, soccer bettors can focus on who they think will be in the best form upon returning to action.
Odds To Win MLS Is Back Tournament
- Los Angeles FC +600
- Seattle Sounders +750
- Toronto FC +750
- Atlanta United +800
- LA Galaxy +1200
- Minnesota United +1200
- New York City FC +1200
- New York Red Bulls +1800
- Sporting Kansas City +1800
- Columbus Crew +2000
- Montreal Impact +2000
- Real Salt Lake +2200
- Philadelphia Union +2500
- Portland Timbers +2500
- San Jose Earthquakes +2500
- Inter Miami CF +2800
- New England Revolution +2800
- Chicago Fire +3300
- Colorado Rapids +4000
- DC United +4000
- Houston Dynamo +5000
- Orlando City +5000
- FC Cincinnati +6000
- Vancouver Whitecaps +6600
- Nashville SC +10000
Early Favorites With Bad Value
At the top of the board sits Los Angeles FC at +600.
While LAFC is certainly one of the more dangerous squads in the league, they will be without their best player in Carlos Vela who is sitting out of the tournament due to his wife currently being pregnant.
With the parity in the league during this return to play, avoiding LAFC and Toronto FC at the top of the board might be wise. LA is still a great team but has bad value at the top of the board, while Toronto is simply overrated at +750 compared to the field.
The defending champion Seattle Sounders can be found at +750, but the best bet has to be Atlanta United at +800.
Atlanta was still one of the best teams in the league last year and will be looking to unleash their newest weapon, Brazilian midfielder Matheus Rossetto.
Pick: Atlanta United +800
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Middle of the Pack
In the middle of the MLS odds at online sportsbooks are a few teams with a chance to make a run.
The first being the Montreal Impact, who are continuing the debut of former Arsenal legend Thierry Henry as manager. Henry won his first match in charge of the Impact and leads a talented roster into the tournament.
The San Jose Earthquakes can be found at +2500, and are in the same boat as a team that has the capability to win this tournament based on chemistry.
Both the Impact and the Earthquakes bring back the majority of their rosters from the 2019 season, are largely injury-free, and possess the key attributes of a tournament dark horse.
Pick: Montreal Impact +2000, San Jose Earthquakes +2500
The Longshots
In a world cup-style group stage tournament, there is always room for upsets and deep runs. Just ask Iceland from the 2018 World Cup.
In this tournament, the teams with the most potential for chaos has to be Inter Miami and Orlando City.
Inter Miami are in their inaugural season in the MLS and are ready to make a statement. Team owner David Beckham made waves when he signed Liga MX star Rodolfo Pizarro to be the talisman of his new team.
Miami filled up their roster around Pizarro with talented, young South Americans who could really develop together as this team melds into the league.
Their real value comes from the unknown, as the world really doesn’t know what this Miami team is capable of.
The same goes for Orlando City, who has been in a constant state of flux since joining the league in 2015.
A carousel of managers and former legends have done their time in Orlando and the team now sits with former Manchester United winger Nani under direction from former FC Dallas boss Oscar Pareja.
It is another new beginning for Orlando, who could finally put it together this season. Combine that with the familiarity of playing in your home city, and a flyer pick on +5000 is more than worth the price.
Both teams face off tonight in the first match of the tournament, giving a great preview for what the future has in store for these two franchises.
Pick: Inter Miami +2800, Orlando City +5000
Jimmy Reinman honed his skills across various mediums including print, radio, and broadcast before bringing his arsenal of knowledge to the team here at USAOnlineSportsbooks in 2020. When he’s not writing, you can find him in a state of focused stress on any College Football Saturday, or maniacally constructing NBA parlays on a cool spring evening.
