Major League Soccer intends to open its 2021 season as planned in early March but will remain nimble because of the coronavirus.
The league plans to play an entire regular season while working around the international calendar, which was made busier because of events pushed back by the pandemic.
“Based on the crowded international calendar next year, we are targeting to start our season in early March as usual. The restrictions on our ability to have fans in our stadiums this year contributed to very significant financial losses,” MLS President Mark Abbott said. “Like all leagues, we are concerned about those restrictions continuing for a second year and are continually evaluating how to manage through the impact of the pandemic in 2021.”
Orlando City fans cheer during the team's MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew in Orlando, Fla., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. Orlando won 2-1. (Stephen M. DowellOrlando Sentinel via AP)
It remains to be seen whether fans will be allowed to attend 2021 matches.
Like other professional sports leagues, MLS took a significant financial hit as a result of the virus. Commissioner Don Garber estimated $1 billion in losses earlier this year.
MLS teams played two games this season before play was suspended on March 12. The league then staged a tournament in a bubble in Florida over the summer. FC Dallas and Nashville SC were unable to participate because of positive COVID-19 tests.
A message thanking fans is posted on the video board in the second half of the MLS soccer match between Sporting Kansas City and FC Cincinnati, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, in Cincinnati. (Albert CesareThe Cincinnati Enquirer via AP)
The tournament was made possible by a June agreement with the Major League Soccer Players Association following tense talks that led to some players skipping voluntary workouts and the league threatening a lockout.
The revised CBA, a six-year deal through 2025, includes across-the-board pay cuts and reduced bonuses. The union said players had ratified the deal.
The sticking points included a clause tied to attendance, but MLS revised it. The clause allows the league to alter contract obligations due to extraordinary circumstances.
A person with knowledge of the situation said the league has filed a notice with the MLS Players' Association preserving the right to invoke the clause, but the league has no intention to do so at this time. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the move was not made public.
The MLSPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
MLS returned to local markets after the MLS is Back Tournament. Teams are set to start the playoffs next weekend, with the MLS Cup championship set for Dec. 12.
MLS will hold its expansion draft on Dec. 15 for Austin FC, set to join the league next season. But the debut of Charlotte was pushed back to 2022, and expansion teams in St. Louis and Chicago were delayed a year to 2023 because of the coronavirus.
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Francisco Alvarez homered twice and rookie Nolan McLean retired his first 15 batters as the New York Mets snapped a three-game skid Friday night with a 10-3 rout of the San Francisco Giants.
Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien each had three of New York's season-high 15 hits after the Mets totaled only three runs in their previous three games. Mark Vientos reached base safely four times, but slugger Juan Soto exited early with right calf tightness.
Soto will have imaging done Saturday, manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Semien launched his first homer for the Mets and drove in three runs. Bichette opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first.
McLean (1-0) took a perfect game into the sixth before walking Harrison Bader and Patrick Bailey to begin the inning. Jerar Encarnacion flied out to right field, but Willy Adames doubled to right-center to bring home Bader and end McLean’s night.
The right-hander was charged with two runs (one earned). He struck out four. Four relievers combined to finish a five-hitter.
Run-scoring singles by Bichette and Semien off Tyler Mahle (0-2) gave the Mets a 2-0 lead in the first.
Semien drilled a two-run homer to center off Mahle in the fourth. One out later, Alvarez also took Mahle deep to center.
Alvarez led off the Mets’ three-run seventh with a homer to left off JT Brubaker, giving the catcher three home runs this season and six career multihomer games.
Soto singled in the first and appeared to slow up while running from first to third on Bichette’s RBI single. He was forced out at home when Brett Baty grounded into a 1-2-3 double play, and Tyrone Taylor replaced Soto in left field for the bottom of the inning.
The 27-year-old Soto has hit safely in all eight games this season. He's in the second season of a record $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets. He had 43 homers and 105 RBIs last season.
Mets RHP Clay Holmes (1-0) faces Giants RHP Landen Roupp on Saturday night.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez (4) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) and pitcher Luis García (40) celebrate after the team's victory over the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Mets' Marcus Semien, center, celebrates with Carson Benge, left, after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean throws to a San Francisco Giants batter during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
New York Mets' Francisco Alvarez (4) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
