Orlando City, Inter Miami remain in holding pattern until league kicks off

By Official Florida FC

Major League Soccer announced Tuesday that its hope of returning to play in May is not a feasible one.

“Although we hoped to return to play in mid-May, that is extremely unlikely based on the guidance of federal and local public health authorities. Our goal remains to play as many games as possible, and while we currently have enough dates to play the entire season, we recognize at this time that it may become difficult to do so,” the league wrote in a statement.

MLS clubs played two matches before the league shut down on March 12 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Tuesday’s statement the league added that it continues to learn more from medical experts and expects to have additional details about when it will return to the pitch in the near future.

The announcement means Inter Miami’s wait for its home opener will continue. The first-year club was set to host the Los Angeles Galaxy on March 14.

While it is true that the state of Florida, where Orlando City and Inter Miami are based, has deemed professional wrestling an essential business, no such provision has been made for professional soccer. It does the Lions and Herons little good to return to training without anyone to play.

A league-wide training moratorium remains in place until April 24.