The first of six games against Canadian rivals
MONTRÉAL – The Montreal Impact will continue its regular season starting on August 25, playing three games against Toronto FC and three games against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The league’s three Canadian clubs will continue the season in their respective home markets during the first phase of the revised regular season schedule.
The Impact will first play the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Tuesday, August 25, at 8pm at Stade Saputo. Toronto FC will then travel to Montreal on Friday, August 28, at 8pm. Both teams will face off again a few days later at BMO Field on Tuesday, September 1, at 8pm, then again at Stade Saputo on Wednesday, September 9, at 8pm. Finally, Thierry Henry’s men will fly to Vancouver to play two games on the West Coast on Sunday, September 13 and Wednesday, September 16, at 9:30pm (EDT).
Major League Soccer’s decision to have the three Canadian teams play each other during phase one of the schedule is a result of the Canada-U.S. border being closed for non-essential travel until August 21.
The return to play for the Canadian teams will feature the same strict protocols, including regular testing every other day, including the day before each match. Teams will take chartered flights and matches between Montreal and Toronto will see the visiting club arrive in the host market on matchday and depart after the game.
Impact games will air in French on TVA Sports and 98,5, as well as in English on TSN and TSN 690.
The team is currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference regular season standings with a record of two wins, two losses and one draw.
Also, the Canadian team that earns the most points against the other Canadian clubs during this first phase of the revised regular season schedule in home markets will qualify for the 2020 Canadian Championship final. The final will be a one-match winner take all final against the winner of the eight-team Canadian Premier League Island Games. The winner of Canada’s Battle of the North will lift the Voyageurs Cup and qualify for the next edition of Concacaf Champions League.
