The National Women’s Soccer League announced Wednesday that the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup will mark the return to action for its nine clubs.

The 25-game tournament will kick off on June 27 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah and run through July 26. While spectators will not be in attendance, fans can catch the action via CBS All Access with the opener and championship game also airing live on CBS.

The tournament will be in lieu the regular season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This tournament marks the league’s first competition since the 2019 NWSL championship game, which saw the North Carolina Courage defeat the Chicago Red Stars to become back-to-back NWSL champions.

The format of the tournament will feature the league’s nine clubs each playing four games in the preliminary rounds to determine seeding. The top eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals, when the tournament becomes a knockout competition. The semifinals and final will be played at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, with the championship match slated for July 26.

The tournament opener and final will air on CBS and will be streamed on the CBS All Access subscription service. All other games will be live on CBS All Access in the U.S. and Canada and will re-air on CBS Sports Network. Fans outside the U.S. and Canada can stream the full tournament on Twitch. A full tournament schedule, including game times and further broadcast details, will be provided in the days to come.

“As our country begins to safely reopen and adjust to our collective new reality, and with the enthusiastic support of our players, owners, as well as our new and current commercial partners, the NWSL is thrilled to bring professional soccer back to the United States,” NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird said in a statement. “This exciting month-long tournament will showcase our league’s talented players and provide our fans the type of world-class entertainment they’ve come to expect from the NWSL.”

The NWSL’s Medical Task Force, comprised of a team doctor from each of the league’s nine teams, has worked over the last nine weeks in coordination with public health officials, to develop thorough and detailed medical and testing protocols to ensure the safest environment for a return to play and competition. Each player, official and essential staff member will be tested 48 hours prior to departure for Utah and upon arrival and will be subject to consistent testing, temperature readings, and symptom review throughout their stay in Utah.

This is a statement from the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association:

 

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Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.