By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

The MLS Players Association Wednesday ratified a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which will allow Major League Soccer to finalize plans to host a tournament in Orlando this summer and resume the 2020 season.

The new CBA will run through the 2025 season. Today’s vote also finalizes a plan to resume the 2020 season and provides

According to an MLSPA press release, the agreement gave players some certainty for the months ahead. “It allows our members to move forward and continue to compete in the game they love,” a statement read.

MLS did not have an immediate comment on the new agreement or Orlando tournament.

Teams are expected to journey to Central Florida on or around June 24. They are slated to remain in Orlando for about six weeks.

However, the MLSPA did, as it realized there could be a new look to professional soccer in the United States, particularly in MLS, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“However, we recognize that we are all moving forward – as players, as fans, as societies, as a world – into a future that looks much different than the one we envisioned a few months ago,” the press release stated. “There are problems we face collectively that are both more urgent, and more important, than competing on the field. We are grieving, we are fed up, we expect change, and we expect action. This change won’t come on the field, but it will come partly through the force and determination of all who seek justice and equality.

“We hope our return to the field will allow fans a momentary release and a semblance of normalcy. We are committed as a group to doing all that we can – both as leaders in our sport as well as leaders in our communities – to help carry our countries, our communities, our league, and our sport forward.”

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.