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Saturday’s meeting between Benin and Nigeria in Porto-Novo sees the top two sides in Group L do battle with qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon the objective.

Nigeria lead the way with eight points, with this weekend’s opponents a single point behind and the Squirrels will look to get even after losing the reverse fixture against their West African neighbours 2-1.

Gernot Rohr’s team are a win from guaranteeing progress to the continental showpiece but Michel Dussuyer’s in-form troops stand in their way.

Which of the home side’s stars could prevent the three-time African champions from confirming their participation at Afcon?

Steve Mounie

Undoubtedly, the Stade Brestois frontman is the standout dangerman for Benin against Nigeria on Saturday.

Despite not finding the back of the net for the Squirrels so far in the qualifiers, Mounie’s aerial threat cannot be underestimated, though, and the striker’s seven goals in Ligue 1 mean the Super Eagles ought to be wary of the menace of the 26-year-old.

Underrating the forward’s threat in the air as well as his penchant for taking up smart positions in the box could damage the visitors’ chances of winning in Porto-Novo.

Jodel Dossou

Benin’s top scorer after four games has to be singled out owing to the threat he carries out wide.

Dossou scored the winner against Lesotho and Sierra Leone, winning the Squirrels four of their seven points in qualifying.

The Clermont Foot winger has netted 10 times in Ligue 2 and definitely shouldn’t be underestimated as he may hold the key to unlocking the Nigeria defence.

Saturnin Allagbe

The shot-stopper missed the reverse fixture against Nigeria but has come into the side to really good effect.

Allagbe has kept clean sheets since returning to Dussuyer’s team, with Lesotho twice failing to score in November.

Given Benin’s defence hasn’t been breached in three games, the Dijon goalkeeper will want to thwart Gernot Rohr’s team this weekend to extend that run of clean sheets to four.

Cedric Hountondji

While Allagbe’s influence in goal can’t be diminished, Hountondji’s impact at centre-back saw only two goals conceded in four games.

The Clermont defender has been immense at the heart of the defence and ought to feature as Benin chase a fourth clean sheet on the spin in the qualifiers.

Given the recent goalscoring run of Kelechi Iheanacho at Leicester City, the equally in-form central defender will relish silencing the Nigeria forward who’s expected to start along with Victor Osimhen.

Sessi D'Almeida

In central midfield, D'Almeida’s feisty nature could make the encounter less straightforward than observers believe it should.

The Valenciennes man relishes getting stuck in and breaking up play in the middle of the park and he won’t shy away from being dogged against Benin’s illustrious opponents as the Squirrels seek a shocking victory over Gernot Rohr’s team.

Harambee Stars head coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee believes the match against Egypt will gauge where the team has reached in terms of football.

The East African nation will be welcoming the seven-time champions at Kasarani Stadium in Group G of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Thursday night knowing a win will be vital to keep alive their slim hopes of making it to Cameroon.

While the tactician conceded it is a massive game, he has insisted his charges will give their best to ensure they get a positive outcome in regulation time.

"Everybody is ready; every game has its own merits and I think this is a big and good game as well to judge where we are as Kenyans in our football," Mulee told Goal on Thursday.

"We believe if we get a positive result it will bring us into contention for the Afcon place and we might qualify if [other teams falter in their remaining matches]. We will do our best in the 90 minutes to see if we can come back in the picture and God-willing, maybe our last game against Togo [would seal our place in the finals]."

As it stands, the Pharaohs are top of the group with eight points, alongside Comoros who are second with the same number of points but with an inferior goal difference. 

Kenya are third with three points, while Togo are at the bottom of the table with a point.  

While the East African outfit will play Togo away in Lome in their final group game, the Pharaohs will be at home against Comoros. The top two teams will play in the finals in Cameroon.

Kenya's provisional squad:

Goalkeepers: Ian Otieno (Zesco United, Zambia), James Saruni (Ulinzi Stars, Kenya), Joseph Okoth (KCB, Kenya)

Defenders: Joseph Okumu (IF Elfsborg, Sweden), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), Joash Onyango (Simba, Tanzania), Johnstone Omurwa (Wazito, Kenya), Nahashon Alembi (KCB, Kenya), Harun Mwale (Ulinzi Stars, Kenya), Daniel Sakari (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Baraka Badi (KCB, Kenya)

Midfielders: Anthony Akumu (Kaizer Chiefs), Duke Abuya (Nkana, Zambia), Cliff Nyakeya (Masr, Egypt), Duncan Otieno (Lusaka Warriors, Zambia), Lawrence Juma (Sofapaka, Kenya), Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Kevin Simiyu (Nzoia Sugar, Kenya), Danson Chetambe (Bandari, Kenya), James Mazembe (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), David Owino (KCB, Kenya), Kevin Kimani (Wazito, Kenya), Boniface Muchiri (Tusker, Kenya), Abdalla Hassan (Bandari, Kenya)

Forwards: Michael Olunga (Al-Duhail, Qatar), Masoud Juma (Difaa Hassani El Jadidi, Morocco), Clifton Miheso (Gor Mahia), Elvis Rupia (AFC Leopards)

AmaZulu goalkeeper Veli Mothwa wants to ensure that his fellow Bafana Bafana goalkeepers are kept on their toes for the upcoming Afcon qualifiers against Ghana and Sudan.

Mothwa's fine form for AmaZulu this season has earned him a place in the Bafana Bafana squad alongside fellow goalkeepers Ronwen Williams and Itumeleng Khune.

Williams is very much the Bafana number one these days, while veteran Khune's role is expected to be more of a senior statesman within the entire squad and the goalkeeping department.

Mothwa though is determined to make the most of his opportunity, and while he says he wants to absorb as much as he can from the experience, he also plans to give head coach Molefi Ntseki something to think about in terms of selecting his future starting XI's.

“I’m personally an open person, when something happens I have to ask, I want people to tell me what’s happening where I am going or what’s happening where I am," the former Chippa United man was quoted as saying by Farpost.

"You know I am not that kind of a person who says 'yeah I have made it', so I’m not going to listen to anyone.

“Honestly the coach (Mothwa's club coach, Benni McCarthy) told me not to change what I have been doing at the team, he advised me to go there, work the way I normally work here, nothing has changed, it’s only the national team," the 30-year-old revealed.

"He told me not to show happiness in the camp but display hard work and I am not there to add numbers but to add quality, so I still want to achieve more in my career."

Mothwa's rise to the top is all the more remarkable considering that he has spent a sizable chunk of his career playing back-up goalkeeper. Now in his sixth season in South Africa’s top-flight, he has only played 37 league matches. He played an additional 26 league matches in the second-tier for Baroka at the start of his career.

Sergio Ramos has mostly recovered from the ankle injury that kept him out of Real Madrid's weekend match with Celta Vigo, as the centre-back has participated in Spain training in recent days with "no problem" according to Luis Enrique.

The national team manager said he would "take care" with his 34-year-old defender, who had only just returned from knee surgery when he tweaked his ankle last Friday.

Ramos is in for an eventful summer with Euro 2020 approaching and a potential Real Madrid exit on the horizon, so his health is of paramount importance.

What has been said?

"We are going to take into account the physical form of each player," Enrique told reporters. 

"In the case of Sergio Ramos, who comes from an injury and a blow, we are going to take care of him. He trained very well yesterday and today he has also done, no problem."

Spain fixtures

The Spanish national team will play three matches during the current international break, facing Greece, Georgia and Kosovo in World Cup qualifiers.

Enrique has not stated how much he intends to use Ramos in those games. The last time he fielded a lineup without Ramos was the November 11 friendly against Netherlands, when he partnered Inigo Martínez and Eric Garcia in central defence.

Further reading

The UAE national team, under head coach Bert van Marwijk, has begun training at the sub-stadium of Al Wasl Club for their upcoming international friendly against India on March 29.

UAE and India are preparing for their upcoming joint qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup. The Emirati team have four remaining games, those against Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam, all in June. Whereas, India are to face Qatar, Bangladesh and Afghanistan among their remaining qualification matches.

The Whites are fourth in Group G with six points from four games. India also find themselves fourth in Group E with three points from five games.

Having played out a goalless draw in a friendly against Iraq in January, Van Marwijk had earlier announced a 29-member squad for the friendly tie against India, the Dutch coach began the camp with 26 players on Tuesday.

Key midfielders Abdullah Al-Naqbi and Caio Canedo are ruled out as injured while goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani has been dropped from the previous squad.

The 26-member UAE squad for India friendly:

Goalkeepers: Ali Khasif, Khaled Issa, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Fahd Al Dhanhani.

Defenders: Bandar Al-Ahbabi, Shaheen Abdel-Rahman, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Khalifa Al-Hammadi, Hassan Al-Mahrami, Al-Hassan Saleh, Salem Rashid.

Midfielders: Mohamed Al-Attas, Ali Salmeen, Yahya Nader, Abdullah Ramadan, Majed Hassan, Fabio de Lima, Khalfan Mubarak.

Forwards: Khalil Al Hammadi, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Suhail Al Noubi, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tigali, Zayed Al Ameri.

The pressure Efrain Alvarez has received from the U.S. and Mexico men's national teams in recent months has taken a heavy toll, his father said, with the Los Angeles Galaxy dual national struggling to choose which senior squad to join on a permanent basis.

Alvarez will be part of Mexico's friendly roster this month, but the midfielder has also spent time in USMNT camp and remains undecided on his future.

The 18-year-old is considered one of North America's brightest prospects, and whichever nation he picks would receive a significant long-term boost from his services.

What has been said?

Crescencio Alvarez, the father of Efrain, spoke with TUDN about the choice ahead.

"These are very tough decisions because the federations are 'traumatizing' him because they're calling him in at the same time," he told the outlet. "Wherever he decides to play, we're going to support him.

"I don't want my son to blame me for picking [one of the two national teams], he's an adult now."

Where is Alvarez from?

Alvarez was born in Los Angeles and grew up there, but his parents were born in Mexico and he has most recently represented El Tri at the youth level.

He currently plays professionally for the LA Galaxy, where he has already made 30 senior MLS appearances.

Moving to the USMNT on a permanent basis would require a one-time, binding switch permitted under FIFA regulations.

Further reading

Antoine Griezmann has questioned France's tactics after Les Bleus were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Ukraine in 2022 World Cup qualifying on Wednesday. 

France head coach Didier Deschamps opted for a 4-4-2 shape rather than his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, and France struggled to adjust to the change.

Griezmann opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a curled effort but France were unable to find a killer second goal. Les Bleus were punished in the second half, as Presnel Kimpembe's own goal gave Ukraine a point in both teams' qualifying opener. 

What was said?

Speaking to TF1, Griezmann said: "We needed maybe more offensive players who are able to go one-v-one on the sidelines. We will learn to play in a system like that and try to start winning again. We wanted to win but we didn't play a great game. We're going to look at it all and try to improve."

Deschamps said: "We should have secured the win in the first half, we had the opportunities. It was more difficult in the second half.

"The goal that we conceded was avoidable, we pushed to the end. We are obviously disappointed, it would have been ideal to win. 

"The result proves that Ukraine is a good team. We lacked energy in the second half. We can do better. It is not necessarily a match where we were going to create a lot of chances. We needed more precision and movement."

What's next for France?

Following Wednesday's match, France will face Kazakhstan on Sunday and then Bosnia and Herzegovina next Wednesday.

The matches represent the last chance for players to impress Deschamps before he names his roster for this summer's rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament. 

Further reading

Gareth Bale has lamented Wales' "sloppy mistakes" in their 3-1 defeat to Belgium on Wednesday as they made an inauspicious start to their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The Tottenham winger assisted the free-flowing opener by sliding a through ball to Harry Wilson, before Belgium answered with goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Thorgan Hazard and Romelu Lukaku.

The latter two goals appeared preventable, as the diminutive Hazard was allowed a free header in front of goal and Lukaku was granted a spot-kick when team-mate Dries Mertens was clumsily dragged down.

What was said?

Bale admitted Wales "knew it would be hard" to keep up with Belgium, but he was still disappointed their spirited performance didn't lead to a positive result.

"It was great to get an early goal, it was going well, but a few sloppy mistakes let them back in," Bale told Sky Sports . "We knew they are a great team and obviously when you make mistakes you get punished.

"In the second half we were in the game for large parts. Obviously we are disappointed to lose, but we knew it would be hard coming here and have to take the positives out of the game and take them into the next game.

"We knew at half-time the next goal would be crucial, if they got it, it makes it very difficult. We showed good spirit, but it wasn't meant to be, so we take the positives out of the game."

When do Wales play next?

Bale and co will attempt to rebound against another front-runner of Group E in the Czech Republic on March 30, after they defeated Estonia 6-2 in their qualifying opener.

Further reading

Naby Keita has helped Guinea qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations following a 1-0 win over Mali in their penultimate Group A fixture.

The Liverpool midfielder captained Didier Six’s team and he was on parade for the entire duration as Seydouba Soumah’s 75th-minute goal separated both teams at the Stade du 28 Septembre on Wednesday.

Guinea booked their 13th appearance in the African Cup of Nations with an unbeaten record after five games, but they currently sit second after gathering 11 points from five games.

The Syli Nationale have a chance of ending the qualifying series as Group A leaders if beat already eliminated Namibia in their final group match on March 28.

Mali occupy the top spot with 13 points from six matches after they were awarded a 3-0 victory over disqualified Chad.

Keita joins Senegal’s Sadio Mane as the second Liverpool player that would feature in next year’s Afcon tournament that will hold in Cameroon between January and February 2022.

Last November, Mane scored the winning goal that made the Teranga Lions the first country to qualify for the continental showpiece after a 1-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau.

While Guinea will be aiming to end the qualifiers on a winning note, they will be without key player Keita as the 26-year-old is expected back on the Merseyside this weekend.

"We negotiated with Liverpool, which is one of the biggest clubs in the world, to have Naby Keita for the first game," Six said.

"After that, we put him on the plane immediately and he will be available for the (Premier League) restart after seven days in isolation, during which time he can train.

"I made a proposal to the clubs so that we could be as strong as possible for the first match. It takes diplomacy, there's no point in yelling."

Martin Odegaard was taken off at half-time of Norway's World Cup qualifier against Gibraltar on Wednesday after seemingly suffering an ankle injury.

The Arsenal midfielder appeared to turn his ankle in the first half and after receiving treatment on the pitch, he was withdrawn at half-time in an eventual 3-0 win for Norway.

Odegaard has been in good form for Arsenal since joining on loan from Real Madrid in January, and his absence would be a blow to the Gunners. 

How has Odegaard fared at Arsenal?

The 22-year-old found playing time hard to come by at Real Madrid in the first half of the season, but has become a vital part of Mikel Arteta's plans in north London. 

Odegaard has recorded two goals in 12 appearances with the Gunners, while starting each of the club's last six Premier League games. 

Speaking to VG about his time in England, Odegaard said: “I think it has been good, right from the start.  I adapted to the way we played quite early. I lacked a little self-confidence and things like that, but I feel I have got better and better every day."

Could Odegaard’s move be made permanent?

Arsenal do not have a purchase option in their loan agreement with Real Madrid, but they have agreed to sit down with the Spanish giants in the summer to discuss what could happen next with the 22-year-old, whose future at Santiago Bernabeu is far from certain.

Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has never really trusted the Norway captain, who spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad before returning to the Spanish capital.

Arsenal will be hoping they can use that to their advantage in the summer when they start talks over Odegaard.

What's next for Arsenal?

The Gunners will hope to have Odegaard's services for the last two months of the season, with the club currently sitting ninth in the Premier League. 

Arteta's side take on Liverpool on April 3 after the international break, before they face Slavia Prague five days later in the first leg of the club's Europa League quarter-final tie. 

Further reading

With his appearance in the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Slovenia on Wednesday, Luka Modric added another historic achievement to his illustrious resume as he became the joint-most capped player in his country's history.

By starting on Wednesday evening, Modric earned his 134th senior cap for Croatia, moving him level with longtime Shakhtar Donetsk fullback Darijo Srna.

With Croatia set for two more games in the next six days, it is likely that the record may be Modric's alone in the very near future.

Modric's international history

The Real Madrid midfielder earned his first Croatia cap in March 2006 as he made his senior debut against Argentina.

In the decade-and-a-half since, the midfielder has been the central hub of Croatia's team, leading them to unprecedented heights.

With Modric leading the way, Croatia have featured in the European Championships three times and at three World Cups, most notably in reaching the final in 2018.

Modric and Croatia made it all the way in Russia, losing to France in that finale, after failing to make it out of the group stage in each of the midfielder's first two appearances.

For his efforts, Modric earned the Golden Ball in Russia that summer and became the only player other than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d'Or in over a decade.

In total, Modric has scored 16 goals for Croatia, including two during that World Cup run.

Modric this season

The Croatian star remains a key figure at Real Madrid this season, as he has been since joining from Tottenham in 2012. He has made 36 appearances for the club, scoring four goals, as Real Madrid sit third in La Liga.

The Spanish giants are also still involved in the Champions League, where they will face Liverpool in the quarter-finals.

Further reading

Alvaro Morata has admitted he "came close" to suffering from depression during his difficult season-and-a-half spell at Chelsea.

Chelsea paid a then club-record £58 million ($79m) to sign Morata from Real Madrid in 2017, but the striker did not live up to expectations despite a return of 24 goals from 72 games. 

Morata left Chelsea for Atletico Madrid in January 2019, before joining former club Juventus prior to the current campaign. 

What was said?

"I've never had depression and I hope I never do, but I came close," Morata said in an interview with El Mundo. "I don't believe it is given the importance that it should.

"When your head doesn't work well, you are your worst enemy. During those times, it doesn't matter what you do, you are always fighting against yourself. Depression is an illness just like breaking your ankle."

Morata began seeing a psychologist during his second season at Chelsea and believes he would have been better served by seeking help even sooner.

"Just as we train in the gym or on the pitch to improve our technique and our tactical abilities, I believe the mind is something you also have to train," the 28-year-old said. "You have to be ready and that [seeing a psychologist] helps you a lot.

"Even for my generation, in recent years, it wasn't seen as something normal to see a psychologist - but inevitably, it has to be something normal. Today it is more common and there will be a day when it will be compulsory. There are people that go through difficult times.

"Had I had a professional, close to me during my [first season] at Chelsea, I think it would have gone better for me."

How has Morata fared since leaving Chelsea?

Morata improved on his Chelsea scoring record at Atletico Madrid, netting 22 goals in 61 appearances before his return to Juventus. 

The striker has been a key figure for Juve this term, scoring 16 times in 34 games. 

Juventus will have a decision to make on Morata at the end of the season, as the Serie A champions have an option for purchase the Spain international for €45m (£39m/$53m).

Juve also have the option to extend Morata's loan for a further season for €10m (£8m/$12m).

Further reading

Cote d’Ivoire have been dealt a massive blow as Gervinho will miss their crunch Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games against Niger Republic and Ethiopia.

The 33-year-old had suffered a thigh injury while in action for his Serie A outfit Parma. However, the veteran forward teamed up with the Elephants squad upon the request of coach Patrice Beaumelle.

Sadly, the former AS Roma and Arsenal star has been asked to return to Italy to further his rehabilitation as he remains unfit to return to action.

Coach of the West African side Beaumelle confirmed this through the Ivorian Football Federation website.

“I had taken care to make a group of 26 players because there was uncertainty about Gervais' physical condition,” the French tactician disclosed.

“Gervinho, unfortunately will leave the group today. He returns to Parma his club to finish his return from injury.

“He had injured himself about ten days ago with his club, and I had asked the player and also the club to make the effort to release him to us so that he could benefit from him on the two matches of March 26 and 30 so he arrived last weekend, we went through training we realised that he was not ready yet and not ready.

“It was better for him to go back to his club so that he could finish his re-athletisation and finish the matches with Parma who needs him.

“Hoping to find him as much as possible with the Elephants on the next deadlines of May and June. We will welcome him back when we find him in better health.”

Having garnered seven points from four outings, Cote d'Ivoire are second in Group K log - two points below leaders Ethiopia who have played five matches.

They take on the Menas on Friday at Lome's Stade de Kegue before hosting Walia ibex four days later inside Abidjan's Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara.

Cote d’Ivoire have won the biennial African championship twice in 23 appearances since their maiden outing at Tunisia 1965.

In their last outing in Egypt 2019, the Elephants crashed out of the quarter-final after losing to eventual champions Algeria on penalties.

Kaizer Chiefs centre forward Samir Nurkovic says he would be open to pledging his allegiance to South Africa. 

The Serbia-born player was one of the top performers in the PSL last season as he inspired the Glamour Boys to a second-place finish in the league.

Some called for Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki to include foreign players Nurkovic and Gaston Sirino, who ply their trade in the  PSL, in his squad.

Uruguayan attacking midfielder Sirino, who is on the books of Mamelodi Sundowns, remains one of the best playmakers in the country.

However, Nurkovic and Sirino will only be eligible to play for the 1996 African champions if they continue living and working in South Africa for up to five years in a row. 

Nurkovic said he would like to play for South Africa and that it is up to Ntseki and the South African Football Association (Safa) to decide. 

“I would be very keen to play for Bafana Bafana," Nurkovic told SAFM. 

"There was talk last season when I was scoring a lot of goals, but it’s quiet now. I would love to play for this beautiful country.

"It’s up to them to make it happen if they want me." 

Last year, Ntseki made it clear that he would not consider Sirino and Nurkovic at the time when asked about adding the duo to his squad.

The former South Africa under-17 head coach indicated that he is only focused on profiling South African-born players.

Meanwhile, Nurkovic reflected on his solitary goal which inspired Chiefs to a 1-0 victory over Orlando Pirates in the Soweto Derby match at FNB Stadium on Sunday. 

“The whole of Serbia is very happy about this derby. They know about it and that I scored. It’s a big game," he said. 

"I’m very happy. For me, it’s a dream come true. It’s just a pity that there were no fans.”

It was Nurkovic's first goal in the biggest fixture in the South African football calendar and it was also his second goal of the current season.

The 28-year-old has struggled with injuries this term having played 15 matches across all competitions.

He will be hoping to find the back of the net again when Chiefs face Morocco's Wydad Casablanca in the Caf Champions League Group C game on April 3.

England head coach Gareth Southgate says both Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka are doubtful for England's World Cup qualifier against San Marino on Thursday.

Rashford is sidelined with a foot injury, while Saka is still recovering from a hamstring problem.

Both players were still called up to the England squad for this month's qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland, although only Rashford has reported to camp thus far. 

What has been said?

"They are both doubtful," Southgate said at a press conference. "I would say Marcus is more doubtful than Bukayo at the moment.

"We are going to assess them. Marcus has been very keen to be with us. He wasn't with us in the autumn so was keen to be with us. Bukayo is having investigations by his club so we are hoping he will be with us in the next couple of days."

Will either player feature for England this month?

Rashford appears to be a serious doubt for the three games after injuring his foot in Manchester United's Europa League win over AC Milan last week. 

The striker did not feature at the weekend against Leicester City in the FA Cup, and United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted Rashford was far from in contention for the game.

"No, he wasn’t close,” Solskjaer told the BBC. “We took him off and he thought he’d be ready but, yesterday, he had no chance of walking on his foot. I don’t know [any timeframe for a return]. The doctor will speak to the FA but I think he’ll travel and report for them. Maybe he’ll be fit for them.“

Saka, meanwhile, suffered a hamstring injury against Tottenham on March 14, but he was able to play 74 minutes in Arsenal's 3-3 draw with West Ham on Sunday. 

Further reading

MLS confirmed the details of the full 2021 schedule on Wednesday, with each of the league's 27 teams set to play 34 games this season.

The league, which welcomes Austin FC for the club's inaugural campaign, will kick-off on April 17 with seven consecutive weeks of games before the June international break.

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, this season's MLS schedule is focused heavily on intra-conference regional play as it runs towards a November finish.

How does the 2021 MLS Schedule work?

The 14 teams that make up the Eastern Conference will play each of their six regional opponents three times and the seven remaining Eastern Conference opponents twice, accounting for a large majority of their schedule with only two cross-conference games.

In the Western Conference, meanwhile, the schedule will look slightly different due to the odd number of teams. As a result, two Western Conference teams will play three cross-conference games this season.

Dates to remember

The league is set to observe the June international break while also breaking in July just ahead of the Gold Cup. For the September international break, the league has provided teams an option to play, with 14 clubs choosing to do so during the FIFA window.

The annual Rivalry Week will run from August 20-29, featuring a derby between New York Red Bulls and New York City FC, El Trafico between LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC as well as an MLS Cup rematch between Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders.

Decision Day, the last day of the regular season, will be held on November 7 with the play-offs set to begin on November 19 and conclude on December 11 with the MLS Cup.

In addition to league play, MLS clubs are also set to participate in the 2021 Leagues Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League and the Campeones Cup this season.

What's new this season?

While the introduction of Austin FC is the big news heading into the 2021 campaign, there will also be several new stadiums on display in the coming season.

Austin will open their stadium on June 19 against the San Jose Earthquakes, while FC Cincinnati's new West End Stadium will debut against Inter Miami on May 16.

Finally, the MLS Cup champion Crew will unveil their new stadium on July 3 when they face the New England Revolution.

The Canadian clubs

Due to pandemic restrictions, the league's three Canadian clubs will be forced to play their home matches in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.

The Vancouver Whitecaps will take up residence at Rio Tinto Stadium, home of Real Salt Lake, while Toronto FC will play at Orlando City's Exploria Stadium. CF Montreal, meanwhile, are set to play their home matches at Inter Miami's stadium.

Further reading