MLS plans two-week break for Copa Centenario in 2016 schedule

By Kyle McCarthy
Published

MLS has incorporated an extended break for the group stage of the Copa América Centenario as part of its 2016 schedule.

The league revealed its 340-match regular season schedule on Thursday aftermoon. Each team will once again play 34 matches over the course of a season that runs from March 6 to October 23.

All of the teams will halt from June 3-14 as the Copa América Centenario proceeds through group play. CONCACAF and CONMEBOL are hosting the 16-team tournament on American soil for the first time. MLS opted to schedule around the tournament and take a break similar to the one used during World Cup years, though some games are staged during FIFA international windows.

MLS also revamped its recently introduced Decision Day to stage all 10 matches at the same time. The league moved all of the games to the final day in 2015, but split the matches between two time slots. Rivalry Week also returns on two separate weekends in May and August. The full schedule is here.  

FOX Sports will broadcast 34 matches in total over the course of the regular season. The list includes -- for the first time -- four matches on FOX:
New York City FC - New York Red Bulls (May 21), Portland Timbers - Seattle Sounders (July 17), New York Red Bulls - New York City FC (July 24) and Sporting Kansas City - Portland Timbers (July 31).

For the full FOX Sports broadcast schedule, click here.