Orlando City starters Pedro Gallese and Sebas Méndez could be available for the club’s first playoff match under a new league initiative to utilize charter flights.
The current MLS protocol has required players to quarantine for nine to 10 days upon return to the U.S. from national team call-ups. It was expected to cause major disruptions for the first round of the MLS playoffs, which conflicted directly with South American World Cup qualifying matches.
However, ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle reported Tuesday the league is working to charter international players home from their national team games. It would bypass the need for a quarantine period, allowing players to return to their clubs in time for the first round of the MLS playoffs.