Major League Soccer announced the group draws for the MLS is Back Tournament set to begin July 8 in Orlando, Florida. The Rapids will compete in Group D and will take on some familiar foes with the likes of Real Salt Lake, Sporting Kansas City and Minnesota United FC rounding out the group.
Group D is set to be one of the more difficult pairings, if current MLS record is any indication. There are four teams that started out the 2020 season 2-0-0, and three of them are set to be in the same group with Colorado, Sporting KC and Minnesota. All four teams have yet to suffer a loss – as RSL kicked off the 2020 season with two consecutive draws.
“We’re going to play against three other very, very strong teams," Executive Vice President and General Manager Pádraig Smith said. "But to get where we want to go and be where we want to be, they are teams we have to be ready to beat... I think it’s going to lead to some really competitive games, and we’ll look to come out on top.”
Real Salt Lake was the first team to be designated to the group, which was decided based on their 2019 regular season point total. RSL has kept hold of the Rocky Mountain Cup since 2016, but the Rapids will look to flip recent fortunes on the neutral Florida turf. The impact this Group D match will have on the 2020 Rocky Mountain Cup has yet to be determined.
The Rapids are also set to compete against another one of their rivals in neighboring Sporting Kansas City. The history between these two teams goes back to 1996, as both teams were originals in the beginning of MLS. In the team’s two meetings last season, Colorado went unbeaten. The first match resulted in a 1-1 draw, and the second, taking place at the end of September, was a 3-2 thriller that was highlighted by an 85th minute game-winner to complete the comeback.
Minnesota and Colorado split their matches against one another last season, with the Rapids winning the first matchup 1-0 at home and falling in the second on the road by the same margin. The Rapids are 3-2-1 all-time against the Loons.
The Rapids will look to play well enough in the group play to advance to the round of 16 of the tournament and beyond.
“Winning it would be a huge accomplishment. We tend to be a group that prides ourselves on overcoming challenges, and the challenges have been numerous this year," head coach Robin Fraser said. "We know some teams won’t be at their best, but if there’s something to win, we want to win it."
For more information about the tournament, check out the press release and our frequently asked questions page.
