FIFA’s two-week break for national-team games will keep a handful of key Minnesota United players away from preparations for the MLS Cup playoff first-round game against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Oct. 20 at Allianz Field.

Six total players are with their respective national teams, five of them expected to be key contributors against the Galaxy. Four are not expected back for training in Blaine until next Thursday — only three days before the club’s first playoff game.

Defensive midfielder Hassani Dotson and striker Mason Toye are with the U.S. under-23 team and will fly back from Miami on Wednesday and likely be available for training on Thursday, so are winger Robin Lod and backup midfielder Rasmus Schuller, who are with Finland’s team.

Trinidad and Tobago attacking midfielder Kevin Molino will come back first, skipping a friendly against Venezuela to train on Monday. Slovakian central midfielder Jan Gregus will return to likely train Tuesday.

Right back Romain Metanire didn’t travel to play for Madagascar and trained with the Loons on Thursday.

The club will practice Friday before taking the weekend off and reconvening Monday.

BRIEFLY

United coach Adrian Heath said he has heard positive reports on the new grass installed at Allianz Field, but he isn’t holding his breath on the grass’s condition after St. Thomas and St. John’s play a football game there Oct. 19. “I think we will wait and see how that goes,” Heath said. … United center backs Ike Opara and Wyatt Omsberg did not participate in Thursday’s training session.