Any given season in just about any modern league, teams will complain about fixture congestion. In fact, it’s one of the few certainties of life in MLS and the USL, as midweek matches and the U.S. Open Cup disrupt the rhythm of a slate trying to fit 34 regular season matches in before an autumn postseason. Compared to what will take place on the other side of the ongoing shutdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, previous schedules may look downright relaxing.



On Tuesday, Major League Soccer released a statement indefinitely continuing its suspension of play into the summer. (On Wednesday, The Athletic’s Pablo Maurer reported that MLS would announce an extension of suspension to June 8.) The league alluded to the growing impossibility of playing a full season, instead exploring ways to truncate the 2020 campaign. Before that MLS announcement, the USL had scheduled two board of governors calls for both the Championship and League One for Tuesday afternoon,...