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The list of the canceled and suspended sporting events due to the coronavirus outbreak keeps getting longer. According to ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle, CONCACAF is on the verge of postponing the Nations League semifinals and final that was set for this June in Texas, a result of the suspended leagues and guidelines that suggest that it may still be unsafe to gather in groups for sporting events at that time.
#FIFA working group advises postponement of June international matches. I'm told that #Concacaf is set to suspend Nations League semis and final set for June 4-7. #usmnt
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) April 3, 2020
UPDATE: Concacaf has officially suspended the Nations League playoffs, the Gold Cup qualifiers, and the Caribbean Club Championship:
Concacaf Statement regarding the suspension of the Concacaf Nations League Finals, Road to Gold Cup Qualifiers and Flow Caribbean Club Championship
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) April 3, 2020
>> https://t.co/hZ0GSDpDb1 pic.twitter.com/P6sYAcseEe
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the sports world, save a couple leagues, to a complete stop, and it’s unclear whether any domestic leagues will resume play before the June window. Carlisle mentions that because of that, FIFA may postpone the June international fixture window. The United States were set to play in the Nations League semifinals against Honduras, while Mexico was to take on Costa Rica and the winners of both matches meeting a few days later.
It will be a long time before sports resumes in full, whether it’s behind closed doors or with fans in the stands. FIFA will have to decide if they want to revamp the entire international fixture schedule for both men’s soccer and women’s soccer. Now that Concacaf has confirmed the suspension of the league, only time will tell when the playoffs will resume once this pandemic hiatus reaches an end.