Peter Vermes: Hot climate teams have "big advantage" in MLS is Back Tournament

Looking for a favorite in the MLS is Back Tournament? Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes said teams from hot climates have a distinct advantage.

On Extratime Driven by Continental, Vermes highlighted FC Dallas, Orlando City SC, Inter Miami CF, Atlanta United and the Houston Dynamo as teams who will have a “big advantage” in a tournament that will be played in Orlando next month.

“That heat is going to be a big factor I think for all the teams,” Vermes said. “The ones that are training every day and getting acclimated to that, it’s a big advantage.”

Vermes said usually when the MLS regular season heads into the summer months, teams have played 10-15 games.

“Everybody at least has 90 minutes fitness in them by that time so they can use that to adapt and acclimate to the heat in and around the league and the different climates you’re going to,” he said. “You can survive the environment because you’ve built yourself up to playing 90 minutes fit.”

Of course, due to the coronavirus pandemic stoppage, teams will only have played two league games back in March ahead of the tournament.

“The fact of the matter is now we don’t have 10-15 games under our belt and we’re going to be thrust into this heat,” Vermes said.