Major League Soccer has decided to alter its schedule, shifting the start of the season to the summer and concluding it in the spring beginning in 2027. The adjustment was ratified by the league’s board of governors last Thursday. Under the new schedule, the MLS season will commence in mid-July and extend through April, with playoffs and the championship match slated for May.
Previously, matches in the MLS season commenced in February, with playoffs kicking off in mid-October. The MLS Cup final was traditionally scheduled for December 6. The upcoming schedule will incorporate a winter hiatus from mid-December to early or mid-February, with no games scheduled for January. Additionally, there will be another break in parts of June and July to coincide with various international competitions.
Commissioner Don Garber expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating that it marks a significant milestone in the league’s history. He emphasized that the new schedule presents various opportunities for the league to progress towards becoming one of the top leagues globally.
The 2026 season will follow the current winter-winter schedule, with a “transition season” planned for February to May 2027. This transitional season will feature a 14-game regular season, playoffs, and an MLS Cup, determining which clubs qualify for prestigious competitions such as the Canadian Championship, the U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup, and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
While concerns have been raised regarding the impact on the league’s northernmost teams like Toronto FC and CF Montreal, who play in open-air stadiums, Garber assured that approximately 91% of games will still be played within the same timeframe, including cold-weather months. The league intends to consider climate conditions when structuring the new schedule, accounting for both wintry weather and extreme heat during summer months.
Several teams, including TFC and CF Montreal, have expressed their commitment to collaborating with MLS to ensure a successful transition. Vancouver Whitecaps’ CEO, Axel Schuster, hailed the schedule change as a pivotal moment in the league’s evolution, aligning it more closely with other major leagues worldwide.
The shift to the new schedule aims to synchronize with the FIFA calendar, preventing clubs from losing key players to national team duties during critical stages of the season. This adjustment will also benefit MLS clubs by aligning with the summer transfer window utilized by European leagues, providing greater access to talent throughout the season.
Further modifications are anticipated ahead of the 2027 season, with discussions of altering the regular-season format from separate conferences to a unified table format. Garber highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance the league’s competition format, ensuring that changes are meticulously considered to elevate the quality of play and overall player standards in MLS.
