MLS shifting to summer-to-spring schedule in 2027

Major League Soccer is making the long discussed transition to a summer-to-spring schedule beginning in 2027.

The change from the current spring-to-fall schedule to a format common across many leagues across the globe was approved by the MLS Board of Governors during a meeting on Thursday in Palm Beach, Florida.

“The calendar shift is one of the most important decisions in our history,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a news release. “Aligning our schedule with the world’s top leagues will strengthen our clubs’ global competitiveness, create better opportunities in the transfer market, and ensure our Audi MLS Cup Playoffs take center stage without interruption. It marks the start of a new era for our league and for soccer in North America.”

While 91 percent of the new format will overlap the existing one, according to the league news release, one key benefit of the shift will mean the playoffs and MLS Cup won’t compete directly with the NFL, college football or the November international break. It will also mean MLS will no longer be a live sports option during the busy summer travel season and won’t enjoy a window of time in the summer when many other soccer leagues are on a break and Major League Baseball is the only other major sport in season.

Questions about the weather in early December and February/March – particularly in places like Toronto, Montreal and Minnesota – will certainly be asked but the shift will also mean teams won’t have to travel to away fixtures in Texas in the middle of July either. A winter break will be observed from mid-December through early February.

In order to implement the change, the league will stage a 14-game season from February to May 2027 (complete with playoffs, MLS Cup and qualification for U.S. Open Cup, Canadian Cup, Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup) and then kick off the 2027-2028 season in mid-July. Playoffs will be played in late May 2028.