MLS Announces Transitional 'Sprint Season' for 2027

Major League soccer adopts new calendar

Major League Soccer announces plans to transition to a summer-to-spring schedule starting in 2027, with a 14-game 'Sprint Season' in February-May 2027.

MLS to align with European leagues, moving playoffs to May and introducing a winter break from mid-December to early February...

Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced plans for a transitional season in 2027, dubbed the “MLS Sprint Season,” which will see all 30 teams play 14 regular-season matches from February to April. This shortened season aims to align MLS with the global football calendar, moving from its current February-to-November schedule to a summer-to-spring format starting in July 2027.

The “MLS Sprint Season” will feature each team playing their 14 conference opponents once, with seven home and seven away matches. The top eight teams in each conference will qualify for the playoffs, with a single-elimination bracket determining the Eastern and Western Conference champions, who will meet in the MLS Cup. The results of this season will also determine qualification for the 2028 CONCACAF Champions Cup and Leagues Cup.

The top eight teams in both the Eastern and Western conference will reach the MLS Cup playoffs, with single-elimination matches until the MLS Cup final in May.

Major League Soccer today announced details of the 2027 MLS Sprint Season, the @MLS season that will launch Major League Soccer’s transition into its new summer-to-spring calendar, as the league aligns its schedule with the world’s top soccer leagues.https://t.co/bjfUSlXjlt

— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) March 19, 2026

The campaign will determine qualifiers for the 2028 CONCACAF Champions Cup and 2028 Leagues Cup against Mexican Liga MX clubs.

The 2027-28 MLS season will kick off in July 2027 and wrap up with the 2028 MLS Cup in May 2028. This new schedule aligns MLS with top European leagues, marking a significant shift for the league.

The 2027-28 season will include a mid-winter break from mid-December to early February, with January being league-free. This change aims to improve player workload and fan experience.

The current 2026 season, running from February to December, will conclude with the MLS Cup final on December 18.