MLS reveals details about Sprint Season, and it is perfect for teams and NYCFC | OneFootball

New York City FC and the rest of Major League Soccer are currently playing in their final season of play from late winter to late fall. Next year, the league will transfer over to a summer-to-spring season, aligning with multiple leagues around the world, especially the majority of European leagues. As such, there will be a transition season before the change is made. And now, supporters know all of the details.

After the 2025 campaign, the transition season will be known as the Sprint Season, which will take place from February to May. NYCFC had already revealed that the move to Etihad Park will not take place until next summer, so the short season will be the last time that games are hosted at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field.

NYCFC and the 2027 Sprint Season

During the short season, teams will play seven home and away matches, totaling 14 games. All fixtures will be intra-conference meetings, meaning NYCFC will play everyone in the Eastern Conference just once. So, that means there will only be one Hudson River Derby, which makes sense because this will be a shorter campaign. Additionally, it will reduce the travel time for just a short while.

There will still be a postseason, where the top eight sides from each conference will make the MLS Cup Playoffs. However, there will not be a Round One Best-of-3 series, for teams will play play single-elimination games until a champion is crowned. This will be a change from the 2026 postseason, and perhaps it will lead to changes one the new era of MLS begins.

Notably, the Sprint Season will still be vital for teams. It is unknown how the U.S. Open Cup will be impacted and whether MLS sides will be able to participate. However, the short season will still decide the 18 teams in the Leagues Cup and the five CONCACAF Champions Cup spots. One should assume that it will be for the 2028 editions since the 2026 season should determine the 2027 ones.

When all is said and done, this is perfect for NYCFC and the rest of MLS. Teams still play everyone in their conference, and this ensures that everyone continues to play as MLS transitions to the new calendar. And specifically for the Boys in Blue, the season will officially start the lead-up to the opening of Etihad Park.

One thing, though, is that this would probably be a good season to not win the MLS Cup. The reason is that it will not be the same since the campaign is shorter, and for many, there will be an asterisk, like teams across the United States had during COVID and the shutdown. Hence, NYCFC would be better off doing well in the regular season, but hopefully not lifting the trophy. Of course, it would still be exciting if they did, for winning anything is always good for the club.

NYCFC and MLS will soon go through a change for the better. The Sprint Season is how they will get there, and while simple, the league made all of the right decisions regarding the planning of this transition.