MLS changes everything: the league will adopt a European calendar starting in 2027 - and the playoffs move to May

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·15 novembre 2025

MLS changes everything: the league will adopt a European calendar starting in 2027 - and the playoffs move to May

Starting in the summer of 2027, the league will adopt a new calendar, abandoning the traditional “spring-autumn” schedule. It will begin operating in a summer-spring format, joining the world's leading leagues, from the Premier League to the Bundesliga.

The decision redefines not only the flow of the season but also the logic of transfers, the impact on selection calls, club sports planning, and the positioning of MLS in the global ecosystem.

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“Aligning with the international calendar will have an enormous impact on development. It's a step that puts MLS on the side of the best leagues.— Mauricio Pochettino (USMNT)

What does the 2027—28 Major League Soccer season look like

Start: between the middle and the end of July 2027
Winter break: mid-December to early February
Return: February 2028
End: Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and final of the MLS Cup in May 2028

Before that, the league will organize a transition season between February and May 2027, comprising 14 rounds plus playoffs, that will serve as a bridge to the new schedule and define places in the U.S. Open Cup, the Canadian Championship, the Leagues Cup, and the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Why change is strategic

MLS summarizes the movement in four central pillars, with the measure being applauded by league leaders, such as Will Kuntz, of the LA Galaxy, who emphasized his difficulties in dealing with the European market in the middle of his season: “When it comes to assembling a squad, everything changes. Finally, we will operate at the same pace as the global market.”

In short, this helps Major League Soccer with:

Synchronization with the global marketWith the European calendar, clubs will be able to sign at the time of the highest offer, sell in the same cycle as in Europe and South America, and integrate reinforcements before the preseason - and not in the middle of the competition.
Better use of the starsIn the current model, the reinforcements arrive with the season in progress. In the new one, they undergo a comprehensive preparation cycle, accelerating adaptation and performance.
FIFA calendarThe league now coexists more organically with international windows, reducing embezzlement - an old demand from coaches and players.
Playoffs in May — the key changeWith fewer conflicting dates and a more favorable climate, the MLS final will have maximum visibility for one month. It is, in practice, a repositioning of the brand.

What about the climate issue?

The meteorological study took two years and involved simulations by market. The general rule will limit the home games of clubs from the north (Minnesota, Chicago, Toronto, New England, Colorado, and others) to December and February.

Even with the change, 91% of the games will remain in the same annual range as the current season.

The process began in 2023 and involved owners, the league's board of directors, the technical selection committee, the MLSPA, business partners, and consultation with supporters.

Internal polls show 92% approval among fans who watched at least one professional game last season.

In the coming months, MLS will release the final details of the transition season and the adjustments to the playoff format. The MLS NEXT Pro is still under evaluation and may undergo a parallel reorganization.