Major League Soccer announced on Thursday in Palm Beach, Florida that it will overhaul its competition calendar from 2027, shifting to a summer to spring schedule that aligns with Europe’s top leagues and moves the playoffs to May. The change was approved at an MLS Board of Governors meeting after a two year review that began in October 2023.
The transition will begin with a shortened campaign from February to May 2027, featuring a 14 match regular season, playoffs and an MLS Cup final. The first full season under the new timetable will run from mid to late July 2027 through late May 2028, with a midwinter break from mid December to early February and no fixtures in January. MLS said it aims to limit home dates in northern markets during December and February and projected that 91 per cent of matches in 2027 to 28 will fall within the current weather window.
Commissioner Don Garber described the shift as “one of the most important decisions in our history,” arguing that alignment with global schedules will strengthen clubs’ competitiveness, improve transfer market activity and ensure the playoffs “take center stage without interruption”. The league said it is continuing to work with the MLS Players Association on a transition plan and will keep reviewing potential changes to its playoff format.
MLS framed the new footprint around four strategic goals, which include timing transfer business for the primary summer window, allowing new signings to settle before the decisive stages of the season, reducing conflicts with FIFA international dates and summer tournaments, and placing the playoffs in May when the U.S. sports calendar is less crowded.
The current postseason, which is competing for attention against the NFL and college football, has reinforced MLS’s belief that the league needs a clearer window. This year also highlighted the logistical challenges of the existing format, as Son Heung min joined Los Angeles FC midseason after leaving Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the year.
Prominent figures across U.S. football backed the decision. National team coach Mauricio Pochettino said the change would have “a huge positive impact for the players, coaches and clubs”. Chicago Fire coach Gregg Berhalter said it “helps position MLS on par with the best,” while former U.S. captain Clint Dempsey argued the new calendar would leave players “sharper” for international duty.
