Major League Soccer is considering changing its schedule to align with the European football calendar.
The Athletic’s report on Wednesday states that the American organization is prioritizing evolution and considering switching to a fall-spring season with breaks in the summer and winter.
MLS is exploring the idea of dividing teams into divisions instead of conferences.
If implemented after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the proposed scheduling change would enable MLS to fully capitalize on the global transfer market.
“We have been engaged, really, since January, and it’s been very extensive, exhaustive, and deliberate,” said MLS executive vice president of sporting products and competition, Nelson Rodriguez.
“It’s still too early. We’re still asking questions. We’re still collecting and analyzing some data. We’re still formulating models. Some of those models are for formats themselves; some are how to assess the information we get.”
The proposal suggests that MLS commence early August and conclude mid-December, allowing for a winter break. February marks the beginning of the season, which will extend into spring and conclude with the MLS Cup in late May.
The league is exploring options beyond the boardroom to ensure that any new format serves its best interest. MLS will make decisions through extensive fan polling and player focus groups, including the MLS Players’ Association.
Switching to a fall-spring season would also bring commercial advantages in the United States. The MLS Cup playoffs face competition for viewership from the MLB playoffs, NFL, NBA, NHL regular seasons, and college sports.
“The playoffs are the most valuable piece of real estate in a league season, and playoffs that would be spring or summer suggest a different dynamic,” Rodriguez said.
“It starts with the fact that the weather is closer to optimal for all 30 clubs, your stadium conflicts are a little bit less, competition with other North American sports is different, and you’re more aligned with at least the European rhythm of football. So, those are factors. They also come with their own sets of tradeoffs.”
If a switch to a fall-spring season is approved, the Leagues Cup, U.S. Open Cup, and Canadian Championship would have to modify their calendars. According to the report, the Leagues Cup, in particular, may be held in “January and February with teams in pods in warmer-weather locales like California, Texas, and Florida.”
“We are at a different point in our evolution as a league,” Rodriguez said. “With the World Cup, we have more eyes on us than ever before.”
“And so it has been rewarding that no one has been territorial, and everyone has been thoughtful and collaborative. I think there’s a recognition that this is the right time to do this analysis level.”