MLS team owners officially approved a summer-to-spring schedule on Thursday, with the switch set for 2027.
The MLS and the MLS Players Association are collaborating on a transition plan. Alongside this change, MLS will unveil a new regular season format that combines global and North American sports styles. The league will consider changes to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs format, but it has made no decisions yet. There will be a winter break that begins in mid-December, with the season resuming in early February.
This decision aligns the league with top European soccer and FIFA’s schedule. Commissioner Don Garber said they had thought about this move, a major component of “MLS 3.0”, for almost two years.
Information on the implementation of the change was not immediately available.
The league will release additional information soon. Nelson Rodriguez said the move had “resounding” support, but didn’t reveal if it was unanimous.
2027-28 season structure
The 2027-28 MLS regular season will start in July 2027 and end with the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup in May 2028.
As with international leagues, MLS will take a midwinter break from mid-December to early February, with no league games in January.
MLS will have a transition season with a 14-game regular season, followed by playoffs and MLS Cup, before the calendar changes from February to May 2027. The results will determine who will participate in the 2027 tournaments.
