MLS going to a summer-to-spring schedule in 2027, synchronizing with European leagues | amNewYork

"The calendar shift is one of the most important decisions in our history, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said on the league's website. Aligning our schedule with the world's top leagues will strengthen our clubs' global competitiveness, create better opportunities in the transfer market, and ensure our Audi MLS Cup Playoffs take center stage without interruption. It marks the start of a new era for our league and for soccer in North America."

"The playoffs' current format is playing in November, with an international break squeezed in between Round 1 and the conference semifinals. It currently competes with the climax of the college football and NFL seasons for TV coverage. Shifting the annual playoffs to the spring, with the first matches happening in May, will help ensure maximum attention and visibility for the league's most important matches, the league said."

"The change will be implemented in July 2027, and the regular season will conclude in April 2028, with May allocated for playoffs. The league will also morph into a single-table competition, but will include five six-team divisions at the start of the new, altered season, according to The Athletic's Paul Tenorio. The new competition calendar also features a winter break from mid-December to early or mid-February, like Germany's Bundesliga and France's Ligue 1."

Major League Soccer will shift its competition calendar to a July–May schedule beginning in July 2027, with the regular season ending in April 2028 and playoffs in May. The league will adopt a single-table structure while opening the season with five six-team divisions. The new calendar includes a winter break from mid-December to early or mid-February, mirroring Bundesliga and Ligue 1. The change aims to align MLS with top global leagues to strengthen club competitiveness, improve transfer market opportunities, give playoffs greater visibility by avoiding November competition, and ensure teams are match-ready for the CONCACAF Champions League in February.

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