MLS makes dramatic calendar and format changes that align with other pro leagues

""The calendar shift is one of the most important decisions in our history," MLS commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. "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 governors, meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., also reportedly discussed a proposal that would rank the league's 30 teams in a single table rather than in two conferences. Both changes would align MLS with most of the world's other top-tier leagues, which play a fall-to-spring schedule with one standings table."

"Changing the schedule also will allow the league to better sync up with both the primary and second transfer windows used by the rest of the world and with FIFA's international calendar, dates on which teams are required to release players to their national teams. This month's FIFA break forced MLS to pause its playoff tournament for two weeks between the first and second rounds."

Major League Soccer's board of governors voted to move the start of the league's nine-month season from February to July beginning in 2027. The calendar shift aligns MLS with the fall-to-spring schedule used by many top-tier European leagues and aims to strengthen clubs' global competitiveness. The change will better synchronize MLS with primary and secondary international transfer windows and with FIFA's calendar for releasing national-team players. Governors also reportedly discussed replacing the two-conference format with a single 30-team table. The adjustment seeks to prevent playoff interruptions from FIFA breaks and to position playoffs away from NFL and college football.

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