"Major League Soccer owners voted Thursday to shift the league's season to a late-summer to spring calendar in 2027, bringing it more in line with its international counterparts. The shift aims to put MLS in a more competitive position for player transfers, while also freeing up players for national team duty during the summer, when many major international tournaments take place."
"Under the new calendar, league play would kickoff in mid- to late July, with the final day of the regular season in April. The playoffs and championship would take place in May. The league would go on an extended break during the winter, with just a few games played in early December and no games in January before resuming in early to mid-February."
"While there were concerns about weather challenges during the winter months, teams like Minnesota United and the Chicago Fire already face cold and sometimes snowy conditions. In a March 2024 match, Real Salt Lake and LAFC played in blizzard conditions in Sandy, Utah. But with a warming climate, matches in the summer months have become problematic, too. Soaring temperatures were a concern at some of the Club World Cup matches this past July and August."
Major League Soccer owners approved shifting the league season to a late-summer to spring calendar starting in 2027 to align with international schedules and improve transfer competitiveness and player availability for national teams. League play would begin mid- to late July, the regular season would end in April, and playoffs and the championship would occur in May, with an extended winter break and limited December games. The league is coordinating the transition with the players' association. Weather concerns include winter cold in some markets and rising summer temperatures affecting match conditions. The decision follows consideration of European-style calendars and scheduling tradeoffs with other U.S. sports.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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