"Lasting just under three months, it'll proceed at a breakneck pace that could be an enthralling departure from the league's usual flow. The sprint season will start in February and see all 30 teams play a fully in-conference slate: Western Conference teams will only play Western Conference teams, and same for the East."
"The only way a team from the West will face an Eastern opponent would be if they advance to an MLS Cup unlike any before or, almost certainly, hereafter. Five berths into the 2028 Concacaf Champions Cup will be determined by the sprint season results. 18 teams—nine per conference—will qualify for the 2028 Leagues Cup based on their sprint season showings."
Major League Soccer will transition to a fall-to-spring schedule beginning in 2027 with an unprecedented sprint season format. Running from February through May, the season will feature all 30 teams playing 14 regular season games exclusively within their conference—seven home and seven away games. The top eight teams from each conference will advance to a streamlined single-elimination playoff bracket, with the MLS Cup final occurring in May. This compressed format differs significantly from traditional marathon seasons. The sprint season carries substantial stakes beyond playoff qualification, with five Champions Cup berths and 18 Leagues Cup spots determined by sprint season performance. Cross-conference matchups will only occur if teams advance to the MLS Cup.
#mls-schedule-reform #2027-sprint-season #conference-only-format #champions-cup-qualification #leagues-cup-berths
Read at www.theguardian.com
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