On Thursday, Major League Soccer (MLS) announced that beginning in 2027 the league will shift to a summer-to-spring schedule, aligning MLS competition with the global soccer calendar. In the new schedule, the regular season will kick off in July and will conclude with the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup in May of the following year, with a winter break from mid-December through January.
Voices across the league and throughout North American soccer have already hailed the move as transformative, with LAFC Co-President and General Manager John Thorrington calling it “monumental,” and U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) head coach Mauricio Pochettino declaring it “a great step forward for MLS.” Here are a few reasons why:
SYNCING WITH EUROPE
Fans of the English Premier League or Europe’s other top-tier competitions (Germany’s Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s LaLiga, and France’s Ligue 1) are familiar with the seasonal traditions of the world’s game: kick off in the summer and lift a trophy in the spring. Now that globally recognizable cycle has come to the U.S. and Canada.
“This important alignment with the global soccer calendar will expand opportunity and set a foundation for further success,” said Thorrington.
Added Pochettino: “Having managed club teams and now the U.S. National Team, the ability to align with the international calendar will have a huge positive impact for the players, coaches and clubs.”
ALIGNING THE STARS
Major League Soccer’s two biggest player acquisitions this decade – LAFC’s Son Heung-Min and Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi – arrived in MLS when the season was more than halfway over, at a time when their new teammates and opponents already had 15 to 20 games under their belts.
Imagine integrating players like Son and Messi during preseason training camp instead of while gearing up for a final playoff push. “With marquee players joining in the summer window,” the league announced on Thursday, “the new calendar allows MLS teams to fully acclimate summer transfers before the MLS regular season and cup competitions begin.”
HOT AND COLD
The final schedule in 2027 and beyond will be based in part on extensive weather and logistics analyses conducted by MLS, as well as ongoing conversations with the players' union, MLSPA. Like other top divisions around the world, the league will observe a midwinter break from mid-December through early February, with no matches scheduled in January. Additionally, the league intends to limit the number of home matches in northern markets during December and February. The Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup will be played in May, delivering ideal timing and weather.
FIFA FRIENDLY
At this writing, with the 2025 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs halfway complete, LAFC has seven players who are with their national teams.
The new calendar will significantly reduce conflicts between MLS league matches and national team call-ups for players, particularly during summer tournaments. The most important part of the MLS season, the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup, will be played in May instead of October and November, uninterrupted by FIFA international match windows.
MORE EYES AROUND THE WORLD
Fans across the globe can enjoy MLS action in line with first-division calendars on their own continents, and can do so simply by subscribing to Apple TV, without additional paywalls. This transition begins in 2026, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a league-wide memo, and “expands our reach to tens of millions of global subscribers.” The requirement of a separate MLS Season Pass subscription will conclude next month [December 2025] after the Audi 2025 MLS Cup.
BLACK & GOLD APPROVED
LAFC’s Co-Presidents, Thorrington and Larry Freedman, are thrilled with the shift. “This is a monumental step for the continued growth of Major League Soccer that will enable the league and all its clubs to become stronger players on the world stage,” said Thorrington, who also serves as LAFC’s General Manager.
Added Freedman: “This calendar change marks an exciting milestone for Major League Soccer and its clubs. Aligning with the world’s top leagues enhances our global relevance and opens new avenues for growth —from stronger transfer windows and improved roster flexibility to uninterrupted playoffs and a more consistent experience for fans and partners.”
2027 – A YEAR OF TRANSITION
Before the change to the new calendar, MLS will stage a transition season from February to May 2027, featuring a 14-game regular season, playoffs, and MLS Cup. The results will determine 2027 qualification for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Canadian Championship, Leagues Cup, and Concacaf Champions Cup.
When the newly adopted calendar is fully implemented in summer 2027, the league's athletes are among those who will feel the benefits. “Whether you’re in MLS, Europe, or anywhere else, being aligned means players are sharper when they get called into camp,” said Clint Dempsey, MLS legend and former USMNT captain. “And it’s easier for everyone – players, coaches, and fans – to follow the game year-round.”
