MLS officially switches to fall-spring calendar
The North American league is abandoning its traditional schedule to align with the European football calendar starting in 2027.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Sander Valdre
Major League Soccer (MLS) has officially announced a major format change, transitioning to a fall-to-spring calendar, mirroring the scheduling used by top European leagues. This shift marks a departure from the league's traditional spring-to-fall format, which has been in place since its inception in 1996.
The transition will take place in two stages. A shortened transition season will begin on February 19, 2027, and conclude in late May. During this period, each club will play 14 matches exclusively against conference opponents, followed by a playoff bracket.
The first full season under the new format (2027/28) will kick off in the second half of July 2027 and run until May 2028. To account for North American weather conditions, the calendar will include a mandatory winter break lasting from mid-December to early February.
The primary objectives of this reform are to align transfer windows with European leagues, prevent scheduling clashes with FIFA international breaks, and position the playoff stage in May, moving it away from direct competition with the NFL and NBA seasons.