After years of discussion from owners and numerous fan surveys conducted by the league, MLS is set to change to a fall-to-spring calendar in 2027, aligning with Europe’s biggest leagues.
This shift away from the current February-to-December schedule marks one of the most significant structural changes in MLS history.
A change of this scale will require significant legwork from the league, its clubs, and the MLS Players Association. Player contracts, commercial agreements, stadium agreements, and more all need to be reworked ahead of the change. If the league had been quicker to the punch on this change, MLS could have moved to its now-desired schedule right after next summer’s World Cup. The biggest soccer tournament in history — that’s being held primarily on U.S. soil, no less — could have served as a launchpad into the theoretical 2026-27 MLS season.
Regardless, MLS is pushing ahead on this calendar shift.
While there are still many details to be determined following a vote at Thursday’s board of governors meeting in Florida where owners also voted in favor of a change to the league’s competition format, it’s worth diving into what we know — and what we don’t — about MLS’s calendar decision.
What will MLS’s new calendar and competition format look like?
Let’s start with the basics. When will you actually be able to watch MLS games in 2027?
