The MLS Board of Governors officially voted today to transition to an MLS season beginning in mid-July and ending with a playoff format in May.
This is a culmination of discussion held between various interested parties, including MLS owners, the MLSPA and the MLS Sport and Competition Group. The new league schedule will begin in 2027.
MLS commissioner Don Garber said this was the beginning of “MLS 3.0” and that, with the FIFA World Cup coming next year hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, now was the perfect time to introduce this format.
“In 2027, one year after the World Cup, [we] will be able to align with the international calendar,” Garber said. “We’ll have a launch starting in July which will conclude with the Audi MLS Playoffs in May. The MLS Cup will take place in May.”
This new format includes a winter break that will begin in mid-December and run until early- to mid-February.
Several reasons were given for the re-alignment of the MLS schedule. Most notably, it places MLS on a similar calendar timeframe as most other leagues throughout the world.
Second, it eliminates the intrusive November international break in the middle of the MLS Playoffs. Alignment to a more common schedule means that MLS will be able to take international breaks much easier within their league schedule.
Third, it aligns MLS with the international transfer window. No longer will MLS clubs be competing for the majority of international transfers in the middle of their season when other leagues have completed theirs.
Garber said work is continuing with the MLSPA in working through a transition plan.
Throughout this near two-year process of discussing a calendar shift, much of the pushback has come from northern markets. Fans have objected to losing matches during the summer months while adding winter matches.
However, Garber said the impact is minimal.
“Games will be played in a similar timeframe. While the start and finish of the season shift, the vast majority of our games will continue to be played the same timeframe as today’s schedule. An initial projection of the 2027–28 schedule, 91 per cent of our matches will fall within the MLS season footprint,” he said.
Several other initiatives were also discussed at the Board of Governors meeting:
- A review of MLS roster rules and spending levels
- The competition format for both the regular season and MLS Playoffs
- An analysis of player development, including academies and MLS Next Pro
- The increase of soccer-specific stadiums throughout MLS as well as player training facilities
No votes occurred on other initiatives. However, work on a new competition format is ongoing. Garber said the goal is to have a new regular season and MLS Playoff format ready for when the league shifts to the new calendar but nothing is being promised.
A new MLS league format?
The new format being discussed would remove the current conference setup in favour of a single table.
The league would them be restructured into five geographical divisions. Clubs would play those in their division twice, home and away. Clubs in other divisions would be played once in a season for a total of 36 regular season matches.
No information was provided on how the MLS Playoffs could potentially be restructured.
