Major League Soccer is shifting its calendar to align with the best soccer leagues in Europe, and match its dates with the FIFA international windows starting in 2027. It will also adopt a new regular-season format.
MLS owners voted to approve the calendar change on Thursday.
Dubbed MLS 3.0, the new changes will see MLS kick off the regular season in July, culminating in Decision Day in April. The MLS Cup playoffs would then follow, running through May. These changes would come into effect for the 2027-28 season.
Included in the new schedule is a lengthy winter break to avoid playing some games in harsher winter climates, as seen with clubs like Minnesota United, Toronto FC, and Columbus Crew, among others. The break would feature minimal matches in December and no games through February, before resuming the regular season in February.
“The calendar shift is one of the most important decisions in our history,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “Aligning our schedule with the world’s top leagues will strengthen our clubs’ global competitiveness, create better opportunities in the transfer market, and ensure our Audi MLS Cup Playoffs take center stage without interruption. It marks the start of a new era for our league and for soccer in North America.”
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