The 2027 Major League Soccer sprint season is scheduled to take place from February to May, incorporating 14 intra-conference matches to transition the calendar to a summer-to-spring format.
Each team will compete in seven home matches and seven away matches during the regular season, exclusively against teams from the opposing conference. The top eight teams from each conference will qualify for the playoffs, which will be conducted in a single-elimination format to identify the champions of the Eastern and Western conferences.
The champions from each conference will then compete in the 2027 MLS Cup.
Even with the condensed format, teams can still secure spots for the 2028 Concacaf Champions Cup and the 2028 Leagues Cup. The five available spots for the Concacaf Champions Cup will be determined based on the outcomes of the regular season and playoffs.
“The schedule for the 2027 Sprint Season, detailing each team’s home and away matchups, will be revealed in the upcoming months,” stated MLS in a press release.
The new structure for the 2027-28 MLS regular season will commence in July 2027 and conclude with the MLS Cup in May of the subsequent year. This revised schedule will also include a winter break from mid-December to early February, during which no matches will be held in January.
MLS announced the transition to a summer-to-spring schedule in November, describing it as a new chapter for the league.
“The calendar adjustment is one of the most significant decisions in our history,” MLS commissioner Don Garber remarked in a news release. “Aligning our schedule with the world’s leading leagues will enhance our clubs’ global competitiveness, create improved opportunities in the transfer market, and ensure that our Audi MLS Cup Playoffs receive the spotlight without disruption.
“This signifies the beginning of a new era for our league and for soccer in North America.”
The league currently operates from February to November, with the MLS Cup taking place in December. Despite the change, it is anticipated that over 90% of matches will occur within the current geographical footprint of the league.
