Why The MLS Is Changing To A Summer–Spring Schedule
For nearly three decades, Major League Soccer has operated on a calendar that set it apart from most of the global game. While Europe, South America, and much of the rest of the soccer world played fall-to-spring seasons, MLS charted its own course with a spring-to-fall schedule designed to fit North America’s climate, sports landscape, and emerging soccer culture.
That era is coming to an end.
Beginning in 2027, MLS will move to a summer-to-spring competition calendar, with the season kicking off in mid-July, Decision Day arriving the following April, and the MLS Cup Playoffs culminating in May. Built into that structure will be a winter break, expected to run from mid-December through early- or mid-February.
The move represents one of the most consequential structural changes in league history—one that has been debated internally for more than 20 years. Whether it becomes a transformative leap forward or simply an incremental adjustment will depend on how effectively MLS navigates the opportunities and challenges that come with it.
A Long-Discussed, Long-Delayed Shift
The idea of aligning MLS with the global soccer calendar is not new. League executives, technical directors, and coaches have been advocating for it since the mid-2000s, arguing that MLS’s off-cycle schedule creates competitive disadvantages—particularly in the global transfer market.
For years, the league resisted the change. Weather concerns, stadium availability, and competition with the NFL and college football made a fall-spring schedule feel unrealistic. But MLS in 2025 is not MLS in 2005.
The league is richer, deeper, more international, and more ambitious than ever before. With global stars, nine-figure transfer spending, and World Cup momentum approaching, MLS leadership believes the time is finally right.
The New Calendar: What Changes in 2027
Under the new model:
Season start: Mid-July
Decision Day: April
MLS Cup Playoffs: May
Winter break: Mid-December to early/mid-February
Rather than playing straight through the winter, MLS will pause—similar to the Bundesliga—before resuming play in late winter and early spring.
This structure is intended to balance global alignment with North American realities, though striking that balance will not be easy.
The Transfer Market: The Core Motivation
More than any other factor, the global transfer market has driven MLS’s decision.
Currently, MLS’s primary transfer window runs from January to April—precisely when European clubs are entering the decisive stretch of their seasons and are least willing to sell players. Meanwhile, the global summer window, when European clubs are most active, overlaps with MLS’s season and playoff race.
This mismatch creates two major problems:
Incoming transfers are harder to complete in winter because European clubs don’t want to sell.
Outgoing transfers are disruptive in summer because MLS clubs don’t want to lose key players midseason.
“If we’re able to change the calendar,” said Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas, “we will have the advantages of being able to participate much more aggressively in the transfer windows, both incoming and outgoing.”
By aligning more closely with Europe, MLS hopes to:
Buy when sellers are motivated
Sell without destabilizing playoff pushes
Plan rosters more strategically
Increase overall transfer spending and quality
MLS Is Already Spending—But Wants More Leverage
Even without alignment, MLS has become a serious player in the global market.
In 2025, MLS clubs spent approximately $336 million on player acquisitions—a staggering 75% increase from the previous year’s then-record $188 million. The league’s incoming transfer record was broken three times in just 12 months:
FC Cincinnati signed Kévin Denkey for $16 million
Atlanta United acquired Emmanuel Latte Lath for $22 million
LAFC shattered records by spending $26.5 million on Son Heung-Min
These numbers underscore MLS’s ambition. League executives believe calendar alignment will:
Make deals easier to execute
Encourage even greater spending
Improve roster quality across the league
As one MLS chief soccer officer (CSO) put it:
“The amount of money spent in the summer market is 12 or 13 times what it is in January. We want to be able to participate in that without disrupting the middle of our season.”
FIFA Windows and International Tournaments
Another major driver is international competition scheduling.
Most major international tournaments—World Cups, Gold Cups, Copa América, Euros—take place in the summer. Under the current calendar, MLS often shuts down partially, but not fully, forcing clubs to play matches without key players.
“The only way you cannot play during FIFA tournaments is to have a fall-to-spring calendar,” one CSO explained.
MLS leadership has made clear that its intention is to avoid playing on FIFA dates whenever possible.
“It’s our intention not to play on FIFA dates,” said Nelson Rodriguez, MLS Executive Vice President of Sporting and Competition. “There are always vagaries—shifting FIFA windows, stadium availability—but that’s the goal.”
If executed well, this could:
Protect competitive integrity
Reduce player fatigue
Improve the quality of play
Competing for the American Sports Calendar
In North America, soccer doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
MLS Cup currently competes directly with:
The NFL
College football
Early NBA and NHL seasons
That’s a brutal fight for attention.
Under the new model, MLS Cup would land in May, competing instead with:
NBA and NHL playoffs
Early MLB season
“I think playoffs going up against the end of the NBA and beginning of baseball is way better than going up against the NFL and college football,” said one CSO. “The playoffs should be our best product.”
Better weather, better scheduling, and fewer football conflicts could turn MLS Cup into a more prominent national event.
Climate: The Biggest Obstacle
For all its advantages, the calendar switch carries real risk—especially when it comes to weather.
Even with a winter break, MLS will still play:
Into December
Again in February
That raises concerns about:
Attendance
Match quality
Travel
Player safety
Cold-weather markets like:
Toronto
Montréal
New England
Chicago
Minnesota
will require careful scheduling.
Montréal, in particular, lacks undersoil heating at Stade Saputo, potentially forcing:
Venue changes
Heavy road stretches
Infrastructure investments
One CSO acknowledged:
“The climate will be the challenge in our league.”
Another went further, warning of competitive imbalance:
“It will be good for the south and bad for the north.”
Southern teams may benefit from:
Avoiding extreme summer heat
Reduced infrastructure costs
More consistent home conditions
Balancing fairness across climates will be one of MLS’s toughest logistical tasks.
The Risk of Going Quiet
A winter break solves weather problems—but creates a new one: visibility.
Shutting down for six to eight weeks risks MLS going “out of sight, out of mind” during a crowded sports season dominated by:
NFL playoffs
NBA and NHL midseason
European soccer
MLS will need to:
Use the break strategically
Maintain engagement through content, transfers, and storytelling
Ensure momentum doesn’t stall
This is where marketing, media, and digital strategy will matter more than ever.
South America vs. Europe: A Pipeline Question
While alignment helps with Europe, it may complicate relationships with South America, which remains a vital talent source.
According to research:
36% of MLS players are European-born
28% are South American-born
South American leagues operate on different calendars, and one CSO cautioned:
“If we don’t understand that we need to develop first before we can sell, the calendar switch won’t be a big advantage.”
Player development—not just scheduling—will determine whether MLS truly benefits.
Labor Relations: The MLSPA Factor
Perhaps the most unpredictable variable is the MLS Players Association (MLSPA).
Calendar changes affect:
Offseason length
Free agency timing
Rest and recovery
Contract movement
Talks between MLS and the MLSPA have been ongoing for nearly a year, but sources describe them as “teetering.” Trust issues linger from:
Contentious CBA renegotiations
Rolled-back player gains
Recent disputes over Club World Cup bonuses
Without union buy-in, the transition could face serious friction.
World Cup Momentum—and Life After Messi
The timing is no accident.
MLS wants this new calendar in place to:
Capitalize on the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Maintain relevance beyond Lionel Messi’s tenure
Messi is under contract through 2028, but his eventual departure looms large.
“I think MLS must adapt,” said one CSO. “Otherwise it will go back to the old MLS after Messi leaves.”
The calendar switch is about future-proofing—ensuring MLS doesn’t rely on a single superstar moment, but evolves into a globally respected league.
A Necessary Risk for MLS 3.0
This shift is not without danger. Climate, labor relations, competitive balance, and fan habits all present challenges.
But standing still is riskier.
MLS has outgrown its original constraints. Aligning with the global game is a statement of intent—a declaration that the league sees itself not as an outlier, but as a participant in soccer’s highest conversations.
Whether this becomes a defining leap forward or a cautious half-step will depend on execution. But one thing is clear: MLS is no longer content to simply be different.
It wants to be better.
