MLS officially flipping calendar to match European leagues

Major League Soccer’s owners have voted to shift the league calendar to align with Europe’s top leagues and FIFA’s international calendar beginning in 2027, with MLS moving to a July-to-May schedule.

MLS will also move from a two-conference format to a single-table competition that includes five six-team divisions, The Athletic reported. The league did not discuss its formatting plan while announcing the schedule change.

The MLS Players Association will need to sign off on the plan, and in its announcement, the MLS said it is “continuing to work with the MLSPA to finalize agreement on a transition plan.”

The changes come after roughly two years of debate over the idea inside MLS circles and after speculation had circulated that the league had hoped to implement the change in time for 2026 after the World Cup. 

The calendar change was boasted by the league in its official announcement as a way for MLS as a way to position itself better during the global transfer windows, “maximize player signings” and “elevate the playoffs.” 

San Diego FC players celebrate a goal against the Portland Timbers during match three of the Western Conference Round One of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025 in San Diego, California. The San Diego Union-Tribune via

“The calendar shift is one of the most important decisions in our history,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “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.”

The new calendar will go into effect in July 2027 after MLS holds a transition season from February to May of that year, which will include a 14-game regular season, playoffs and MLS Cup, with the results determining the 2027 qualification for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Canadian Championship, Leagues Cup, and Concacaf Champions Cup.

The playoff format is still being determined under the new calendar. 

MLS will also have a break from mid-December through early February. 

Among the vocal proponents of the change has been New York City FC and club CEO Brad Sims. 

Nicolás Fernández of New York City FC shoots the ball while defended by Nathan Byrne of Charlotte FC in the first half during their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 07, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Getty Images

“Today’s announcement marks an exciting, new era for Major League Soccer,” Sims said in a statement Thursday. “Throughout this process the League has conducted, New York City FC have been supportive of this change and applaud the decision as a positive outcome to continue growing MLS. Soccer is already seeing incredible levels of growth in North America, and aligning the League’s schedule to follow the international calendar provides us with the best opportunity to continue building off this momentum. Especially with the much-anticipated FIFA World Cup 26 coming next summer, followed shortly by the opening of our future home in Etihad Park, this decision could not come at a better time.

“We look forward to competing under this new league format and welcoming everyone to Etihad Park for its inaugural season in 2027.”

A Red Bulls spokesperson declined to comment when reached by The Post on Thursday. 

A knock on the flip has been about the impact on northern markets that will see increased games played in cold-weather months, though the league believes its adding only a small number of games outside the window it currently plays in, according to The Athletic. 

Garber also noted to reporters in Florida after the announcement that the change will move the MLS playoffs out of a “cluttered” time of year for sports, though with MLS playoffs now slated to fall in June, they would run up against the NBA and NHL playoffs as well as the MLB regular season.