Major League Soccer’s owners voted Thursday to move the league’s season from a late summer to a spring calendar in 2027, bringing it more in line with international leagues.
The move is intended to put MLS in a more competitive position regarding player transfers, while also allowing players to be available for national team duties during the summer, when many major international tournaments are held.
This season, the league started in late February and was suspended during the summer for the Club World Cup. The MLS Cup championship game is scheduled for December 6th.
The vote took place at a board meeting in Palm Beach, Florida. Under the new calendar, league games will begin in mid-to-late July, with the final day of the regular season in April. The playoffs and championship will be held in May.
The league went on a long break over the winter, with only a few games played in early December and no games in January, before resuming in early to mid-February.
The league is working with the Major League Soccer Players Association to finalize the transition.
Weather issues have been a concern throughout the winter, with teams like Minnesota United and Chicago Fire already facing cold and sometimes snowy conditions. In the March 2024 game, Real Salt Lake and LAFC faced off in blizzard weather in Sandy, Utah.
However, the warming climate is causing problems even in summer games. There were concerns about rising temperatures during some Club World Cup matches in July and August of this year.
The current schedule is based not only on U.S. geography but also on the preferences of American sports fans, avoiding the busy months when the NFL plays its biggest games and the NBA and NHL are in full swing.
The league had previously considered a European schedule. There had previously been talk that owners could approve the change after the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. MLS is scheduled to be suspended for the tournament.
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