Major League Soccer will consider a major shift in its seasonal schedule – one that could bring it in line with the international football calendar followed by most leagues around the world.
The potential change, which wouldn’t be implemented until at least 2027, also includes a reexamination of both the regular season layout and the playoff system.
In a statement released Thursday, the league said: “Major League Soccer’s Board of Governors today authorized a second phase of exploration into a potential move to the international soccer calendar, along with a continued evaluation of the league’s regular season and playoff formats.”
MLS currently operates on a spring-to-fall calendar, unlike most top-tier global leagues that begin in late summer or early fall and conclude in spring. For example, the 2025 MLS season is scheduled to begin in February and conclude in October, ahead of the postseason playoffs.
The idea of switching to a fall-to-spring model isn’t entirely new. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has previously addressed the concept in public forums, including his annual State of the League address last December.
During that event, Garber acknowledged that similar changes were explored in the 2004-05 and 2014-15 seasons, though the plans were ultimately shelved.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Major League Soccer continues to discuss a shift to a European calendar.
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“I do think that we are considering more than ever before this opportunity to change, but it’s not something that we’re ready to talk about right now,” Garber said at the time.
“The schedule does get more crowded. The summers, in particular June now, that has been taken up by most of the international tournaments. [It] has us digging in even deeper than we ever had in the past, but we’ve got a lot of work to do and that work is ongoing.”
The current MLS calendar often clashes with international events, especially in the summer months, which impacts player availability and limits visibility on the global stage.
Advocates of the shift argue that syncing with the European calendar could strengthen the league’s presence in the international transfer market, particularly during the mid-year transfer window which currently falls during the MLS season.
However, question marks remain over how teams would cope in colder regions of North America handle harsh winter conditions, especially during peak winter months
As for the proposed changes, the league confirmed that nothing is imminent: “Any potential changes would not take effect until the 2027 season at the earliest. This next phase will include additional consultation with key stakeholders and the development of a comprehensive transition plan.”
