MLS announces historic change: European season format to be adopted starting in 2027

Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced a historic change to its competition system, transitioning to the European calendar instead of the current system, which runs during the calendar year, starting in 2027.

A new era will begin in July 2027, with the season ending in May 2028, aligning Major League Soccer with the schedules of the major European leagues, allowing players and coaching staff to have a summer break during June.

The transitional season, which precedes the implementation of the new system, will witness an exceptional tournament taking place from February 19 to May 8, 2027, with the participation of 30 teams, each playing 14 matches, consisting of 7 home games and 7 away games, against teams only from their eastern or western region.

Following the end of the first stage, the top eight teams from each region will qualify for the knockout stages that will take place during May, with the final match scheduled for Memorial Day weekend on May 31, 2027. The league will also implement two transfer windows, summer and winter, in line with the European transfer market.