MLS Shifts to Summer-Spring Schedule with Winter Break.

MLS is advancing with its strategy to synchronize its competition calendar more intimately with the schedules of most European club leagues. The degree of influence remains to be observed.

Commencing in 2027, the league will function on a summer-to-spring timeline, with the commencement of the season in mid-July, Decision Day transpiring the subsequent April, and the MLS Cup playoffs occurring in May. Contained within this arrangement will be a winter recess, during which MLS will pause operations from mid-December through the early- or mid-portion of February.

In several regards, this modification is overdue, considering the original proposition was initially introduced two decades prior. It has been promoted extensively by numerous teams’ technical personnel, who perceive that the disparity with the European calendar complicates involvement in the international transfer market. At present, MLS’ principal transfer period extends from January to April, a period when European teams are nearing the decisive phase of their campaigns, making them unwilling to relinquish players. (The worldwide winter period is limited to the month of January.)

Conversely, when the summer period arrives, European teams are open for transactions, but MLS teams are hesitant to trade their foremost players amidst a playoff pursuit. Additionally, with most rosters already established, MLS teams possess significantly reduced capacity to integrate new participants.

“Should we effectively [modify the calendar], the advantages will include enhanced capacity to engage more aggressively in transfer windows, involving both acquisitions and disposals,” Inter Miami CF co-owner Jorge Mas conveyed to ESPN in June.

Naturally, the existing misalignment has not hindered MLS from emerging as a notable entity in the transfer realm. This year, MLS teams allocated approximately $336 million to acquire players. The league benchmark for incoming transfers was surpassed on three instances within the past year: initially with FC Cincinnati committing $16 million to enlist Kévin Denkey, then Atlanta United securing Emmanuel Latte Lath for $22 million, and subsequently with LAFC expending $26.5 million to procure South Korean international Son Heung-Min. The cumulative expenditure in 2025 signifies a 75% escalation compared to the preceding year, which previously represented a record of $188 million.

This adjustment is anticipated to streamline transactions for clubs, encourage increased player expenditure, and potentially propel the league further.

“The financial volume within the summer market, in my opinion, surpasses that of January by a factor of 12 or 13,” noted one MLS chief soccer officer (CSO) in February, among the five consulted by ESPN concerning the calendar throughout the 2025 campaign. “Our aspiration is to participate more seamlessly, without causing disruption to the core of the season.”

An additional CSO recognizes a potential disadvantage: Although improved synchronization with Europe is expected, there will be diminished alignment with South America, which continues to represent a vital source of players for MLS. Data from the Institute for Immigration Research at George Mason University indicates that 28% of MLS players originated from South America, while 36% hailed from Europe.

“If we persist in neglecting the imperative of internal cultivation before external sales, [the calendar modification] will not yield significant benefits,” the CSO asserted.

The calendar adjustment is also regarded as a mechanism to leverage the momentum from the forthcoming FIFA World Cup next summer, while assisting the league in accommodating the likely departure of Inter Miami luminary Lionel Messi. The Argentine icon inked a new arrangement with the Herons extending through 2028; however, apprehensions exist that his eventual exit could engender a void that proves challenging to address.

“I believe MLS must implement an autumn-spring calendar to endure and evolve into MLS 3.0,” stated another MLS CSO. “Failing this, it risks reverting to the prior MLS following Messi’s departure.”

Furthermore, the majority of international tournaments take place during the summer period. This circumstance compels MLS to temporarily suspend operations for portions of tournaments, compelling teams to compete with depleted rosters for extended durations. “The sole means of circumventing competition during FIFA tournaments is the adoption of an autumn-to-spring calendar,” one CSO elaborated.

“It remains our intent to refrain from scheduling games during FIFA dates,” confirmed Nelson Rodriguez, MLS executive vice president of sporting and competition. “I acknowledge that there will be a double date, a FIFA double date – in September and October – and while we might contemplate competing exclusively during these double dates, this decision remains pending. Invariably, each year presents ambiguities, fluctuating FIFA windows and dates, stadium availability, and similar variables.”

The shift toward a summer-spring calendar is also supported by the notion that MLS can capture a larger share of the American sports audience’s attention. The U.S. and Canada consistently offer a multitude of events year-round, yet staging the MLS Cup in the more favorable spring/summer weather would enrich the event. Nonetheless, this calendar inversion implies that a substantial segment of the regular season would unfold during the coldest intervals of the year, thereby influencing both playability and logistical aspects of traveling to Canadian locations and northern U.S. states such as Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Washington.

“In my view, positioning playoffs adjacent to the culmination of the NBA season and the inception of baseball is preferable to contending with the NFL and college football,” observed another CSO. “The playoffs should embody our premier offering, the product capable of generating the most substantial revenue, a state currently lacking. Broadly, this shift reflects a respect for tradition and established norms.”

The principal drawback centers on climate considerations. This alteration entails competition through portions of the U.S. winter, which may negatively impact attendance. Sources have indicated to ESPN that the league intends to observe a winter break, mirroring the practice of the Bundesliga; however, emulating the German model with a six-week recess would still necessitate MLS teams competing until mid-December and recommencing in early February. This prolonged pause raises concerns about the league’s sustained relevance and visibility.

Schedules must equally accommodate teams situated in colder regions. Teams such as Toronto FC and CF Montréal may witness a preponderance of home contests slated for warmer periods. Montréal also lacks undersoil heating at Stade Saputo, its home venue. Addressing this situation may entail seeking an alternative venue or incurring a disproportionate number of winter road matches.

“Undeniably, climatic disparities across markets will pose a challenge,” conceded another CSO. “Locations like Montréal, Toronto, New England, and Chicago will present difficulties for January games, necessitating schedule adjustments; however, the prevailing climate remains the paramount consideration within our league.”

One additional CSO ventured further, claiming that this shift would benefit “southern teams while disadvantaging the north” in terms of competitive parity.

He elaborated, “From my perspective, this transition portends a pronounced shift of our sports to southern territories. Southern clubs will enjoy a distinct advantage, sidestepping the necessity of competing during periods of extreme heat and alleviating the imperative for substantial infrastructural investment such as pitch heating.”

The MLS Players Association (MLSPA) also represents a pivotal hurdle in gaining approval. A source familiar with the context conveyed that MLS and the MLSPA have been deliberating the repercussions of a schedule change for nearly a year; however, a consensus remains elusive, with discussions described as “precarious.” The primary contention involves the league’s hesitancy to commit to specific dates, along with the duration of the offseason. An excessively abbreviated offseason could impede player movement via free agency.

Negotiations for the most recent CBA, ratified in 2021, proved contentious, with the league twice compelling renegotiations that rescinded significant concessions secured by the MLSPA during bargaining. More recently, the two factions clashed concerning bonuses related to the FIFA Club World Cup. Consequently, the union’s attempts to exert leverage during discussions with MLS regarding the calendar adjustment are unsurprising.

Regardless, MLS remains resolute in advancing this initiative, anticipating significant returns from the shift.