MLS Is Changing Its Schedule, and Here's What That Means for Fans

Major League Soccer will kick off 2027 with a condensed "Sprint Season," playing out the first half of the year before the league permanently shifts to a new summer-spring format.

During the Sprint Season, every MLS team will play 14 regular season games, all against conference rivals, with seven at home and seven on the road. The top eight teams will advance to a single-elimination playoff bracket, win or go home, wrapping up with the MLS Cup sometime in May.

The stakes go beyond bragging rights. Five spots in the 2028 CONCACAF Champions Cup will be awarded based on Sprint Season performance, giving clubs plenty of reason to compete hard in what could otherwise feel like a transitional period.

Come June 2027, the league launches its new permanent regular season, with matches running from July through December. Schedules for both the Sprint Season and the new format are expected to be released over the next few months.