Major League Soccer will take an extended seven-week break in 2026 to accommodate the FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This pause — the longest in league history — will run from May 25 to July 16, allowing MLS players to join their national teams, unlike previous shorter pauses during World Cups in 2014 and 2018.
The 2026 MLS season kicks off on February 21 with Inter Miami vs. LAFC at the LA Coliseum. Inter Miami and Lionel Messi will open their new Miami Freedom Park stadium on April 4 in a debut match against Austin FC.
Each team will play 34 matches (17 home, 17 away), continuing the format of two matches against conference opponents and six cross-conference games. After the World Cup break, MLS action resumes on July 16, including rivalry matches, even before the World Cup final on July 19.
The regular season concludes on November 7 — known as Decision Day — followed by a break for the FIFA international window. The Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs will then begin on November 18, running uninterrupted for one month, with the MLS Cup final to close the season. The full playoff schedule will be announced later.