Major League Soccer’s owners are expected to vote Thursday in Florida on two transformative proposals: shifting to a fall-to-spring calendar that aligns with European leagues and adopting a single-table format with five geographic divisions instead of the current two-conference setup.
If approved, the new calendar would start the regular season in July or August and run through April, with playoffs held in May. MLS would observe a winter break from December to February and a summer pause in June and July. The change aims to better align MLS with global transfer windows, enhance player trading opportunities, and place the playoffs in a more favorable broadcast window free of NFL and college football competition.
While the plan enjoys strong support among club executives for its sporting and business advantages, it still requires agreement from the MLS Players Association, as it would affect player schedules and contracts. Northern markets would need facility adjustments to handle winter conditions, though expansion in warmer cities could ease the transition.
The league will also vote on a single-table competition format with five regional divisions. Each team would play home-and-away within its division and face every other MLS club once, totaling 34 matches. Division winners would automatically qualify for the playoffs, though overall seeding would come from the single table.
Postseason changes are still under discussion, with proposals including systems similar to Australia’s AFL, granting higher-seeded teams a “second chance” after an initial loss. Commissioner Don Garber has framed these moves as crucial steps toward MLS’s evolution into a globally respected league with stronger international relevance and a more balanced competitive calendar.