The Major League Soccer board of governors voted to align with the international soccer calendar by shifting the regular season to a summer to spring campaign beginning in 2027.
As opposed to most international leagues, MLS currently plays on a February to November calendar.
“The calendar shift is one of the most important decisions in our history,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said in a news release. “Aligning our schedule with the world’s top leagues will strengthen our clubs’ global competitiveness, create better opportunities in the transfer market, and ensure our Audi MLS Cup Playoffs take center stage without interruption.
“It marks the start of a new era for our league and for soccer in North America.”
The change would see the season kick off in mid-July and run through the spring, with Decision Day in April and the MLS Cup playoffs in May. MLS would allocate a winter break to prioritize player recovery, pausing action from mid-December to early or mid-February.