MLS delays international calendar switch until 2027

No Major Changes Before 2027, League Confirms

Major League Soccer (MLS) has postponed its long-anticipated decision on overhauling its season calendar, ruling out any changes before 2027. Despite earlier hopes to realign its schedule with the international soccer calendar ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, league owners and executives agreed at a board meeting in Chicago to continue studying the proposal rather than move forward with implementation.

In a statement, the league confirmed it had “authorized a second phase of exploration” into the calendar shift, alongside further evaluation of its regular season and playoff formats. Any alterations, it emphasized, “would not take effect until the 2027 season at the earliest.”

Push for Global Alignment Faces Internal Division

The debate around aligning MLS with the traditional fall-to-spring soccer calendar used in most global leagues has been building momentum for more than a year. Sporting directors across the league have largely supported the shift, citing the potential to synchronize transfer windows and boost competitive quality.

Some team executives and owners also see strategic advantages: better player acquisition, improved game quality, and playoffs scheduled outside the crowded American football season.

Yet, these ambitions have met resistance. Business leaders and club owners in northern markets, in particular, are wary of the winter weather. Playing competitive matches in December and February could mean harsh conditions, reduced ticket sales, and logistical challenges for both training and matchday operations. Among MLS’s 30 clubs, 18 are based in cities where the average December high is below 50°F (10°C).

Commercial and Structural Concerns Stall Momentum

To accommodate a fall-to-spring schedule, MLS would need to either play through winter conditions or take a midseason break, potentially from mid-December through February. Critics within the league argue that such a break could become a “momentum killer”, interrupting fan engagement and media coverage.

Moreover, the league would need time to rework commercial agreements, ticketing strategies, and broadcasting contracts. Initially, spring 2025 had been viewed as a soft deadline to prepare for a 2026 rollout. Thursday’s decision indicates that timeline will be missed.

MLS said the next phase of exploration would involve additional consultation with key stakeholders and the development of a detailed transition plan, but offered no new timetable for a final decision.

Critics Highlight Flaws in the Current Schedule

Supporters of change have repeatedly drawn attention to the disruptions baked into MLS’s current format, which runs from February to fall. Because the league operates out of sync with FIFA’s international calendar, it continues to play through national team windows, often without its star players.

The issue is especially glaring during the playoffs. In 2023, LA Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig publicly criticized the 22-day gap between postseason matches due to an international break, calling the pause “insane.”

These inconsistencies, proponents argue, undermine the league’s ambitions to join the ranks of the world’s top competitions. But for now, MLS will continue with its risk-averse, incremental approach to growth.

MLS’s decision to delay a move toward the international calendar reflects the league’s ongoing balancing act between business realities and sporting aspirations. While there is growing consensus on the need for evolution, finding a path that satisfies stakeholders across North America’s diverse climates and markets remains elusive.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for the latest on Major League Soccer developments and the road to the 2026 World Cup.