MLS Announces Format for 'Sprint' Shortened-Season in 2026
Major League Soccer on Thursday unveiled a new format for its upcoming "Sprint Season" in early 2027 to bridge the transition toward an international summer-to-spring calendar. The league announced teams will play exclusively against conference opponents during this shortened, fourteen-match regular season that runs from February through May of next year before switching schedules later on March 19th and beyond as MLS aligns with global soccer standards like those in Europe or South America to better compete internationally while maintaining competitive balance within the United States.
Key Points
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1Major League Soccer has officially unveiled its plan for a new 'Sprint Season' in early to mid-February of next year.
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2This shortened season will consist only of conference opponents, with teams playing seven home and away matches against each opponent within the league's two conferences (14 games total).
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3The Sprint Season serves as an initial step toward a broader transition where MLS shifts its calendar to align more closely with global top soccer leagues.
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4Following this sprint season in early 2027, teams will continue playing through May before transitioning into the new summer-to-spring schedule.
Developments
Perspectives
'Sprint Season' is a short-term fix that marks the first step in sweeping plans reshaping MLS.
— [Feeds.as.com]The Sprint season will launch Major League Soccer's transition into its new era by aligning with world top soccer leagues and international counterparts' schedules.
— (Oursportscentral)MLS is launching in February 2027 as part of an experimental "Sprint" season featuring only conference matchups to test its alignment with international soccer calendars. Following this trial period beginning July/August, a new permanent schedule will be adopted for the next campaign that includes interconference play and runs from summer through spring while incorporating winter break dates between December 2027 and February 2028.
Major League Soccer announced its new calendar for the first half of 2027 and beyond: teams play only one round-robin (14 games total) during a "Sprint Season" from late February to April, followed by playoffs in May. Starting July 2028 with an Audi MLS Cup presented by Audi concluded this season format will run summer-to-spring through mid-December of the following year and no league matches scheduled January