For thirty years, MLS has done things differently. February to December. Playoffs in November when the World Cup qualifiers interrupt everything. Summer transfer windows that don't align with anyone else's. It was quaint. It was North American. It was increasingly stupid.
That's over now.
Starting in 2027, Major League Soccer will operate on a summer-to-spring calendar like the rest of the football world. The regular season kicks off in mid-July. Decision Day happens in April. MLS Cup moves to May. There's a winter break from mid-December through January.
The players are on board. The fans polled at 92% support. Even FIFA president Gianni Infantino—who rarely gets excited about American soccer unless World Cup hosting fees are involved—called it "an important and timely step forward."
So what took so long?
The cold hard truth
MLS tried to have this conversation before. In 2004. In 2014. Each time, northern market owners killed it. Can't play outdoor football in Toronto in February. Can't expect Minnesota fans to show up when it's negative 15 degrees. Can't ask Colorado to host matches in blizzard conditions.
Those concerns haven't disappeared. They've just been overwhelmed by bigger forces.
"If MLS wants to become one of the best leagues in the world, they had to do it at some point," Chicago Fire's Philip Zinckernagel said. He's Danish. He's played in Europe his whole career. He knows what proper scheduling looks like.
The old calendar made MLS an island. Transfer windows opened when Europe's closed. Players signed in January couldn't join until June. Players leaving for European clubs had to finish a half-season here before starting fresh somewhere else. Everyone suffered.
"I signed for Arsenal in January, but I didn't go until June," New England goalkeeper Matt Turner recalled. "And then I played a six-month season and then went into a preseason. I never had a break, I never had a breather."
That's broken. Commissioner Don Garber knew it was broken. He just needed enough owners to admit it.
What actually changes
The 2026 season plays out normally—February to December, one last ride on the old calendar. Then comes a transition period: a 14-game mini-season from February to May 2027, complete with its own playoffs and MLS Cup. That determines qualification for the 2027 U.S. Open Cup, Canadian Championship, Leagues Cup, and CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Then the real shift begins. The 2027-28 season starts in mid-July 2027 and runs through May 2028. MLS will pause for the winter, resume in February, and crown a champion when the NBA and NHL are finishing their regular seasons instead of competing with football and the World Series.
Initial projections say 91% of matches will still fall within the same general timeframe as today's schedule. The difference is bookends—July starts instead of February, May finishes instead of December. Less overlap with FIFA dates. Less disruption from national team callups during crucial playoff matches.
Oh, and no more playoff breaks in November while countries play qualifiers. That alone makes this worthwhile.
The transfer market advantage
This is the real prize. When Son Heung-Min signed with LAFC last summer for $26.5 million—the biggest transfer fee in league history—he joined a team already 15 games into its season. Same thing happened when Messi arrived at Inter Miami. You're asking world-class players to integrate mid-stride, without a proper preseason, while their new teammates are already in rhythm.
Now? Summer signings can train with the squad from day one. Preseason matters. January windows align with Europe's. Selling players becomes easier because MLS and European calendars finally speak the same language.
"We think this sets us up to showcase our best form," said Nelson Rodriguez, MLS executive vice president of sporting and competition.
The skeptics will point out that alignment with Europe means less sync with South America, which still follows a different calendar and provides 28% of MLS players according to George Mason University data. Fair point. But the league is betting that easier business with the Premier League, Bundesliga, and Serie A outweighs complications with Argentina and Brazil.
They're probably right.
What comes next
The MLSPA hasn't officially signed off on the new calendar yet. Offseason length remains a sticking point. Players want rest. Owners want games. This will get resolved—the momentum is too strong to stop now—but expect some back-and-forth before final details emerge.
MLS also teased a new regular season format that includes a single table and possible divisions, though nothing has been confirmed. The conference system that's defined the league since 1996 may finally die alongside the weird scheduling.
For fans, the practical impact is simple: playoff football in May instead of November. Better weather. Better matchups against European clubs in summer friendlies. A winter break that actually feels like a break instead of the current two-month void that kills all momentum.
It's not revolutionary. It's just normal. MLS finally decided to act like a real league.
About damn time.