Major League Soccer has released the schedule for its 2027 sprint season, a condensed 14‑match regular season designed to bridge the league’s transition to a European‑style calendar. The sprint season will run from February 19 to May 8, with each team playing seven home and seven away games against its 14 conference opponents once.
Opening and closing fixtures
Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati will kick off the season on February 19. The regular season concludes on Decision Day, May 8, with a Hudson River Derby between New York City FC and New York Red Bulls — likely the final MLS match at Yankee Stadium before NYCFC moves to its new Queens stadium.
Playoff format overhaul
The top eight teams in each conference will qualify for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, which will adopt a single‑elimination format for every round. This replaces the current wild‑card match and best‑of‑three first round, addressing criticism that the existing playoff structure is too lengthy.
Why the calendar change?
Aligning with the global transfer window is a primary driver. MLS’s winter primary window has hindered player acquisitions, while the summer window often pressures clubs to sell key players midseason. The new schedule also incorporates breaks for international fixtures, ensuring top players are available for league matches and raising overall quality.
2027 sprint season by the numbers
All 29 teams will play 14 regular‑season games (seven home, seven away). The top eight per conference advance to the playoffs, with one team crowned MLS Cup champion. Five Concacaf Champions Cup berths and 18 Leagues Cup spots (nine per conference) will be determined by sprint season results. Following the sprint season, the 2027‑28 MLS season will begin in July 2027 and conclude with playoffs in May 2028, mirroring the European calendar.
