Major League Soccer announced what could end up being the most historic and impactful change in the league’s young 30-year history.  On Thursday, November 13th, the league announced they have voted in favor of changing the MLS season to a summer-to-spring schedule, aligning with the schedules of the top leagues around the world.  Starting in 2027, the MLS regular season will begin in mid to late July and end in late May.  The league will observe a break between mid-December and early February, with no league matches taking place in January.  This decision was made final after a two-year review process that included gathering feedback from owners, club executives, players, and fans, as well as extensive weather and logistics analysis to ensure an optimal fan experience. So why is this change so big? There are a few reasons.

International transfer window alignment

Perhaps the biggest reason why this change is so important is the alignment of the international transfer windows.  With the new schedule, MLS clubs will be able to participate in the international transfer windows more effectively.  The most active transfer window in the international market is the summer window by far.  With the MLS offseason now in the summer, the ability to buy and sell top-tier talent improves. Most importantly, MLS clubs can now participate in the most active transfer window without having to disrupt or change identities in the middle of their season.  Now only if we can do something about the salary restrictions.

FIFA calendar alignment

The current MLS schedule has a ton of conflicts with FIFA international match windows.  Players are constantly getting called up to play for their international teams and missing league matches throughout the season.  And even worse, the MLS Cup Playoffs get interrupted because of international play.  The change of schedule will alleviate the majority of these conflicts, allowing the MLS Cup Playoffs to play out uninterrupted and limiting the number of matches players will miss throughout the season due to international call-ups.  

Boost the MLS Cup Playoffs

The MLS Cup Playoffs are the pinnacle of the MLS season, and viewership is affected by competing sports.  This change of schedule is going to land the MLS Cup Playoffs in an optimal spot on the sports calendar.  The way the current schedule is, the MLS Cup Playoffs compete with the middle of the NFL season and the later parts of the college football season.  The 2024 MLS Cup was played on the same day as the Big 10 and Big 12 championships and at the same time as the SEC championship.  With the MLS Cup now taking place in late May, both the NFL and College football are in their offseasons.  The NBA and NHL playoffs will be taking place during the month of May, but they are much easier to compete with than the NFL and College Football championships.  

Overall, this is a major change for the league and could be looked back at as one of the pivotal moments in league history.  A decision like this shows that owners and executives have a vested interest in taking this league to the next level.  Although there are still many more improvements that need to be made before MLS can become a top league in the world, this certainly is a step in the right direction.