Sporting KC and MLS 2026-27 Offseason Schedule

The time has finally come. Another Major League Soccer season has come to an end. At least for the 12 teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs. Somehow 18 teams can still win MLS Cup.

Sporting Kansas City isn’t one of those teams. They had one of the worst seasons in the 31-year history of the franchise. But it could have been even worse. In the final game of the season, they defeated San Diego FC on the road while CF Montreal lost across the country and Sporting KC managed to remain the only original MLS team to never finish dead last.

That said, we can’t put the 2026 MLS season behind us fast enough. 22 losses. The most goals allowed (81) in the history of the league. A lot has to change and here is when it will go down.

SKC Avoid the Wooden Spoon: Immediate Reactions

The First Deadline: Who Stays and Who Goes?

Sporting KC have until November 25th at 12:00 PM CT to exercise player options and make Bona Fide Offers to players who are out of contract. Playoff teams eliminated after the cutoff, have to make their announcements the day after they are eliminated. We previously broke down what players are in this situation for Sporting KC.

But just because they have until November 25th, doesn’t mean teams will take that long. The announcements could come today. In the past, some teams have moved quite quickly. Last season, with David Lee having just joined, he needed time to analyze the roster. He may not need that his year. Last season the announcements came three days before the deadline when he dropped the axe and only kept four of 17 players they had decisions to make on.

Sporting KC Roster and Contracts Post-Transfer Window

Key Offseason Dates & Deadlines

Let’s take a look at the full schedule, then we’ll explain what the heck all these mechanisms mean.

Understanding the Offseason Mechanisms

Major League Soccer never makes player acquisition simple. Between single-entity structure, multiple “draft” variants, and intricate service-time thresholds, sorting through roster movement can quickly feel overwhelming.

Here is a straightforward guide to the mechanisms Sporting KC and the rest of the league will navigate over the coming weeks.

Club Options and Bona Fide Offers (Nov. 25)

The first major domino falls when non-playoff clubs and teams bounced early from the playoffs must notify the league of their internal contract decisions. Teams submit which contract options they are picking up, which they are declining, and which out-of-contract players received a Bona Fide Offer. Extending a genuine, qualifying offer ensures the club retains the player’s MLS rights or right of first refusal if the player decides to sign outside the league.

That’s what is potentially happening with Erik Palmer-Brown. Sporting KC made him an offer years ago before he left for Manchester City and if he returns this offseason, as has been rumored, at the very least SKC should get compensation if another team signs him.

MLS SuperDraft (Dec. 21)

Consisting of three rounds, the SuperDraft remains the primary route for collegiate talent and underclassmen to enter the league (though frankly, the draft should be eliminated if you ask me).

Teams pick in reverse order of finish, giving rebuilding sides early access to the draft board. While modern MLS roster building leans heavily on Homegrown signings and international scouting, early first-round selections still offer the potential high-upside domestic depth on cap-friendly wages.

On the current Sporting KC roster, Stephen Afrifa, Jansen Miller, Ryan Schewe and Kwaku Agyabeng were all selected by Kansas City. And Taylor Calheira, Stefan Cleveland, Wyatt Meyer and Ethan Bartlow entered the league through the draft and found their way to KC.

Sporting KC will pick second, behind CF Montreal.

Free Agency (Opens Dec. 22)

MLS free agency has expanded significantly over recent collective bargaining agreements. Players qualify if they are at least 24 years old and have completed a minimum of four MLS service years, provided they are out of contract or had their options declined. Once the window opens at noon CT, qualified players can negotiate directly with any club across the league without restriction.

Re-Entry Process (Stage 1: Dec. 23 | Stage 2: Dec. 30)

The Re-Entry Draft serves as a way for veteran players who are out of contract or had options declined, but do not meet the full service-time threshold for outright Free Agency. To be eligible, a player must be at least 22 years old with at least one year of MLS experience.

The draft runs in reverse order of the regular season standings, accounting for postseason finishes:

• Stage 1: If a team selects a player in Stage 1, they must either pick up the player’s existing option or extend an offer at or above their previous salary. Because that requires honoring previous wage numbers, selections here are relatively rare.

• Stage 2: Held a week later, Stage 2 features remaining unselected players who have not opted out or re-signed with their former teams. The drafting club is not forced to honor the old contract; instead, they simply gain the exclusive right to negotiate a new deal. If negotiations fail, the drafting team retains the player’s MLS rights.

End-of-Year Waivers (Closes, Dec. 23)

Waivers capture the rest of the pool. This list consists of players whose options were declined or contracts expired, but who do not have enough league tenure to qualify for either the Re-Entry Process or Free Agency. It is primarily populated by younger players, recent draft picks, and developmental roster signings. If a club claims an out-of-contract player, they must extend a genuine offer. Any player who clears waivers without a claim becomes an unrestricted free agent available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Where do the Sporting KC Players Fit?

Sporting Kansas City face critical decisions on nine players who are either out of contract or have club held options. If Sporting KC decline all pending options and fail to reach new agreements with their expiring players, those individuals immediately scatter across the league’s offseason roster mechanisms based on age and service time.

*To be very clear, besides the three players who are straight out of contract, the rest will only hit their above designation if their option is declined.

Stay with the KC Soccer Journal for all your SKC offseason coverage.