MLS
MLS Schedule and Apple TV changes
Aligning schedule with international leagues and Apple change
Major League Soccer announced today a major change for the competition calendar. In 2027 they will shift from the spring to fall (winter) format to a summer to spring format. This will align the league’s schedule with the rest of the world’s top soccer leagues. The league is still working with the MLSPA to finalize an agreement on a transition plan.
The calendar transition and the new regular season structure were approved during today’s MLS Board of Governors meeting in Palm Beach, Florida. “The calendar shift is one of the most important decisions in our history,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “Aligning our schedule with the world’s top leagues will strengthen our clubs’ global competitiveness, create better opportunities in the transfer market, and ensure our Audi MLS Cup Playoffs take center stage without interruption. It marks the start of a new era for our league and for soccer in North America.”
MLS is also reviewing changes to the MLS Cup Playoffs format and a possible switch to a single-table competition with five six-team divisions. Commissioner Don Garber said additional details would be revealed in the future.
David Lee, President of Soccer Operations and General Manager for Sporting Kansas City was one of the luminaries quoted. “I believe the change in our competition calendar has the potential for transformational benefits for MLS in the years to come. While the majority of the footprint of matches will remain the same as the current schedule, moving the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, our most important period of the season, to now take place in a less cluttered domestic sports landscape while also avoiding the playoffs being interrupted by international FIFA windows will be a significant improvement.”
2027–28 Season Structure
The 2027–28 MLS regular season will kick off in mid-to-late July 2027 and conclude with the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup presented by Audi in late May 2028. MLS will observe a midwinter break from mid-December through early February, with no league matches scheduled in January. similar to many other major international leagues.
There will be a transition period before the change to the new calendar. From February to May 2027, MLS will stage a transition competition with a 14-game regular season, playoffs, and MLS Cup. The results of this shortened competition will determine 2027 qualification for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Canadian Championship, Leagues Cup, and Concacaf Champions Cup.
MLS listed the following benefits of the change:
- Optimize the Global Transfer Market for Players: Aligning with global schedules allows MLS clubs to participate more effectively in the world’s primary transfer window, improving opportunities to acquire and sell top talent.
- Maximize Player Signings: With the majority of global player transfers occurring in the summer, participation in the most active transfer window will now enhance, rather than disrupt, a team’s ambitions for the season. With marquee players joining in the summer window, the new calendar allows MLS teams to fully acclimate summer transfers before the MLS regular season and cup competitions begin.
- Align with the FIFA International Match Calendar: Developed in consideration of the FIFA international match calendar, the new calendar will significantly reduce conflicts between MLS league matches and national team call-ups for players, particularly during summer tournaments.
- Elevate the Playoffs: The Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup will be played in May, delivering ideal timing and weather for the pinnacle of the MLS season, uninterrupted by FIFA international match windows. This change would also provide premier placement on the sports calendar, ensuring maximum attention and visibility for the league’s most important matches.
MLS reports that they conducted “extensive weather and logistics analyses to ensure a high-quality fan experience.” The final schedule footprint has yet to be determined, but the league intends to limit the number of home matches in northern markets during December and February. MLS believes that the majority of MLS matches will still be played within the same general timeframe as the existing schedule. MLS NEXT Pro has been a part of the discussions, but their owners still have to make a decision.
General disclaimer: Additional details regarding the 2027 transition season, 2027–28 regular season, and new competition formats will be announced at a later date.
Apple microphone | Credit: Thad Bell
Apple TV Changes
Another announcement from Major League Soccer today included Apple TV and the league’s broadcast. Beginning in 2026, all MLS matches will be available to stream for Apple TV subscribers at no additional cost. There will be no paywall between MLS and other Apple TV content.
“Our partnership with Apple has always been about innovating for our fans,” said Don Garber via press release. “Bringing every MLS match to Apple TV takes that vision to the next level by making it easier than ever for fans everywhere to watch, connect, and be part of the game.”
This will give fans tuning into Apple TV for Ted Lasso or other content, the chance to come across an MLS game and watch. This will include every regular-season match, the annual Leagues Cup tournament, the MLS All-Star Game, the Michelob Ultra Campeones Cup, the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and more. Season Ticket Members will receive an Apple subscription that will include exclusive Apple Original shows and movies, weekly MLB games with Friday Night Baseball, and all Formula 1® races starting
in 2026 for U.S. viewers.
“We’re thrilled to bring MLS to more fans around the world next season on Apple TV,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. “Every match, all in one place, alongside incredible Apple Originals — it’s a win for fans everywhere.”
Let us know your thoughts on these and potential changes.
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The schedule changes are horrible. 2026 will be my last year as an STM. I will go to games, I just won’t pay for everyone of them.
it is a complete middle finger to the fans in the stands. if our owners voted for this, they are more tone deaf than we thought. I take that back they hired Gavin.
This was largely led by the sporting directors convincing the owners they could get better players if they did this. This vote was put off multiple times because Garber didn’t think he had enough owners but the sporting directors have been more vocal lately (probably Garber finding a way to put some pressure on them to convince owners)
We Couldn’t sell out CMP for Messi in February? He is the M in MLS apparently, why would any other “better player” make a difference
This was led by the sporting directors convincing the owners that they could get better players through this. Garber had put off this vote several times because he didn’t feel they had enough but the sporting directors have been louder and speaking out more, probably pressured by Garber to convince the owners.
I guess MLS want to be the league that plays with an orange ball now?
I honestly don’t mind this myself, but they should have done it for next year. It makes way more sense to have a shortened season with the World Cup here and then start up the new format. Whoever wins the 2027 MLS Cup won’t even feel like they’ve done anything special.
I can dress for the winter. But if I dress for the summer I get arrested. I hate summer matches.
I say a version of this all the time. I can always add layers. But it’s only socially acceptable to take off a certain amount of clothes.
Might be good for player transfers, but will it matter if the fans don’t come to watch because there’s an ice storm or a snow storm or it’s too cold. Southern cities are probably excited for this change but more northern cities should be appalled.
This. Wasn’t Minnesota playing in deep snow in their first year? Colorado and Minnesota especially will have logistic problems. They don’t know about the howling wind of Kansas. Even CMP will be colder than arrowhead.
They started in February last year. So I don’t know how different this actually is, I guess we will see when they release the schedule. Maybe they have been planning this for a while and that is why the season seems to start one week earlier every year for the last several years.
The Apple TV change is great for me. I sure miss the 38 the spot days when it was just free and available like it is for the Current or the Chiefs, but at least for me I already have Apple.
Oh yeah, and short term this is great for any team currently needing a rebuild, AKA us.
I’m not sure the weather debate is THAT big of a deal. Sure we’ll have slightly colder games rather than the 105 degree June games. People go shirtless at Camarohead all the time in freezing weather. But looking at 2025 the regular season started February 22. Last regular season game was mid October. The playoffs run from October 22-December 6.
We’re talking about taking a break during part of or all of December/january/part of February. It’s going to miss the worst part of winter. We’ll still get weird stuff here and there (it snowed in KC in April or may 2013). But this doesn’t substantively change things for the worse.
It WILL make it easier to buy and sell players.
I 100% agree. The mid-winter break feels weird, but that will ensure that the new season actually isn’t that much different from what we currently have.
“105 degree June games”…but June is usually one of the nicer months around here. I’d much prefer a late July into early August summer break but I suppose it isn’t about weather.
All I know is that I’d rather bundle up against the cold than sweat my tuchus off in the sweltering heat.
Now my scarfs will be useful.
Hey, it snowed at CMP in March THIS year! I was at that game.