Players from Major League Soccer (MLS) have shown their support for the board of governors’ decision to align with the international calendar by transitioning to a summer-to-spring season starting in 2027.
The current MLS regular season runs from February to October, with playoffs taking place in November and December.
“This move helps globalize the league,” said New England Revolution and U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Matt Turner in an interview with ESPN. “Transfer windows will align, meaning teams can conduct business simultaneously, and contracts will start and end around the same time.”
“Right now, if I sign a contract ending on July 31st, it’s during the MLS midseason. Signing a European contract in January is tricky because teams may not be searching, and the budget is different in the summer,” he added. “I think player movement will become much more fluid with this change.”
“I signed with Arsenal in January but didn’t join until June, completing a six-month season before entering preseason. It was challenging and left me with no break. This past offseason with the Revolution was my first true breather in five years,” he explained.
The new calendar structure will see the MLS regular season begin in mid-July and conclude in spring, culminating with Decision Day in April and playoffs in May. A winter break will be integrated to prioritize player recovery, pausing the season from mid-December to early or mid-February.
Chicago Fire player Philip Zinckernagel emphasized that this shift could positively affect player fitness and mindset, indicating that the new calendar is an improvement for athletes.
“Transitioning to this new calendar works better for me due to a shorter summer break and a winter break. It’s not as long as the previous two-month break,” Zinckernagel said to ESPN. “Fitness is manageable, but it can get dull. I’ve lived my whole life in Europe, where you don’t experience those lengthy off periods followed by extensive preseason training. For MLS to elevate to one of the top leagues globally, this change was necessary.”
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The shift to a summer-to-spring calendar will also synchronize MLS with international transfer windows. Currently, the MLS primary transfer window spans from January 31 to April 23, while most global leagues conduct player transfers during a traditional summer window.
“This adjustment could facilitate overseas transfers for players and appeal to international talent considering a move to MLS. It’s a strategic decision that many support,” noted Vancouver Whitecaps player Sebastian Berhalter in his ESPN comments.
The league will maintain its February to December schedule throughout 2026, with the new calendar fully implemented by 2027, beginning with a shortened season from February to May, when the MLS Cup champion will be crowned prior to the official shift to the summer/spring format.