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 conference opponents.
The season opens with Inter Miami hosting FC Cincinnati on February 19, and concludes on Decision Day, May 8, with a Hudson River Derby between New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls. That match will mark the final MLS game at Yankee Stadium, as NYCFC prepares to move to a new stadium in Queens.
The top eight teams from each conference will qualify for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, which will adopt a single-elimination format. The playoff schedule is yet to be announced. The sprint season will also determine five Concacaf Champions Cup berths and 18 Leagues Cup qualifiers (nine per conference).
The league will showcase established stars such as Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Müller, and Evander alongside emerging talents including Cavan Sullivan, Julian Hall, Adri Mehmeti, and Peyton Miller. MLS will continue its Walmart Saturday Showdown and Sunday Night Soccer broadcasts to highlight marquee matchups.
The calendar shift aims to align MLS with global transfer windows, reducing pressure to sell players midseason and allowing clubs to acquire talent during the summer window. The league will also pause for international breaks, improving match quality. While harsh winters pose geographic challenges, MLS already contends with summer heat and thunderstorms across varied climates.
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.
