Transitional Sprint Season to be Followed by First Summer-to-Spring Season
MLS NEXT Pro announced today its plans to shift the league's competition calendar in 2027. To align with top global soccer leagues and Major League Soccer, MLS NEXT Pro will begin with a Sprint Season in February 2027, followed by the first full Summer-to-Spring Season in 2027-28.
2027 Sprint Season (February 2027-May 2027)
As a transition from the current calendar to the new Summer-to-Spring calendar, MLS NEXT Pro will feature an initial Sprint Season, which will carry the weight of a traditional season. Every club, including St Louis CITY2, will play 14 regular season matches, running mid-February through late April, followed by four rounds of Playoffs and concluding with MLS NEXT Pro Cup in late May.
2027-28 Summer-to-Spring Season (July 2027-June 2028)
The shift to the Summer-to-Spring Season will begin with the 2027-28 season, kicking off in July 2027 and ending with MLS NEXT Pro Cup in June 2028, including a winter break.
The regular season will consist of 28 matches per club, with the first half taking place from mid-July through mid-December. A winter break will be followed by the second half of the season, from early February through early May. The ensuing Playoffs will culminate with MLS NEXT Pro Cup in early June. Â
"This is a pivotal chapter for MLS NEXT Pro and the sport of soccer in our country," said Eddie Pope, SVP, Competition & Operations, MLS NEXT Pro and SVP, MLS Sporting Development. "With our strategic partnership with KKR announced earlier this year, the tremendous momentum surrounding the FIFA World Cup this summer, and the transition to a new competition calendar in 2027, we are very excited about the next phase of growth for our league.”
