# What to Know About the 2027 MLS Sprint Season
Major League Soccer has announced the schedule structure for its 2027 Sprint Season, a condensed competition designed to help the league transition to a European-style calendar. Each club will play 14 regular-season matches from February through May before the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs determine the champion.
The sprint season begins on February 19, 2027, with Inter Miami facing FC Cincinnati. The regular season concludes on May 8, known as Decision Day, when New York City FC meets the New York Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby.
## 2027 MLS Sprint Season Schedule
Every team will play its 14 conference opponents once during the regular season. Clubs will have seven home games and seven away games, keeping the schedule balanced despite the shorter campaign.
MLS plans to feature a marquee matchup each week, alongside the return of the Walmart Saturday Showdown and Sunday Night Soccer. The league says the broadcasts will spotlight established international stars and emerging young players.
The May 8 Hudson River Derby could also mark the final MLS game at Yankee Stadium. NYCFC has played there since joining the league in 2015 and is set to open a new stadium in Queens.
## How the 2027 MLS Playoffs Will Work
The top eight teams in each conference will qualify for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Unlike the current format, the sprint-season playoffs will use single-elimination matches in every round.
MLS has not yet announced the playoff schedule. The format is a shift from the existing structure, which includes a wild-card match for some teams and best-of-three series in the first round.
The playoffs will crown one MLS Cup champion and help determine the league’s five berths in the Concacaf Champions Cup. A total of 18 teams—nine from each conference—will also qualify for the Leagues Cup.
## Why MLS Is Changing Its Calendar
The 2027 MLS Sprint Season is a bridge to a schedule that more closely aligns with European leagues. Starting the main season in the summer is expected to bring MLS closer to the global transfer market, which could make it easier for clubs to sign players and manage transfers.
A calendar change may also reduce pressure on MLS teams to sell key players during the middle of their season. The league expects the new schedule to include breaks for international matches, reducing the need for clubs to play without players called up to their national teams.
The shift brings challenges, including the potential for harsh winter conditions in some markets. MLS already manages weather risks such as summer heat and thunderstorms across its varied climates.
## 2027 MLS Sprint Season at a Glance
– **Regular-season start:** February 19, 2027
– **Decision Day:** May 8, 2027
– **Regular-season games per team:** 14
– **Home and away games per team:** Seven each
– **Playoff format:** Single elimination in every round
– **Playoff qualifiers:** Top eight teams from each conference
– **Concacaf Champions Cup berths:** Five
– **Leagues Cup qualifiers:** 18 teams, with nine from each conference
## When the Next MLS Season Begins
After the sprint season and its playoffs conclude, the 2027-28 MLS season is scheduled to begin in July 2027. That season is expected to run through the spring, with the MLS Cup Playoffs concluding by May 2028.
The condensed 2027 competition will give MLS a chance to test a shorter schedule and a different playoff format before the league moves into its new calendar.