2027 MLS Sprint Season Explained: What You Need to Know

Major League Soccer is changing its calendar. From February through May 2027, the switch will begin with the 2027 MLS Sprint Season – a one-time, shortened campaign bridging the gap to the league’s new permanent summer-to-spring schedule starting in July 2027.

Each of the league’s 30 clubs will play 14 regular-season matches before the single-elimination playoffs and MLS Cup.

Here’s how the new format works, when games take place and what comes next, plus where to find MLS tickets.

What Is the 2027 MLS Sprint Season?

The 2027 MLS Sprint Season is the official MLS 2027 season, played on a shorter timeline. The abbreviated schedule features a 14-match regular season, single-elimination playoffs and the MLS Cup title match. Serving as a one-time transitional season, the Sprint Season fills the window between the end of the 2026 MLS season in December and the start of the 2027-28 season in July 2027.

Stakes for the shortened season are the same as those of any other: Clubs compete for the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup, and results decide qualification for the 2028 Concacaf Champions Cup and the 2028 Leagues Cup.

Why Is MLS Having a Sprint Season in 2027?

Major League Soccer is having a Sprint Season in 2027 because the league is switching to a summer-to-spring calendar, starting with the 2027-28 MLS season in July 2027. With the 2026 season ending in December, the Sprint Season runs February through May 2027 and launches the transition to the new schedule.

Since its inaugural 1996 season, MLS has featured a spring-to-fall schedule. In November 2025, league owners voted to make the switch in a decision MLS dubbed “one of the most significant developments in the league’s history.”

Once the MLS calendar change takes effect, the regular season starts in July and ends with the MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup in May. A winter break pauses play from mid-December until February, with no matches in January. The regular-season format stays the same, with 34 total matches.

In outlining the benefits of the MLS schedule change, the league says the new calendar will:

• Align with the FIFA international match calendar
• Reduce conflicts between MLS matches and national team call-ups
• Elevate the playoffs
• Optimize the global transfer market for players
• Maximize player signings

How Will the 2027 MLS Sprint Season Work?

Under the Sprint Season format, all 30 clubs play 14 regular-season matches from February through April 2027. Every match is played against a conference opponent, and each club faces the other 14 teams in its conference once, with seven matches at home and seven on the road. Clubs from opposite conferences can only meet in the MLS Cup.

Compared with a standard 34-match MLS season, each club plays 20 fewer regular-season matches, so every result carries more weight in the standings.

Once MLS releases the full Sprint Season schedule, check for MLS tickets to home and away matchups via Ticketmaster.

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How Will the 2027 MLS Sprint Season Playoffs Work?

The 2027 MLS Sprint Season playoffs use a single-elimination bracket in each conference, with the top eight clubs from the East and West qualifying for a 16-club field. The two conference champions then meet in the MLS Cup in May.

Every 2027 MLS Cup Playoffs match, including the MLS Cup, is hosted by the club with the higher rank in the final 2027 Supporters’ Shield standings.

Since 2023, the MLS Cup Playoffs have included nine clubs per conference, a Wild Card round and a best-of-three Round One series. In the Sprint Season, every playoff round is single-loss elimination, so a club needs four straight wins, three in its conference bracket and one in the MLS Cup, to lift the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy.

2027 MLS Sprint Season FAQs

When Does the 2027 MLS Sprint Season Start and End?

The 2027 MLS Sprint Season starts in February and ends with MLS Cup in May 2027. Regular-season play runs February through April, followed by the MLS Cup Playoffs in May. Check back for exact dates, including opening weekend and MLS Cup, when MLS releases the full Sprint Season schedule.

How Many Games Will Each MLS Team Play?

Each MLS team plays 14 regular-season games during the 2027 Sprint Season, split between seven at home and seven away. Clubs that qualify for the postseason can play up to four more matches, so the two MLS Cup finalists finish with 18 matches total.

When Will the 2027 MLS Sprint Season Schedule Be Released?

As of October 2026, MLS hasn’t announced a release date for the 2027 Sprint Season schedule. The league stated it will unveil the full schedule, including each club’s home and away matchups, at a later date.

How Do I Buy 2027 MLS Sprint Season Tickets?

Ticketmaster is the Official Ticket Marketplace of MLS. Once Sprint Season tickets go on sale, find MLS tickets via Ticketmaster. When you buy tickets at Ticketmaster, you can trust that the seat you buy is the same seat you’ll be in for the match.

Season ticketholders should check with their club for Sprint Season details, since plans vary by team. For more on buying, selling and accessing tickets, see our MLS frequently asked questions.

Does the Sprint Season Have an MLS Cup Champion?

Yes. The 2027 MLS Sprint Season crowns an official MLS Cup champion in May 2027, decided in a single match between the Eastern and Western Conference champions. Along with the MLS Cup, the Sprint Season awards the 2027 Supporters’ Shield to the club with the most regular-season points across all 30 teams.

Does the Sprint Season Affect Other Competitions?

Yes. The results of the 2027 MLS Sprint Season decide which MLS clubs qualify for the 2028 Concacaf Champions Cup and 2028 Leagues Cup. For the Concacaf Champions Cup, five MLS clubs earn berths through the Sprint Season, including the MLS Cup winner and the Supporters’ Shield winner. Leagues Cup takes the top nine clubs from each conference, making 18 in total.

MLS clubs will also play in the 2028 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, with the format to be announced by U.S. Soccer. All three Canadian MLS clubs will compete in the 2028 Canadian Championship.

What Happens After the MLS Sprint Season?

After the Sprint Season ends in May 2027, the 2027-28 MLS season begins in July 2027 as the first on the league’s new summer-to-spring calendar. The 2027-28 season maintains the 34-match regular-season format, pauses for a winter break from mid-December 2027 to early February 2028, and ends with MLS Cup in May 2028. MLS is reviewing the playoff format for the 2027-28 season.