MLS Continues Play During International Breaks Due to Unique Calendar

The Major League Soccer (MLS) continues to play its matches even during international breaks when national teams, including those with MLS players like Lionel Messi and Israeli internationals Dor Turgeman, are competing. This is due to the league's unique calendar, which runs from early in the calendar year to its end, unlike most major European leagues that follow a fall-to-spring schedule.

Consequently, September's international break falls in the middle of the MLS season. Teams often play without key players called up for national duty, while the league standings battle continues. This season, a significant number of MLS players have been called up, making the situation particularly noticeable.

However, this scheduling anomaly is set to change. Starting in the summer of 2027, the MLS will adopt a spring-to-fall calendar, aligning it with most major global leagues. The new season will commence in July 2027 and conclude in May 2028, with a winter break incorporated.

The primary goal of this transition is to synchronize with FIFA's international match calendar, minimizing conflicts between league games and national team call-ups. This will allow international breaks to integrate more naturally into the season, preventing teams from having to play without their star players.

Before the full transition, a short transitional "sprint season" will take place in early 2027, featuring 14 regular-season games per team from February to May, followed by playoffs. The first full season under the new structure, 2027/28, will begin in July 2027, marking the MLS's departure from its long-standing, distinct calendar.