Lionel Messi will still not play in the same time slot as the European “Big 5”, but his season will more closely resemble that of footballers from the Old Continent. On Thursday, the North American Football League (MLS) announced that it would modify its calendar from 2027 in order to align with that of the major European championships.
The MLS season currently runs from late February to early December, including the regular season and playoffs. From the 2027-2028 season, the competition will begin in July and crown its champion in May, the League said in a press release.
The new calendar, similar to that of the European championships, will also include a winter break from mid-December to early February. This change will harmonize the transfer markets of the MLS and other countries.
Transfer market and “visibility”
Before implementing this new schedule, MLS will organize a transition season from February to May 2027, with a 14-game regular season followed by the playoffs.
“This is a decisive moment,” said MLS boss Don Garber. “Aligning our calendar with that of the major world leagues will strengthen the international competitiveness of our clubs, create better opportunities on the transfer market and guarantee uninterrupted visibility for our playoffs,” he explained.
This is “one of the most important decisions in our history,” said the American leader. “It marks the start of a new era for our league and for football in North America. »
