Major League Soccer is moving into a new phase.
The league will start its 31st season in 2026 and will introduce significant changes in 2027.
MLS aims to shift its schedule from February-December to August-May. This change will align MLS with other major soccer leagues worldwide and position the MLS Cup Playoffs during a less busy sports season.
Additionally, MLS plans to update its competition structure. Currently, the league is divided into two conferences, each with 15 teams. By 2027, it expects to reorganize into five divisions of six teams each. Teams will compete against their divisional opponents twice a season and face non-divisional teams once.
Tom Bogert and Paul Tenorio of The Athletic reported on MLS’s first steps toward this new divisional model. The league will prioritize geographic locations over historical rivalries, splitting into regions: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and Northwest.
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