MLS Unveils 2027 Sprint Season: 14 Games and a New Playoff Format

Major League Soccer has announced its 2027 Sprint Season schedule, setting a 14-match regular season before the league moves to a summer-to-spring calendar. The abbreviated competition opens February 19–21 and reaches Decision Day on May 8.

The opening game sends FC Cincinnati to Inter Miami’s Nu Stadium on Friday, February 19, at 8 p.m. EST. MLS announced the schedule October 29. Its first weekend also includes Nashville hosting New York City FC and a Southern California meeting between San Diego and LAFC.

Each club will face its 14 conference opponents once, playing seven games at home and seven away. There are no interconference regular-season games in this competition. The limited schedule therefore gives teams one meeting with each conference rival before postseason qualification is decided.

The top eight clubs in each conference will qualify for the playoffs. Both conference brackets use single-elimination matches, with their winners advancing to MLS Cup on Memorial Day weekend. The postseason schedule has not yet been announced.

Inter Miami’s official competition guide says playoff matches, including the championship, will be hosted by the team holding the higher position in the final Supporters’ Shield standings. It also confirms that the Sprint Season produces a full MLS Cup champion and an earned championship star.

The results carry international consequences. The season will determine MLS qualification places for the 2028 Concacaf Champions Cup, while the top nine clubs in each conference will qualify for the 2028 Leagues Cup, according to Miami’s guide.

Every Sprint Season match will be available through an Apple TV subscription. The regular-season finale has Eastern Conference games scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT and Western Conference games at 8 p.m. EDT on May 8.

The league’s July-to-May calendar begins in July 2027, following the one-time Sprint Season that connects the existing structure to that change.