MLS Changes Calendar to Align with European Season

CHESTER, Pa. — During a press conference, manager Mauricio Pochettino clearly expressed his enthusiasm for Major League Soccer’s decision to alter its calendar to match the traditional European schedule. This change, taking place just before the US Men’s National Team faces Paraguay in suburban Philadelphia, was termed “great” by Pochettino.

The decision, finalized this week, marks a significant shift from MLS’s traditional schedule, which has been closely aligned with Major League Baseball’s timeline—starting in late winter or early spring and concluding in late fall. In contrast, European leagues typically run from late August to May.

While this change won’t be implemented in time for the 2026 World Cup, it addresses longstanding issues associated with MLS’s unconventional calendar. The current setup complicates alignment with the European transfer window and international play, particularly as the ongoing international break overlaps with MLS playoffs, which can create challenges for the league.

To ease the transition, MLS plans a regular 2026 season, followed by a brief “transition season” in early 2027, ultimately adopting the new format for the 2027-28 season. Under this new approach, the league would start its season in July, take a winter break from November to February, resume in March, and conclude in May.

Tim Ream, a center back who played for 13 years in England before returning to MLS with Charlotte FC in 2024, offered his thoughts on the calendar change, calling it “necessary.” He mentioned that it would facilitate better alignment of global transfers and acknowledged that some issues still need resolving. “I think it’s good for the league,” he added.

Ream also suggested that the USMNT enjoys a “boost” as they prepare for the 2024 Copa America, noting that, in some ways, feeling too secure isn’t necessarily beneficial. “It’s not that we’re better off because we’re nervous,” he explained. “But the players might have an edge.”

Pochettino emphasized the importance of managing the squad for the upcoming World Cup, preferring to bring only 26 players to camp in May and calling in replacements if necessary rather than initially selecting a larger group and trimming it down later. “It’s about being involved and returning home,” he noted, explaining the emotional toll that injuries and replacements can create.