MLS Next Pro Announces Sprint Schedule

Philip Farrell
13 hours ago
2 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

Major League Soccer (MLS) Next Pro today announced the launch of a specialized Sprint Season for Spring 2027. The change comes as part of MLS's anticipated switch to a Summer-to-Spring format which they feel aligns with global standards.

MLS Next Pro will kick off with a specialized Sprint Season in February 2027, leading into the inaugural full Summer-to-Spring campaign for 2027-28. This initial Sprint will feature 14 regular matches (7 home, 7 away) for each club, played from mid-February through late-April. This will be followed by a four-round playoff bracket that ends with the MLS Next Pro Cup in late May.

The shift to the Summer-to-Spring Season will begin in July 2027 and will form a 2027-28 season, similar to high-level leagues in Europe and elsewhere. The regular season format will consist of 28 matches per club, with the first half taking place from mid-July through mid-December. There will be a winter break from mid-December to early-Feburary, before the second half of the season, from early-February through early-May. The 2027-28 campaign will conclude with the MLS NEXT Pro Cup in early June 2028.

"This is a pivotal chapter for MLS NEXT Pro and the sport of soccer in our country," said Eddie Pope, SVP, Competition & Operations, MLS NEXT Pro and SVP, MLS Sporting Development. "With our strategic partnership with KKR announced earlier this year, the tremendous momentum surrounding the FIFA World Cup this summer, and the transition to a new competition calendar in 2027, we are very excited about the next phase of growth for our league.”