MLS owners to Vote on major League Changes
PALM BEACH, Fla. – MLS owners are expected to vote Thursday on two major changes to how the league operates.
Unless there are last-minute problems or disagreements with the MLS Players Association, the board of governors plans to officially switch to a fall-spring calendar, similar to many top European leagues. They will also likely vote on changes to the competition format. The proposal would move MLS to a single-table system – with five divisions – instead of using two conferences.
The board is meeting Thursday in Florida.
Owners have been working toward this decision since May, with many wanting the changes in place for 2026. However, no official vote has happened yet, raising the possibility that MLS might delay the vote again.
The league needs to decide soon if it wants to change the calendar for the 2027 season.Teams need time to plan sponsorships, deals, and inform season ticket holders.
The league is talking with the MLSPA about the change,which would affect players’ vacation time and preseason. The union must agree to any changes.
The plan is for the MLS regular season to run from mid-to-late July or August to april, with playoffs in May.The league would have a winter break in December and January, pausing games for several weeks. MLS wants to avoid starting the season on Super Bowl weekend.
There would also be a break in June and July.
“We believe that that alignment is something that makes sense,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said at the MLS All-Star Game this summer.
MLS commissioner Don Garber spoke about potential massive changes to the league’s structure this summer (Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
this change would impact the business in important ways. It would align MLS with the main transfer windows used around the world. Most global player transfers happen in the summer, which currently falls during the MLS season.
Switching to a fall-spring calendar would allow MLS to better use free transfers and maximize