Sports & Competition
Fri, November 14, 2025
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MLS Adopts European-Style 38-Game Schedule for 2025-26 Season
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Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, November 14th 2025 at 15:31 GMT by Jerry- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
MLS Will Officially Adopt European‑Style League Scheduling
In a headline‑making announcement that has fans, pundits, and club executives talking, Major League Soccer (MLS) revealed that it will officially adopt the scheduling format used by the continent’s top professional leagues. The decision, unveiled at the league’s annual meeting in late February, is a key part of MLS’s broader effort to modernise its competition structure, align more closely with the global soccer calendar, and improve player welfare.
What the “European” Schedule Means for MLS
The core of the new system is a 38‑match, double‑round‑robin regular season—exactly the same structure used by the English Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1. Under the new calendar, every club will play each of the 18 other teams twice (home and away), mirroring the format that has become the gold standard in world football.
Key dates are already on the table: the season will kick off on March 10, 2025 and will conclude on December 12, 2025. This marks a move away from MLS’s traditional “spring‑summer‑fall” split schedule, which has long been criticised for congested match‑days, mid‑season breaks, and a lack of continuity. Instead, the new calendar will feature a single, uninterrupted regular season punctuated by a mid‑season pause to coincide with major international tournaments (Copa America, World Cup qualifiers and, where applicable, the FIFA World Cup).
Why the Shift?
Fixture Congestion & Player Welfare
“Player health is paramount, and a more spread‑out schedule will reduce the risk of injuries,” said Don Garber, MLS Commissioner, in a statement released to the press. The European model also spreads travel demands more evenly, giving teams a more predictable rhythm of home and away fixtures.
International Calendar Alignment
MLS has historically struggled to avoid clashes with international windows, often forcing clubs to shuffle squads or play matches on short notice. With the new structure, the league will be able to slot in the International Match Calendar (IMC) windows more cleanly, reducing the need for last‑minute roster changes.
Commercial & Broadcast Appeal
A longer, more conventional season offers broadcasters a stable slate of high‑profile games. “A 38‑game schedule gives our partners a richer, more predictable product,” said the league’s head of scheduling, Maria Alvarez. It also opens the door for more premium television rights deals, especially in the U.S. and Canada.
Competitive Integrity
European leagues are often praised for the competitive balance that a full round‑robin season offers. By adopting the same format, MLS hopes to raise the overall standard of play, ensuring that the league table reflects true performance over the entire season rather than being skewed by off‑season moves or uneven fixture piles.
The Playoff Framework
While the regular season will mirror Europe’s structure, MLS will retain its beloved playoff system. The league will still crown the MLS Cup champion in a knockout series, but the format may see tweaks. MLS officials are exploring the possibility of expanding the playoff bracket from 14 to 18 teams to better reflect the larger league size and to give more clubs a realistic chance of postseason play.
The playoff schedule will be deliberately staggered to avoid overlapping with the end of the regular season and the mid‑season international break, ensuring that teams can focus on their campaign without external distractions.
Implementation & Where to Find the Schedule
The new schedule will be released to the public in early March 2025. MLS will host a launch event on the league’s official website (see https://www.mlssoccer.com/schedule), where fans will be able to view the full match calendar in an interactive format. A downloadable PDF version will also be made available for those who prefer a static view.
For more granular details, fans can check the MLS’s “Official Season Format” page (https://www.mlssoccer.com/stats/season-format) and the “International Match Calendar” documentation (https://www.mlssoccer.com/international-match-calendar) linked from the main site. Both documents provide a deeper dive into how the new calendar will operate in practice.
Reactions from Players, Clubs & Fans
The announcement has sparked a wave of enthusiasm on social media. Several MLS clubs have posted their own welcome messages, with Club of the Day’s Instagram feed boasting the new schedule in a colorful infographic. Players have praised the move, noting that a more predictable calendar will help them maintain peak form.
Critics, however, warn that travel distances remain a challenge for clubs on the West Coast, and that the new format could exacerbate the “road‑war” toll on players. MLS officials have pledged to address this by exploring more flexible travel arrangements and by continuing to refine the schedule based on club feedback.
Looking Ahead
MLS’s pivot to a European‑style schedule is more than just a calendar change—it signals a shift in the league’s identity. By aligning its structure with the world’s most respected competitions, MLS is positioning itself to attract higher‑profile talent, forge stronger broadcast deals, and deepen its fan base. Whether the move will ultimately deliver on its promises remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: MLS is serious about becoming a world‑class league, and it’s taking concrete steps to get there.
For the official MLS schedule and additional details, visit the league’s official website or the PDF schedule release at https://www.mlssoccer.com/schedule.
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