The MLS is exploring how it can adopt a fall-spring European calendar. Unlike its European counterparts, Major League Soccer kicks off in February every year and ends its final match in early December.
The original scheduling made sense, given that some areas of the United States face consistent heavy snowfalls during winter. Who can forget the USMNT’s epic frostbite matchup against Honduras in -16 degrees temperature during a 2022 World Cup qualifier in Minnesota? Or the ‘Snow Clasico’ against Costa Rica in March 2013 when Klinsmann’s men nicked out a World Cup qualifying victory under heavy snowfall in Colorado? And don’t pass on the Canadian teams.
MLS commissioner dismissed the idea of shifting to a European calendar back in 2014, saying, “From a weather perspective I think it is almost impossible with the number of teams that we have and the weather that we have in the United States and Canada to make the kind of change that would be a full alignment.”
Garber stuck to his thesis when asked the same question in 2021. “We continue to have to manage the largest geographic region for any league in the world, and the most weather changes and time changes of any league in the world,” he added.
Why is the MLS considering changing its schedule?
Despite the weather situation stateside, Garber seems to be reconsidering the proposal. What’s at stake? The transfer window and increased commercial opportunity.
MLS executives see opportunities in syncing up with the top European clubs in the winter and summer transfer periods. Overhauling the calendar has other benefits, too.
Right now, the MLS Cup competes for eyeballs against the MLB playoffs amongst other American professional sports juggernauts: the NFL, NBA, college sports, and the NHL.
“The playoffs are the most valuable piece of real estate in a league season, and playoffs that would be spring or summer suggests a different dynamic,” said MLS executive vice president of sporting products, Nelson Rodriguez.
“It starts with (the fact that the) weather is closer to optimal for all 30 clubs, your stadium conflicts are a little bit less, competition with other North American sports is different and you’re more aligned with at least the European rhythm of football. So, those are factors. They also come with their own sets of tradeoffs.”
Therefore, the MLS tournaments, including the League Cup, US Open Cup, and Canadian Championship, which are typically summer events, would be moved.
Given the forthcoming World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted in the United States, the timing of the change makes a lot of commercial sense. Bundled-up Minnesota United, Chicago, Colorado, Toronto, and Montreal fans, however, might have a different take.
