MLS is about to play a season unlike any in its history. Before the league switches to a July-to-May calendar, it will stage a one-time, shortened Sprint Season from February to May 2027. Here is what fans of Inter Miami, NYCFC and every other club need to know.
The short version
- 14 regular-season matches per team, February through April 2027
- Conference-only schedule: each team plays every other team in its conference once
- 7 home, 7 away for every club
- 16-team, single-elimination playoffs in May, ending with MLS Cup
- Every match streams on Apple TV
Why MLS is playing a Sprint Season
MLS is moving from its traditional February-to-December season to a July-to-May calendar that lines up with most European leagues and international transfer windows. The 2026 season ends in December, and the first full new-calendar season (2027-28) starts in July 2027. The Sprint Season fills the gap from February to May 2027 so clubs and fans don’t go half a year without meaningful games.
How the schedule works
With 15 teams in each conference, every club faces its 14 conference rivals exactly once, seven at home and seven on the road. There are no cross-conference regular-season games, so Inter Miami and NYCFC, both in the Eastern Conference, will meet once.
That makes every match count more than usual. In a 34-game season, a bad month can be recovered. In a 14-game sprint, two or three dropped results can decide a playoff spot.
The playoffs
Sixteen teams qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, which are single elimination: win or go home, with no best-of-three series. The playoffs and MLS Cup are played in May 2027. MLS has not yet announced the exact date of MLS Cup.
What’s at stake beyond a trophy
The Sprint Season isn’t a throwaway. Results determine qualification for the 2028 Concacaf Champions Cup and the 2028 Leagues Cup, so clubs have real reasons to push.
Where Inter Miami and NYCFC play
- Inter Miami: seven home matches at Nu Stadium, the club’s new 26,700-seat stadium at Miami Freedom Park. See our Inter Miami guide.
- NYCFC: home matches at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field. Etihad Park, the club’s new stadium in Queens, doesn’t open until July 17, 2027, so these are NYCFC’s last games at its temporary homes. See our NYCFC guide.
Key dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| February 2027 | Sprint Season kicks off |
| February to April 2027 | 14-match regular season |
| May 2027 | MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup |
| Mid-to-late July 2027 | 2027-28 season begins on the new calendar |
We’ll update this page when MLS releases the full Sprint Season schedule and the MLS Cup date.
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