MLS Introduces 'Sprint Season' to Bridge Old and New Formats
The 2027 MLS 'Sprint Season' is a condensed version of the regular season that will take place before the league switches to its summer-spring format. The 14-game regular season will begin in February 2027, with each team playing intra-conference opponents. The Eastern Conference teams will face each other, while the Western Conference teams will play among themselves. Each team will have seven home matches and seven away matches against their conference opponents.
The regular season will be followed by a single-elimination postseason bracket, where the top-ranked team will face the eighth-best team, the second-placed team will face the seventh-best, and so on. This format is a departure from the regular MLS Cup Playoffs, which feature a Best-of-Three Series.
The 'Sprint Season' is designed to bridge the gap between the current spring-autumn format and the new summer-spring format. The season will conclude in April 2027, allowing the league to transition smoothly into the new format.
The introduction of the 'Sprint Season' is a bold move by MLS, and it will undoubtedly add an extra layer of excitement to the league. With a condensed regular season and a single-elimination postseason, every match will matter more than ever. The 'Sprint Season' will be a true test of endurance and skill for the teams, and it will be fascinating to see how they adapt to this new format.
