Major League Soccer (MLS) has officially revealed its 2026 regular season schedule, which is set to begin on February 21 and conclude on November 7. The schedule is highlighted by a seven-week break to accommodate the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in North America.
The season will kick off with all 30 teams in action on February 21. A notable opening match will feature LAFC against Inter Miami at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which has a seating capacity of 77,500. Inter Miami will later debut at their new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, on April 4 against Austin FC. The new stadium will have a capacity of 25,000 seats.
As the World Cup approaches, MLS will pause its season after the matches on May 24, a day before FIFA's mandatory player reporting date. The break will last nearly two months, with the league set to resume play on July 16 and 17. The resumption of the league will occur just days before the World Cup final, which is scheduled for July 19. The decision to resume the season before the World Cup final is a strategic move to capitalize on the heightened soccer buzz in North America. Six rivalry matches are scheduled for July 16 and 17.
The 2026 season marks the last full season under the current February-to-November calendar. A shortened season is planned for 2027, followed by a shift to a summer-to-spring calendar for the 2027-28 campaign, aligning MLS with other global leagues. The World Cup break is seen as a test run for the new calendar, conditioning fans for the scheduling changes in 2027.
Several teams face unique scheduling challenges due to the World Cup. Toronto FC, for example, will open its season on the road for three games, followed by nine consecutive home games at BMO Field. BMO Field will host six World Cup games, starting with Canada's opening match on June 12. The stadium will undergo renovations, including the installation of 17,000 temporary seats, which will be available for select games before being removed after the World Cup.
The MLS All-Star Game is scheduled to be held on July 29 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, following the league's resumption. The league hopes to leverage the World Cup to expand its fan base, particularly with the increased participation of MLS players in the tournament. In 2022, 36 MLS players participated in the World Cup in Qatar, and an even greater number is expected in 2026 due to the expansion of the competition to 48 teams.
