MLS reveals 2026 schedule: Lionel Messi, Miami opener at L.A. Coliseum headlines season overshadowed by World Cup hiatus

With the World Cup set to dominate the U.S. soccer landscape next summer, Major League Soccer on Thursday announced it will pause the regular season schedule more than seven weeks — an unprecedented stoppage that will push the championship game into mid-December.

The season will kick off Feb. 21 — the same weekend as this year — but come to a halt May 24, a day before FIFA’s mandatory release for World Cup-bound players. Play will resume July 16, three days before the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

MLS typically pauses the schedule up to two weeks for the World Cup. Next season, however, will require a longer break because of the attention drawn to a tournament taking place across North America; the number of MLS players expected to participate in the expanded event; and the five MLS stadiums slated to stage matches.

The regular season will conclude Nov. 7 — three weeks later than this year — and the playoffs will begin Nov. 18. Because of the late start to the playoffs, MLS will not need to work around the FIFA international window in November, allowing for an uninterrupted month of playoffs. The date of the final was not announced but is expected to take place Dec. 19 or 20 — two weeks later than this year.

The modifications come one week after the league announced that, starting in 2027, it will align its calendar with major European leagues and run from July until May. Among the reasons cited by MLS was scheduling conflicts with major international tournaments.

After the 2026 campaign and before the 2027-28 season, MLS will stage a mini-season February to May 2027, featuring 14 games per team, playoffs and MLS Cup.

Other 2026 MLS schedule highlights

Opening weekend will include Los Angeles FC hosting Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami at the 77,500-seat L.A. Memorial Coliseum, which is next door to LAFC’s home, BMO Stadium (22,000).

Miami’s away schedule also includes a March 7 visit to Baltimore, where it will play D.C. United at 70,745-seat M&T Bank Stadium. Seeking to maximize ticket revenue and strengthen its business an hour away in Maryland’s biggest city, United moved its lone home date against Miami from 20,000-capacity Audi Field. It also passed over the NFL stadium in its backyard, 64,000-seat Northwest Stadium.

Miami will not play the inaugural match at its new stadium, 25,000-seat Miami Freedom Park, until April 4 against Austin FC. That means Messi’s club will start the season with numerous away matches.

Teams will continue playing each conference opponent home and away, plus six inter-conference matches (three home, three away), for 34 total. League officials have discussed changing the regular season format, starting in 2027-28.

The All-Star Game in Charlotte will be held July 29.

In addition to Apple TV’s full-season coverage, Fox Sports will carry 34 games: 15 on the broadcast network and 19 on FS1.

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