MLS Announces Schedule Adjustments for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Major League Soccer (MLS) is set to take a seven-week hiatus next summer to facilitate the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

This announcement was made on Thursday as MLS unveiled its 2026 calendar. The season is scheduled to kick off with a match between Inter Miami and LAFC at the LA Coliseum on February 21, with the regular season concluding on November 7.

Notably, the calendar reveals that Inter Miami will open their new stadium, Miami Freedom Park, on April 4, hosting Austin FC in the inaugural match. Currently, Inter Miami plays at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

To accommodate the World Cup, the league will suspend play from May 25 through July 16, allowing players to report to their national teams. In previous tournaments, MLS has implemented shorter breaks, including a nine-day pause during the 2018 World Cup and a two-week break in 2014.

The World Cup is set to commence on June 11 with the opening match taking place in Mexico City. The league stated, “With a record number of MLS players expected on World Cup rosters, MLS will pause league play after matches on May 24, ahead of the FIFA mandatory player report date on May 25, and resume at the conclusion of the international tournament.”

The regular season will resume on July 16, just three days prior to the World Cup final, allowing some teams to engage in rivalry matches.

Inter Miami and LAFC will initiate the season, with all other clubs participating in matches starting on Sunday, February 22. Each team will compete in a total of 34 matches, with 17 played at home and 17 on the road. Teams will continue the tradition of facing conference opponents twice a year, alongside six cross-conference games.

The regular season will culminate on November 7, designated as Decision Day, before the playoffs commence on November 18, following the FIFA international window to ensure a smooth postseason experience.

Following Decision Day 2026 on November 7, the league will observe the November FIFA window before entering a month of uninterrupted Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs, culminating in the championship match, the 2026 MLS Cup.

Further details regarding the complete postseason schedule will be disclosed at a later date.