MLS NEXT Pro Unveils 2027 Calendar Overhaul
Major League Soccer’s developmental arm MLS NEXT Pro is set to rewrite its competition calendar for the 2027 season, aligning its schedule with global soccer leagues and the parent MLS.
The centerpiece will be a Sprint Season launching in February 2027, featuring a 14‑match regular season that culminates in playoffs and the MLS NEXT Pro Cup in late May.
Following that, the league will shift to a Summer‑to‑Spring format for the 2027‑28 campaign, beginning in July 2027, taking a winter break, and wrapping up with the Cup in June 2028.
A Unified Pathway for Talent
From 2027‑28 onward, all three tiers of the MLS player pathway — MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT — will share the same calendar, creating a seamless pipeline that accelerates player development and movement.
Since its inception in March 2022, the league has already loaned more than 1,000 MLS players, helped 270 earn first‑team contracts and hosted over 1,300 Academy prospects in its matches.
The fifth season now boasts 30 clubs, with 27 operating as MLS affiliates and three independent teams — Carolina Core FC, Chattanooga FC and Connecticut United FC — while future expansions will include Forest City Cleveland, Jacksonville Armada FC, AC Grand Rapids and The Island FC.
Strategic Partnerships and Future Outlook
Strategic partnerships are also shaping the future, most recently a collaboration with KKR, and the timing dovetails with the excitement generated by the FIFA World Cup, positioning the league for continued growth across the United States and Canada.