Key Takeaways:
- Major League Soccer will suspend play for seven weeks from May 25 to July 16 during the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- The 2026 MLS season opens on February 21 with Inter Miami facing Los Angeles FC, and the regular season concludes on November 7
- MLS teams will each play 34 matches, followed by playoffs beginning November 18 and culminating in the MLS Cup final
Season Structure and Scheduling
The Major League Soccer season for 2026 is set to launch on February 21, opening with a fixture between Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC. The regular season is scheduled to continue until November 7, with each club contesting a total of 34 matches – split evenly between home and away encounters. As in preceding years, the campaign will lead into a playoff phase, starting from November 18, before crowning the league champion in the MLS Cup final.
We like the look of 2026. 🔮📅
Next year’s MLS schedule is officially here: https://t.co/jr3EoixC0m pic.twitter.com/fjITDUfmhn
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 20, 2025
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Season Kick-Off | February 21 |
| Regular Season Ends | November 7 |
| Playoffs Begin | November 18 |
| World Cup Break | May 25 – July 16 |
Seven-Week Pause for the 2026 World Cup
With the United States, Canada, and Mexico jointly hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, MLS will suspend all matches from May 25 to July 16 to provide players the opportunity to feature for their countries. This extended hiatus marks a significant change from past seasons, where the league break for World Cup tournaments has typically been much shorter – lasting nine days in 2018 and two weeks in 2014.
“We will see a record number of MLS players in the World Cup squads, so the league season will be interrupted after the matches on May 24, before the mandatory squad announcement date for FIFA, and will resume after the World Cup ends,” the league said in an official statement.
The global tournament itself will commence on June 11, with the opening fixture scheduled to take place in Mexico City.
Context: Previous World Cup Pauses in MLS
MLS has adopted short pauses in prior World Cup seasons; however, the 2026 campaign will see its longest interruption yet, underlining the league’s growing contribution of international players and the unique circumstances of the tournament being co-hosted across North America. With a record number of players expected to feature for national squads, the schedule reflects the league’s adaptation to the demands of the global football calendar.
