This week, MLS made the announcement that its owners have voted on and approved a plan to switch to their schedule to match the European calendar in 2027.
The transfer window aligment is probably the most compeling reason for this shift. MLS has been buying high and seling low for years, which makes it hard to build sustaniable rosters. The USL angle is realy interesting tho. Having summer soccer when MLS is dark could be huge for them, especially in those northern markets you mentiond.
Former MLS fan, new USL fan. That's my vote. These changes were made for foreign streamers, not domestic fans, and the Apple execs are very upfront about that.
I used to support a team in each conference -- I liked conferences better than having a single table with imbalanced schedules -- but both of them are above the Mason-Dixon line. I used to travel in June to see games, but I'm not doing that in December. I also have longstanding commitments to NBA and NHL playoffs in late-Spring. Sorry, but I'm not choosing Pec over Luka, Oluwaseyi over Ant, or Vasquez over Wemby. And in Toronto I doubt they'll choose whatever disaffected Italians are still on the team over the Maple Leafs.
MLS is in the middle of playoffs right now - the conference semi-finals are actually tonight (11/24/2025).
USL just had their final this past Saturday, where the Pittsburgh Riverhounds beat FC Tulsa. The new season will start the end of February/beginning of March, but the official schedule hasn't been released yet!
The transfer window aligment is probably the most compeling reason for this shift. MLS has been buying high and seling low for years, which makes it hard to build sustaniable rosters. The USL angle is realy interesting tho. Having summer soccer when MLS is dark could be huge for them, especially in those northern markets you mentiond.
Former MLS fan, new USL fan. That's my vote. These changes were made for foreign streamers, not domestic fans, and the Apple execs are very upfront about that.
I used to support a team in each conference -- I liked conferences better than having a single table with imbalanced schedules -- but both of them are above the Mason-Dixon line. I used to travel in June to see games, but I'm not doing that in December. I also have longstanding commitments to NBA and NHL playoffs in late-Spring. Sorry, but I'm not choosing Pec over Luka, Oluwaseyi over Ant, or Vasquez over Wemby. And in Toronto I doubt they'll choose whatever disaffected Italians are still on the team over the Maple Leafs.
MLS is in the middle of playoffs right now - the conference semi-finals are actually tonight (11/24/2025).
USL just had their final this past Saturday, where the Pittsburgh Riverhounds beat FC Tulsa. The new season will start the end of February/beginning of March, but the official schedule hasn't been released yet!