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When Does the MLS Season Start and End?

by Gareth
MLS Season Start

Major League Soccer (MLS) is the premier professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, encompassing teams from all over North America. Since its establishment in 1996, MLS has garnered immense popularity and recognition, attracting some of the finest coaches and players worldwide. As a supporter of MLS, it’s crucial to stay informed about significant dates on the calendar, such as when the season commences and terminates.

MLS sports a unique playoff mechanism that sets it apart from other football leagues globally, with multiple scheduled breaks each year. This write-up will delve deeper into understanding when exactly MLS begins and concludes for every season while exploring various factors that may influence scheduling changes within the league. Whether you’re a die-hard enthusiast or enjoy watching casually, comprehending season schedules is vital to keep up with action-packed events throughout every match day.

MLS Season Schedule

The Major League Soccer season takes place annually, starting in late February or early March and concluding in late November or early December. Throughout the MLS season, teams face off against each other in a 34-game regular schedule, each playing an equal number of home and away games. Once the regular season concludes, top-performing teams from every conference get to compete for the coveted MLS Cup during playoffs. Many fans use a bet site to place wagers on their favourite teams and players throughout the season, making the games even more engaging.

While there’s some variation depending on factors such as weather conditions and stadium availability, generally speaking, the MLS regular season begins and ends as stated. For instance, for the 2023 season of MLS, the start date was February 25th, and it end on October 21st, whereas the 2022 season began on February 26th and ended on October 9th.

Playoffs and MLS Cup Schedule

After the regular season, seven teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs. The playoffs start in mid-November until early December, and the MLS Cup final occurs in late November or early December. Again, dates may vary due to scheduling and other circumstances.

Breaks in the MLS season

Unlike many soccer leagues worldwide, MLS has several breaks throughout the year. One of these is during summer when many players are selected for national teams in international tournaments. There might also be a brief pause to let players rest during mid-season.

The schedule accommodates various factors like weather conditions, player availability, and TV broadcasting schedules. Fans who know this schedule can stay up-to-date with their favorite team’s progress throughout the season.

Factors Affecting MLS Season Schedule

MLS Season Schedule

FIFA calendar and international breaks

As touched on above, the FIFA calendar, encompassing international competitions and qualifying matches, significantly influences the MLS season schedule. This leads to the disruption of regular season schedules when several MLS players get called up to represent their national teams during these events. However, the MLS can work around these breaks by aligning match schedules with the international calendar or taking short pauses during significant competitions.

Weather conditions and stadium availability

Another crucial aspect that can impact the MLS season schedule is climate. This is particularly true in the frigid northern cities where winter weather conditions can be harsh. To circumvent this challenge, the MLS may arrange more matches in warmer climates at the beginning or end of the season. Additionally, stadium availability is a concern since several MLS teams share sports facilities with other sports organizations and events. As such, specific dates for scheduling games may not be accessible due to these restrictions.

TV broadcasting schedule

Furthermore, TV broadcasting schedules are vital to sway the MLS season schedule. The league may schedule matches during peak hours or weekends to maximize viewership and ratings. To accommodate these demands, some games may be rescheduled or relocated. Overall, several factors significantly impact the scheduling of an MLS season beyond just team availability and logistics.

Historical Changes in the MLS Season Schedule

Throughout its history, the MLS season schedule has undergone several changes. In the early days, there were far fewer teams in the league, just 10 in the very first 1996 season.

This meant the season was shorter because there were less matches to play, but also because MLS wasn’t as popular as it is now, so there weren’t as many logistical issues to deal with such as broadcasting schedules and so many international call ups.

As time has gone on though, it has had to adapt and be more flexible in order to create a situation that is beneficial to everyone, and allow for international competitions such as the CONCACAF Champions League.

Then there was the covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted the 2020 season, leading to a suspension of play for several months. Upon resuming, the league adopted a new format with fewer games and condensed playoffs.