Chester- While historically it is not until December that the league releases their schedule for the upcoming season, Major League Soccer threw everyone a curveball back on November 20th when they released the 2026 league schedule for the all 30 clubs.

Now that the 2025 season is behind us, I wanted to share a few thoughts of my own that I had when looking over the schedule initially.

The Union will open the MLS season on Saturday, February 21st against D.C. United, which for many Union fans is just a short trip down I-95, so the club should expect a good supporting contingent for this match.

Philadelphia will host their first home match of the season the following Sunday as they face NYCFC in a rematch of the MLS Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The league will take a break for the 2026 FIFA World Cup starting on May 24, which will last through the end of the tournament before Philadelphia picks back up on Wednesday, July 22nd as they host the New York Red Bulls for a 7:30 kick off at home.

The club will wrap up the league schedule on November 7th, hosting Toronto FC, before taking a break for the international window prior to starting the playoffs in 2026.

There are still free agent signings, the MLS Super Draft, and the upcoming transfer window that can drastically change things obviously, so I will be saving that for an article later on down the road as the season gets closer. But here are a few other thoughts I have as well.

A Trial Run Ahead of the 2027 Calendar Change?

The first thing I noticed is that perhaps this is a pseudo trial run ahead of the 2027 summer calendar change. The league will have a “break” for the FIFA World Cup, and there will be no pauses during the MLS Cup Playoffs once the November international window concludes.

So perhaps for clubs this is a trial run for how staffs, players, and front offices will manage operations moving forward giving them time to iron out organizational kinks before 2027–28.

The same goes for players and their careers. How do they handle such a long break if they are not representing their countries at the World Cup? These factors could benefit clubs that adapt quickly, allowing them to hit the ground running in the summer of 2027.

A CONCACAF Champions Cup Friendly Front Half

With Philadelphia back in the CONCACAF Champions Cup for the third time in the last four seasons, the front half of the schedule is extremely travel-friendly should they aim for a deep run.

All nine of the club’s road matches are on the East Coast, with the longest trip being Inter Miami on May 22. Their only Western Conference opponent, the San Jose Earthquakes, visits Subaru Park in March.

While the club won’t know its Champions Cup opponents until the official draw on Tuesday, Dec. 9, the early schedule at least sets up well for Carnell and company not having to travel farther west than Columbus, Ohio, before the World Cup break.

Busy Post–World Cup Schedule

After a two-month hiatus, the Union’s schedule ramps up quickly, with 19 matches beginning July 22. This includes a trip to San Diego for their first-ever meeting with San Diego FC. The club will also travel to Sporting KC and Austin FC, while hosting Seattle and Real Salt Lake.

There is more travel in the second part of the season, but the Union also face FC Cincinnati twice and the Red Bulls twice in matchups that always feel like high-stakes showdowns.

Should Philadelphia balance the Champions Cup and MLS play effectively and sit near the top of the table entering the break, they could be positioned for another strong run in the latter months of 2026.

U.S. Open Cup and Leagues Cup Implications

The 2026 edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will go on, with qualification already underway. However, MLS participation remains unclear. The same can be said for the 2026 Leagues Cup because of the World Cup–driven schedule disruptions.

Will MLS alter the number or type of participating clubs again? That remains to be seen. Expect MLS NEXT Pro teams to be involved regardless.

But with the World Cup in the middle of the season, how does that impact everything? Expect the league to make a statement sooner rather than later. For now, all we can do is speculate on what both tournaments will look like from an MLS perspective.

Regardless, the 2026 MLS season will be here sooner rather than later. There is still a lot to discuss as more information comes out, so stay tuned.

Main article photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union