To better align with Major League Soccer and soccer leagues around the globe, it was announced Thursday that MLS Next Pro will be shifting their competition calendar after this season concludes. MLS had already announced similar changes, and now the league that is mostly made up of second teams from MLS clubs, along with a handful of independent clubs, will follow suit.

Like MLS, MLS Next Pro will have a “sprint season” in 2027 before transitioning to the new summer-to-spring format. Running from mid-February to late-April, MLSNP teams will play 14 regular season matches, followed by four rounds of playoffs, and culminating the the MLS Next Pro Cup in late May.

The 2027-2028 Summer-to-Spring season will include 28 matches per club. It will kick off in mid-July 2027 and run until mid-December. After a winter break, the season will resume in early February and go until early May. Playoffs will then take place, followed by the MLS Next Pro Cup in early June.

It is worth noting that MLS Next has already been using the Summer-to-Spring format, so with MLSNP making the switch, all three levels of the player pathway will be in alignment.

“This is a pivotal chapter for MLS NEXT Pro and the sport of soccer in our country,” said Eddie Pope, SVP, Competition & Operations, MLS NEXT Pro and SVP, MLS Sporting Development. “With our strategic partnership with KKR announced earlier this year, the tremendous momentum surrounding the FIFA World Cup this summer, and the transition to a new competition calendar in 2027, we are very excited about the next phase of growth for our league.”

More information should be coming about the partnership with KKR, and nothing has been announced regarding Union II in that matter.

Main article photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union II.