Major League Soccer

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The 2026 MLS season marks a significant moment in league history. MLS had been expanding at the rate of nearly one team a year since 2005, when Real Salt Lake joined the league, through 2025, with the introduction of San Diego FC. Commissioner Don Garber stated that the league would put a pause on expansion once reaching thirty teams until after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As such, the 2026 MLS season represents the first season played without an expansion team added or planned in over twenty years. The 2025 MLS Cup champion enters the season as reigning MLS Cup champions, while the 2025 Supporters' Shield winner enters as holders of the Shield. All MLS matches during the regular season and playoffs are planned to be broadcast on Apple TV, an online streaming service operated by Apple Inc. MLS Season Pass, a subscription add-on within the Apple TV app, continues to be the platform for MLS coverage, as it has been since 2023.

In Their Own Story

Nu Stadium opened on April 4, 2026, as the new home stadium of Inter Miami CF. In addition to their normal home venues, some teams have scheduled matches at other stadiums to increase capacity. All teams use Adidas as universal kit manufacturer. As part of Apple's broadcast contract, all MLS kits include Apple TV+ as a sleeve sponsor. The regular season is scheduled to run from February 21 to November 7, with a six-week break from May 25 to July 16 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The playoffs are scheduled for an uninterrupted period in November and December, with MLS Cup 2026 set for December 18. The 2026 season will be the final full season played under the spring–autumn format, as MLS plans to transition to a summer–spring format beginning with the 2027–28 season; a shortened season with 14 matches is scheduled to be played in early 2027.

Reader's Guide

The league has 30 clubs divided into the Eastern and Western conferences, each with 15 teams. The regular season consists of 34 matches for each team, primarily against opponents in the same conference. Points are awarded for wins and draws, determining playoff seeding. The leading team in the overall table wins the Supporters' Shield. Following the regular season, the playoffs are scheduled to be played during an uninterrupted period in November and December, culminating in MLS Cup 2026, the league's postseason championship, on December 18. All MLS matches during the regular season and playoffs are planned to be broadcast on Apple TV.

Did You Know?

• The 2026 MLS season is the 31st season of Major League Soccer.
• A six-week break was taken from June 11 to July 19 for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
• The 2026 season continues MLS's traditional spring–autumn schedule, with no official announcement regarding a future format change.
• MLS kits do not include a league-wide sleeve sponsor; Apple TV+ branding appears only on match broadcasts, not on team uniforms.
• Nu Stadium opened on April 4, 2026, as the new home stadium of Inter Miami CF.