FC Dallas to play in 2027 mini-season

FC Dallas will compete in a mini-season in early 2027 as Major League Soccer transitions to a summer-to-spring calendar for future seasons.

Why it matters: The league is trying to align its schedule with much of the rest of the world.

• The long-awaited change will make the league more competitive during the summer transfer window, something MLS executives eagerly await.

The big picture: FC Dallas' season typically starts in February and ends in late October or early November.

• Starting in the 2027-28 season, the league will start regular matches in July and host the MLS Cup in May.

State of play: The transition season will be a "sprint season" from February-April 2027.

• Each team will play 14 intraconference regular-season games, seven on the road and seven at home.
• The top eight teams from each conference will qualify for the playoffs. The shortened season will end with the 2027 MLS Cup in May.

The big picture: FC Dallas is 2-2-1 so far this season, eighth in the Western Conference.