Major League Soccer has unveiled its highly anticipated 2026 schedule, featuring significant changes including a two-month break for the FIFA World Cup and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami preparing to christen their new stadium in April.
Season Structure and Key Dates
The 2026 MLS regular season will commence on 21 February and conclude on 7 November, marking the final campaign under the traditional February-to-November format. This represents a transitional period before the league moves to a shortened season in 2027 and adopts a new summer-to-spring calendar for the 2027-28 campaign, bringing it closer in line with other major football leagues worldwide.
All 510 regular season matches will be available on Apple TV across more than 100 countries and regions, with the significant change that no additional subscription will be required. Selected matches will also air on Fox networks in the United States, plus TSN and RDS in Canada.
Inter Miami's Stadium Opening and Messi's Commitment
Inter Miami will make history on 4 April when they play their first match at the newly constructed Miami Freedom Park, a 25,000-seat stadium located near Miami International Airport. The historic home opener will see Messi and his teammates face Austin FC in a 7:30 PM kickoff.
The timing coincides perfectly with Messi's recent contract extension, which will keep the football legend at Inter Miami until 2028. This ensures he'll be present for the inauguration of the club's new home ground, fulfilling the team's long-standing ambition.
To accommodate final construction touches, Inter Miami will begin the season with five consecutive away matches before the stadium debut. Miami Freedom Park represents the first of three new MLS stadiums scheduled to open over the next three seasons, with New York City FC's Etihad Park following in 2027 and Chicago Fire's downtown venue slated for 2028.
World Cup Break and Season Highlights
The 2026 schedule incorporates an extensive break for the FIFA World Cup, with no matches scheduled between 25 May and 16 July – nearly a two-month pause to accommodate football's global showpiece event.
Before the break, fans will be treated to a Fox double-header on 24 May featuring Inter Miami against Philadelphia followed by LAFC versus Seattle. The league will resume shortly before the World Cup concludes, with rivalry matches scheduled for 16 and 17 July, preceding the World Cup third-place match and final.
The season kicks off with 15 matches across the opening weekend of 21-22 February. Notable fixtures include St Louis City hosting Charlotte FC on 21 February, while Messi makes his season debut against LAFC at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum that same evening.
The MLS All-Star Game is scheduled for 29 July in Charlotte, with the skills challenge occurring the previous day. The league will observe FIFA's November international window before commencing playoffs from 18 November onward, ensuring an uninterrupted postseason.
