What happened: Major League Soccer announced a 14-game Sprint Season in 2027 to fill the calendar gap ahead of its shift to a summer-to-spring schedule. Each team will play seven home and seven away matches against conference opponents from February to April. The top eight teams in each conference advance to a single-elimination playoff in May.

Why it matters: This change aligns MLS with international soccer calendars, minimizing conflicts with major tournaments and club seasons abroad. Historically, it marks a pivotal evolution for the league's growth and competitiveness.

What to watch: Monitor official schedule release and team preparations for the high-stakes, error-free sprint format.