Insights from Experts
Recently, Major League Soccer (MLS) made headlines by announcing a significant shift in its playing calendar. Starting in 2027, the league will transition from a spring-to-fall schedule to a summer-to-spring format, similar to the top leagues in Europe. MLS attributes this change to the need for increased competitiveness with major leagues in Europe and South America, as well as alignment with the global transfer market, which largely operates in the summer.
“The calendar shift represents one of the most pivotal decisions in our history,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber in an official statement. “Aligning our schedule with the world’s elite leagues will enhance our clubs’ global competitiveness, provide better opportunities in the transfer market, and ensure our Audi MLS Cup Playoffs receive the spotlight they deserve. This marks the beginning of a new era for our league and soccer in North America.”
However, this calendar adjustment comes with significant challenges. Teams located in Eastern Canada and the American Midwest will now contend with more games during winter months. On the positive side, the likelihood of the MLS Cup final occurring under winter conditions will diminish. Past instances have seen such challenges, notably when Toronto FC hosted the final in 2016 and 2017, followed by Columbus Crew in 2020 and 2023. Logistically, reconfiguring the calendar from spring-to-fall to summer-to-spring presents noteworthy hurdles.
Calendar Shift: Lessons from Other Leagues
MLS will implement a condensed spring season in 2027 before fully adopting the new calendar (more details can be found here). But what have other leagues experienced during similar transitions? A few notable examples emerge. Ukraine quickly transitioned from the Soviet Vyschaya Liga’s spring-to-fall calendar in its second season, while Russia opted for a more gradual approach, shifting to the Russian Premier Liga’s current format during the 2011/12 season.
The Russian Premier Liga began its 18-month season in March 2011, extending into the following spring. After 30 regular-season matches, the league split into a championship and relegation round, with an additional 14 games played by the eight teams in each grouping. Ultimately, teams participated in between 44 to 46 domestic matches.
This transition, much like MLS’s, aimed to narrow the competitive gap with elite European leagues. By synchronizing its calendar with these leagues, the Russian Premier Liga hoped to enhance its teams’ competitiveness on the European stage. However, the outcomes have been mixed; while the league ranked seventh in UEFA’s five-year rankings in 2011/12, it only improved to sixth once, in 2018/19. Since February 2022, Russian clubs have faced suspension from UEFA competitions amidst broader geopolitical issues.
“A primary challenge has been team composition prior to the season’s start,” stated Georgiy Lekarev, Area Manager at Transfermarkt.world. “It’s widely known that 95% of Russian clubs rely entirely on local budget allocations, which are set before the new calendar year. By summer, these funds are usually exhausted, complicating recruitment and leading to financial difficulties during the season.”
“The transition has led to the disappearance of numerous clubs that existed since the 20th century,” added Lekarev. “While some clubs have managed to adapt, it has introduced another issue: during summer, when weather conditions are more suitable for football, teams are not maximizing potential, while mid-season matches are often played in unfavorable cold conditions. Although several indoor arenas have been established in Siberia, and World Cup stadiums from 2018 provide good conditions, many late autumn and spring matches still occur on poor-quality fields.”
J-League: One Year Ahead of MLS in Calendar Transition
While Russia has adapted, Japan’s J-League is planning a similar calendar transition to that of MLS, set for 2026. Insights from our Transfermarkt Area Manager in Japan, Takako Maruga, shed light on J-League’s motivations behind moving to a summer-to-spring calendar.
“To my surprise, the rationales driving the MLS and J-League calendar adjustments are quite similar,” Maruga stated. “Following the current season’s conclusion in December, the J-League will undertake a brief special season. A summer break, followed by the World Cup, will precede the launch of the new J-League season in August 2026. Although there has been prolonged discussion regarding this switch, northern clubs facing winter snow have expressed concerns about the move.”
Despite initial opposition, the J-League has pressed on with the change, aimed at becoming a more significant player in the global transfer market. “Japanese talent often moves to Europe for lower fees, subsequently being sold within Europe for higher values,” Maruga elaborated.
Moreover, the modifications extend beyond merely altering the schedule. “To facilitate more playing time, a U21 league will be introduced, promoting player retention within J-League clubs rather than losing talent to foreign institutions right out of high school or university,” Maruga explained. “The league will also support clubs in conducting their summer training camps in Europe to expand their networks. It will be intriguing to observe how these changes impact the J-League, particularly just one year before MLS implements a similar shift.”
Spring-to-Fall Schedule: Will Other Leagues Follow?
With MLS and the J-League making calendar changes, numerous leagues will still adhere to a spring-to-fall framework. Scandinavian leagues, for example, continue operating under a spring-to-fall calendar, despite participating in significant European competitions. The same can be said for South America, where Brazil follows a spring-to-fall model. We reached out to our data scouts and Area Managers for insights on these leagues, their impact on transfer activities, and the potential for future calendar adjustments.
Patrick Balonier (aka Finnland), Transfermarkt Data Scout Finland: There’s no ongoing discussion regarding a calendar change for the Veikkausliiga. The transfer window is less problematic, as players often consider Finland post-window if they can’t secure other contracts. Although the league schedule can be demanding, with KUPS participating in the UEFA Conference League group stage and playing every few days, it has led to positive results, culminating in a league win. During summer, clubs benefit from a four-week signing window, and the favorable tax system enhances competition within the league.
Bastian Schmitz (aka ARTURUS), Transfermarkt Data Scout Norway: There are no plans for a calendar change in Norway’s Eliteserien, as climatic conditions present significant challenges. This leads to an extended winter break, usually from December to April, which disadvantages Norwegian clubs in European tournaments. Teams often have to train abroad during their off-season, typically in Spain during January. The impact on transfers remains limited, as most new signings come from other Scandinavian leagues, and timely registration for incoming players during winter is sometimes challenging.
Joel Claesson (aka Joelcla), Transfermarkt Data Scout Sweden: Discussions around a switch to an autumn-spring schedule have consistently occurred but have never gained traction for the Allsvenskan. The harsh winter climate from December to February is a major factor preventing such a transition. This schedule poses challenges for Swedish clubs competing in Europe, as maintaining player form during this period becomes difficult. Transfer activity has grown more problematic, with clubs often preferring not to let key players depart during summer, as they may lose out on significant transfer fees.
Scott Christensen (Transfermarkt Area Manager Argentina & South America): In Argentina and various other South American leagues, we conduct two short tournaments each year. The league structure has frequently evolved, affecting the consistency of competition. This inconsistency has made fans dissatisfied, leading to a perception that each year sees us losing credibility in football. The transfer window situation negatively impacts the continent. The timing of European windows during our domestic activity often forces clubs to lose pivotal players without the opportunity for quality replacements, due to economic constraints.
Thiago Rabelo (Transfermarkt Content Manager Brazil): Brazil currently has no plans for a significant overhaul of its national football calendar. The last serious discussions concerning a change emerged following the 7–1 defeat to Germany in the World Cup, which sparked calls for reform across Brazilian football. However, several obstacles remain, most notably climatic challenges, as Brazil’s peak holiday season peaks with high temperatures during December and January, complicating scheduling. The CBF has announced a revised calendar for 2026, transitioning to a January-to-December model for national competitions, but aligning with European schedules has not been a priority.
