HIGH POINT, N.C. (August 27, 2026) – MLS NEXT Pro will transition to a new Summer-to-Spring competition calendar beginning in 2027, marking a significant change in how the league operates and creating greater alignment across the professional soccer landscape.
The move to the new calendar aligns MLS NEXT Pro more closely with the FIFA International Match Calendar and creates greater consistency across the broader soccer ecosystem. The extended season footprint provides additional opportunities for competition, player movement, and continued growth across the league.
The transition comes during a significant period for MLS NEXT Pro and soccer in North America. With continued investment in the league and increased attention on the sport following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the new calendar represents another step in MLS NEXT Pro's continued evolution.
For Carolina Core FC, the change goes beyond when matches are played. Aligning MLS NEXT Pro with Major League Soccer, MLS NEXT and many of the world's top leagues will create a more connected player pathway, making it easier for players to move between levels and provide greater flexibility within the global transfer market.
The new format will also extend the league's footprint throughout the year and reduce the amount of time between seasons, creating a more continuous competitive environment for players, clubs and supporters.
The transition will begin with a shortened but fully competitive Sprint Season from February through May 2027 before MLS NEXT Pro begins its first full Summer-to-Spring campaign in July 2027.
"We talk a lot at Carolina Core FC about being a launchpad for players and creating access to opportunity," said Megan Oglesby, Principal Investor of Carolina Core FC. "If we really mean that, we should be doing everything we can to make it easier for players to take the next step when that opportunity comes. Better aligning our calendar with the rest of the soccer world removes some of the friction from that pathway and gives our players greater access to opportunities without unnecessarily disrupting their seasons.
"It also just makes sense for us as a club. It works better with our stadium calendar, and I think it will create a better experience for our fans. And selfishly, I'm definitely not mad about fewer games in the dog days of a North Carolina summer."
2027 SPRINT SEASON
The 2027 Sprint Season will serve as the bridge between MLS NEXT Pro's current competition calendar and the new Summer-to-Spring format.
Beginning in mid-February, each club will play 14 regular season matches through late April. The Sprint Season will carry the same competitive significance as a traditional MLS NEXT Pro season, including four rounds of the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs and the opportunity to compete for MLS NEXT Pro Cup.
MLS NEXT Pro Cup is scheduled for late May, followed by an offseason of approximately seven to nine weeks before the beginning of the 2027-28 campaign.
"The transition to the new competition calendar, aligning with MLS and the rest of global soccer, brings positives in relation to recruitment, the fan experience and a unique opportunity with the Sprint Season," said Carolina Core FC Head Coach Jake Davis.
"The Sprint Season is something we can really attack as a club, knowing it is 14 games, seven at home and seven on the road. Fans can expect a fast start and a playoff-like feel from the very beginning of the year. Each match will have heightened energy, and we are excited to compete and make our fans proud. We want to be deliberate about how we build the roster for the full calendar year. However, we do not want to overlook the Sprint Season and its importance."
2027-28 SUMMER-TO-SPRING SEASON
MLS NEXT Pro's first full season under the new calendar will kick off in July 2027 and conclude with MLS NEXT Pro Cup in June 2028.
Each club will play 28 regular season matches, with the campaign divided into two portions by a winter break.
The first half of the season will run from mid-July through mid-December. Following a seven-to-eight-week winter break, competition will resume in early February and continue through early May.
The MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs will follow, culminating with the MLS NEXT Pro Cup in early-to-mid June.
Additional information regarding Carolina Core FC's 2027 Sprint Season schedule, ticketing and the 2027-28 MLS NEXT Pro season will be announced at a later date.
