Soccer-MLS announces key 2027 ‘Sprint Season’ matches ahead of calendar shift

Oct 28 (Reuters) Lionel Messi s Inter Miami will kick off Major League Soccer s 2027 Sprint Season when they face Cincinnati on February 19, launching the league s ​transition to a traditional autumn-to-spring calendar. The standalone match ‌at Nu Stadium in Miami will begin a truncated 14-game regular season and playoff tournament designed to bridge the gap as MLS shifts away from its traditional summer schedule to align ‌with ​Europe s top leagues. The schedule, previewed on ⁠Apple TV s MLS Countdown, emphasizes ⁠weekly rivalry matchups. Among the headline games announced, LA Galaxy will host Los Angeles FC on April 10 in the El Trafico derby. The sprint season will conclude ​its regular-season slate on May 8 with Decision Day, anchored by the Hudson River Derby between New York ⁠City FC and the New ⁠York Red Bulls, setting the stage for ​the May playoffs. The four-month sprint serves as the prelude to ​the league s full operational shift. The first standard ‌season under