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1. Better integration with the global transfer market

You’re likely familiar with soccer's global ecosystem and the importance of MLS maintaining a strong international transfer pipeline. You’re probably also aware that MLS is currently on a different calendar than most of the world’s top leagues, a reality that both impedes top players from coming into MLS and suppresses the market for outbound transfers. By better aligning the MLS schedule with the global football calendar, it will be easier for MLS teams to bring in top players, as well as get maximum return for their outgoing transfers.

2. Shifting of primary transfer window to the offseason

Right now, the primary MLS transfer window is in the middle of the season, which creates some real challenges on both the incoming and outgoing side.

As MNUFC experienced firsthand this season, while it’s amazing for the club to receive generous offers for rising young stars like Tani Oluwaseyi, it’s also challenging to lose key contributors with two months remaining in the season.

The challenges are just as pronounced on the inbound side, as new transfers currently arrive with something like eight games left in the season and are immediately thrust into a high-pressure playoff push, with little time to acclimate. And for every Nectarios Triantis who scores a worldie ten minutes into his MLS debut, there are several other examples of newcomers who take more time to find their sea legs. Under this new format, new signings will arrive in the offseason, with more time to settle in prior to the first match.

3. Better alignment with FIFA windows

Loons’ fans are all too familiar with those stretches where the team would lose Dayne St. Clair and Tani Oluwaseyi for six weeks to Copa America, or those games where we’d be forced to play without several key contributors like Michael Boxall, Robin Lod, Carlos Harvey, and others who are all away on international duty. With this new format, that issue will be significantly reduced, if not entirely eliminated, as MLS will align their schedule to not overlap with FIFA windows.

It’s also worth noting that players want to play for their countries, and a league that prioritizes alignment with FIFA windows is more likely to bring in and retain top talent. For example, it’s challenging for a player like Nectarios Triantis—who is pushing to become a regular fixture on his National Team in the lead-up to the World Cup—to play zero competitive games between December and the end of February, while his competition is in the middle of their club season. In the past, many talented players have chosen to forego coming to MLS for exactly those reasons. Again, this schedule flip will address many, if not all, of those concerns.

4. Better timing for cup competitions

Under the current format, the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs begin in October and conclude in December, a timeframe that not only runs into some colder weather in northern markets, it also has the challenge of being broken up by an international break in the middle. By shifting the playoffs to May, the league will be able to enjoy an uninterrupted stretch of playoff games during a warmer time of the year, with less competition against other major U.S. sports.

Additionally, the format for Concacaf Champions Cup currently places MLS teams at a disadvantage, as they’re starting this tournament during what is essentially the MLS preseason. This schedule flip will better align the MLS schedule with important international tournaments like CCC and position MLS clubs to show up at their best on the biggest stages.

Will MNUFC host home games at Allianz Field during the winter?

As noted above, the league will break from mid-December to early February, a slightly longer version of the winter break that’s familiar to Bundesliga fans. Additionally, the league has assured us that they will minimize the number of MNUFC home games scheduled during the months of December and February. In total, our total number of home games during the coldest months of November, December, and February should be very similar to the current schedule, and would all be played at Allianz Field.

How will this impact other competitions such as U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup, and Concacaf Champions Cup?

While those details aren’t yet finalized, alignment with other cup competitions has been an important consideration throughout the planning process for both Minnesota United and Major League Soccer—and the intention is for MLS clubs to continue participating in those tournaments as important parts of the North American soccer landscape. In fact, this change will hopefully minimize some of the schedule congestion currently created by overlapping competitions and create more equal footing for MLS clubs in international tournament play.