Inter Miami to Face Cincinnati in 2027 MLS Sprint Season Opener
The 2027 MLS sprint season will kick off with a standalone match between Inter Miami CF and FC Cincinnati on Feb. 19 at Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida, espn.com reported.
Inter Miami and Cincinnati Open the Transitional Calendar in Miami
The opening game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on a Friday, setting off the first matchday of a shortened competition. The remaining fixtures for the opening matchday will take place on Saturday, Feb. 20, and Sunday, Feb. 21, 2027.
The tournament kicks off in February and runs until it culminates with the MLS Cup playoffs in May.
Conference-Only Regular Season Structure
During the sprint season, every club will play fourteen regular-season matches. Teams will play seven games at home and seven away.
All regular-season fixtures will be played exclusively against opponents from the same conference. At the conclusion of the regular season schedule, the top eight teams from each conference will qualify for the postseason bracket.
Single-Elimination Brackets Lead to 2027 MLS Cup
Postseason matches will use a single-elimination bracket format to determine an Eastern Conference champion and a Western Conference champion.
The conference champions will advance to face each other in the 2027 MLS Cup. Results from the sprint season will crown a single-season champion while also determining qualification slots for the 2028 Concacaf Champions Cup and the 2028 Leagues Cup.
Confirmed Rivalry Matches and Final Schedule Release
Major League Soccer unveiled a selection of early fixtures alongside the opening details, featuring prominent rivalry matchups across the league calendar.
LA Galaxy will host LAFC for El Tráfico on April 10, 2027. New York City FC will face the New York Red Bulls in the Hudson River Derby at Yankee Stadium on May 8, 2027, which marks the final day of the regular season.
The complete 2027 sprint season fixture list is scheduled to be announced at 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Oct. 29.