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NEWSHappy New Year!
As of today, players have begun reporting to their respective teams, marking the official start of 2026 MLS Preseason.
Here at Spotrac, we’re showcasing the official key dates of the 2026 MLS Season, along with every MLS team’s preseason game schedule:
2026 MLS Season Upcoming Key Dates:
MLS Winter Transfer Window: Jan. 23 - Mar. 26 (TBA - expected dates listed)
This registration window showcases the dates between which MLS may request the international transfer certificate of a player under contract in another country or trade players within MLS.
The official dates are TBA.
MLS Roster Compliance Date: TBA - (expected to be late February)
The 2026 Roster Compliance Date is expected to be in late February. For the 2025 season, it was Friday, February 21 by 8 p.m. ET.
The official date is TBA, however, this date will be the official time that MLS clubs must be roster and budget compliant heading into the start of the 2026 MLS season.
MLS is BACK weekend: Feb. 21-22
All 30 MLS clubs will play on MLS is Back opening weekend.
Inter Miami CF open Miami Freedom Park: April 4
The league’s newest soccer-specific stadium opens on April 4th when Eastern Conference side Inter Miami CF hosts Western Conference side Austin FC in their inaugural match at the new 25,000-seat Miami Freedom Park.
Inter Miami CF’s stadium is the first of three MLS stadiums set to open in consecutive years, including New York City FC’s new home, Etihad Park, arriving in 2027, and Chicago Fire FC’s new downtown stadium set to open in 2028.
FIFA World Cup Pause: May 25 - July 16
MLS will officially pause MLS play during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
MLS Action Returns: July 16 - 17
Following the 2026 FIFA World Cup Semifinals, the MLS season will officially restart.
2026 MLS All-Star Game: July 29
The 2026 MLS All-Star Game, hosted at Charlotte FC’s Bank of America Stadium, will take place on Wednesday, July 29th.
The opponent will be announced at a later date.
2026 Roster Freeze: TBA - (expected to be early October)
The 2026 Roster Freeze Date has not officially been announced. In 2025, it was Friday, September 12, 2025.
This is the date which MLS clubs must submit their final 30-man roster. Rosters cannot be changed from that date through the day after MLS Cup, subject to Extreme Hardship.
2026 MLS Decision Day: Nov. 7
The MLS regular season concludes with decision day on Saturday, November 7th.
Audi MLS Cup Playoffs implications and the Golden Boot presented by Audi, among other stakes, will be up for grabs.
Eastern Conference matches begin at 4 PM ET.
Western Conference matches begin at 7 PM ET.
Only one game will be an East v West decision day as Eastern Conference side CF Montréal will face off against Western Conference side Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 4 PM ET.
2026 MLS Cup Final: TBA
The official MLS postseason schedule will be announced at a later date.
Eastern Conference Teams Preseason Schedules
Atlanta United
Jan. 30 v Lexington SC (USL2) - Marietta, GA (Closed to Public)
Feb. 7 v Houston Dynamo FC - Houston, TX (Closed to Public)
Feb. 11 v Red Bull New York - Frisco, TX (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 14 v FC Dallas - Frisco, TX (Open ONLY to Season Ticket Holders)
CF Montréal
Jan. 23 v Slovan Liberec FC - Marbella, Spain (Open to Public)
Jan. 29 v FC Metalist 1925 Kharki - Marbella, Spain (Open to Public)
Feb. 7 v New England Revolution - Bradenton, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 10 v Philadelphia Union - Clearwater, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 14 v Tampa Bay Rowdies (USLC) - St. Petersburg, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Charlotte FC
Jan. 21 v Portimonense SC - Portimão, Portugal (Open to Public)
Jan. 26 v Brøndby IF - Algarve, Portugal (Open to Public)
Jan. 30 v Real Salt Lake - Albufeira, Portugal (Open to Public)
Feb. 5 v North Carolina FC (USLC) - Cary, NC (Closed to Fans & Media)
(Coachella Valley Invitational)
Feb. 7 v San Jose Earthquakes - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 14 v Minnesota United - Indio, CA(Open to Public)
Chicago Fire FC
(Coachella Valley Invitational)
Feb. 8 v Los Angeles Galaxy - Indio, CA(Open to Public)
Feb. 11 v Austin FC - Indio, CA(Open to Public)
Feb. 14 v Portland Timbers - Indio, CA(Open to Public)
Columbus Crew
Feb. 11 v Nashville SC - Palm Beach, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
D.C. United
Feb. 7 v Portland Timbers - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 11 v Minnesota United FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 14 v St. Louis City SC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
FC Cincinnati
Jan. 23 v New England Revolution - Bradenton, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Jan. 28 v Houston Dynamo FC - Tampa, FL (Closed to Public)
Feb. 7 v Detroit City FC (USLC) - Clearwater, FL (Closed to Public)
Feb. 11 v Orlando City SC - Tampa, FL (Closed to Public)
Inter Miami CF
Jan. 24 v Club Alianza Lima - Lima, Peru (Open to Public)
Jan. 31 v Club Atlético Nacional - Medellin, Colombia (Open to Public)
Feb. 7 v Barcelona de Guayaquil - Guayaquil, Ecuador (Open to Public)
Nashville SC
Jan. 20 v Chicago Fire FC - Palm Beach, Florida (Closed to Public)
Jan. 23 v Colorado Rapids - Palm Beach, Florida (Closed to Public)
Jan. 31 v Birmingham Legion FC (USLC) - Birmingham, Alabama (Closed to Public)
Feb. 7 v Orlando City SC - Palm Beach, Florida (Closed to Public)
Feb. 11 v Columbus Crew - Palm Beach, Florida (Closed to Public)
Feb. 14 v Lexington SC (USLL2) - Nashville, Tennessee (Closed to Public)
New England Revolution
Jan. 17 v Sarasota Paradise (USLL1) - Bradenton, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Jan. 23 v FC Cincinnati - Bradenton, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Jan. 31 v Houston Dynamo FC - St. Petersburg, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 7 v CF Montréal - Bradenton, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 14 v Hartford Athletic (USLC) - Foxborough, MA (Closed to Fans & Media)
New York City FC
Jan. 24 v Tampa Bay Rowdies (USLC) - St. Petersburg, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 1 v Austin FC - Austin, TX (Open ONLY to ATX Season Ticket Holders)
(Coachella Valley Invitational)
Feb. 8 v Los Angeles FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 11 v Sporting Kansas City - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 14 v San Jose Earthquakes - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Red Bull New York
(Torneo de Tejas)
Feb. 7 v FC Dallas - Frisco, TX (Open ONLY to FCD Season Ticket Holders)
Feb. 11 v Atlanta United FC - Frisco, TX (Closed to Fans & Media)
Orlando City SC
Jan. 24 v Lexington SC (USLL1) - Kissimmee, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 7 v Nashville SC - Palm Beach, Florida (Closed to Public)
Feb. 11 v FC Cincinnati - Tampa, Florida (Closed to Public)
Feb. 14 v Colorado Rapids - Orlando, Florida (Open ONLY to Season Ticket Members)
Philadelphia Union
Games TBA
Toronto FC
(In Spain) - Games TBA
Western Conference Teams Preseason Schedules
Austin FC
Jan. 24 v San Antonio FC (USLC) - Austin, TX (Closed to Public)
Jan. 28 v Louisville City FC (USLC) - Austin, TX (Closed to Public)
Feb. 1 v New York City FC - Austin, TX (Open ONLY to Season Ticket Holders)
(Coachella Valley Invitational)
Feb. 7 v St. Louis City SC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 11 v Chicago Fire FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 14 v Sporting Kansas City - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Colorado Rapids
Jan. 23 v Nashville SC - Palm Beach, Florida (Closed to Public)
Jan. 29 v TBD - Palm Beach, Florida (Closed to Public)
Feb. 7 v Columbus Crew - Palm Beach, Florida (Closed to Public)
Feb. 14 v Orlando City SC - Palm Beach, Florida (Closed to Public)
FC Dallas
Jan. 21 v Portimonense S.C.- Portimão, Portugal (Open to Public)
Jan. 26 v Brøndby IF - Loulé, Portugal (Open to Public)
Jan. 30 v Real Salt Lake - Albufeira, Portugal (Open to Public)
(In Torneo de Tejas)
Feb. 7 v Red Bull New York - Frisco, TX (Open ONLY to Season Ticket Holders)
Feb. 11 v Houston Dynamo FC - Frisco, TX (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 11 v Atlanta United FC - Frisco, TX (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 14 v Atlanta United FC - Frisco, TX (Open ONLY to Season Ticket Holders)
Houston Dynamo FC
Jan. 28 v FC Cincinnati - Tampa, FL (Closed to Public)
Jan. 31 v New England Revolution - St. Petersburg, FL (Closed to Public)
Feb. 4 v San Antonio FC (USLC) - Houston, TX (Closed to Public)
(Torneo De Tejas)
Feb. 7 v Atlanta United FC - Houston, TX (Closed to Public)
Feb. 11 v FC Dallas - Frisco, TX (Closed to FA)
Feb. 14 v Red Bull New York - Houston, TX (Closed to Public)
Los Angeles FC
Jan. 28 v Portland Timbers - Los Angeles, CA (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 1 v Austin FC - Austin, TX (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 4 v Los Angeles FC - Los Angeles, CA (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 8 v New York City FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb.11 v Sporting Kansas City - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 14 v San Jose Earthquakes - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Los Angeles Galaxy
Jan. 23 v Portland Timbers - Carson, CA (Closed to Fans & Media)
(Coachella Valley Invitational)
Feb. 8 v Chicago Fire FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 11 v St. Louis City SC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 13 v Los Angeles Galaxy - Palm Springs, CA (Open to Public)
Minnesota United FC
(Coachella Valley Invitational)
Feb. 7 v Sporting Kansas City - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 11 v D.C. United - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 14 v Charlotte FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Portland Timbers
Jan. 23 v LA Galaxy - Carson, CA (Closed to Fans & Media)
Jan. 28 v LAFC - Los Angeles, CA (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 4 v St. Louis City SC - Indio, CA (Closed to Fans & Media)
(Coachella Valley Invitational)
Feb. 7 v D.C. United - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 11 v San Jose Earthquakes - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 14 v Chicago Fire FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Real Salt Lake
Jan. 22 v Randers FC - Lagos, Portugal (Open to Public)
Jan. 26 v Brøndby IF - Algarve, Portugal (Open to Public)
Jan. 30 v Charlotte FC - Albufeira, Portugal (Open to Public)
Jan. 30 v FC Dallas - Albufeira, Portugal (Open to Public)
Feb. 6 v Orange County SC (USLC) - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 13 v Los Angeles Galaxy - Palm Springs, CA (Open to Public)
St. Louis City SC
Jan. 24 v Red Bull New York - Bradenton, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Jan. 28 v Tampa Bay Rowdies (USLC) - Bradenton, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 4 v Portland Timbers - Indio, CA (Closed to Fans & Media)
(Coachella Valley Invitational)
Feb. 7 v Austin FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 11 v Los Angeles Galaxy - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 14 v D.C. United - Indio, CA (Closed to Fans & Media)
San Diego FC
Jan. 24 v San Jose Earthquakes - San Diego, CA (Closed to Fans & Media)
San Jose Earthquakes
Jan. 24 v San Diego FC - San Diego, CA (Closed to Fans & Media)
Jan. 31 v Monterey Bay FC (USL) - San Jose, CA (Closed to Fans & Media)
Feb. 4 v Los Angeles FC - Los Angeles, CA (Closed to Fans & Media)
(Coachella Valley Invitational)
Feb. 7 v Charlotte FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 11 v Portland Timbers - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 14 v New York City FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Seattle Sounders
Games TBA
Sporting Kansas City
Jan. 17 v Florida International University - Palm Beach, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Jan. 24 v Chicago Fire FC - Palm Beach, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
Jan. 31 v Charlotte FC - Palm Beach, FL (Closed to Fans & Media)
(Coachella Valley Invitational)
Feb. 7 v Minnesota United FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 11 v New York City FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Feb. 14 v Austin FC - Indio, CA (Open to Public)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Games TBA