LA Galaxy v San Diego FC

The former USMNT star called on MLS leadership to make changes to the league's season schedule ahead of the FIFA World Cup

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WHAT HAPPENED

With the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, former MLS star Alexi Lalas says the league should capitalize on the opportunity and implement the much-discussed change to a fall-to-spring schedule, aligning with the European calendar.

‘There was a evidently a vote from the MLS ownership group about whether they are going to change the season and play from fall to spring like most of the leagues around the world,” Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. “If they were to agree to do that, that would be a fundamental change over the last 30 years of what has happened - and would be a monumental type of announcement. I'm not sure that they are going to do that because there are pros and cons to something like this. And for 30 years they haven't done that."

Lalas said MLS risks squandering a generational opportunity - given the anticipation over the World Cup, to be co-hosed by the U.S. - if league leadership fails to implement the calendar change.

“If you believe the rumors out there, that's not something that the ownership is going to vote in favor for, which is fine,” Lalas said. “It's certainly their prerogative... The 2026 World Cup is next summer. The time to do big, bold, different - dare I say arrogant - things is now. And if MLS comes and goes after the 2026 World Cup and has done nothing big, bold and arrogant, I look at it as a wasted opportunity. Again, easy to spend other people's money, easy to tell other people what to do.”

WHAT LALAS SAID

Lalas said MLS said announcing a change post-World Cup would be too late for meaningful impact.

“But that's just how I look at the World Cup next summer in terms of opportunity and platform to do big, bold things," he said. "And I'm telling you right now, whether it's MLS, NWSL or soccer in general... we still got a long way to go and we can do things that are bigger and better.

“And I'm just asking - I'm begging - for someone and people out there that are in positions of power to do big things relative to the 2026 World Cup.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

MLS Commissioner Don Garber discussed the topic of a schedule change during MLS All-Star week, suggesting there is increasing momentum.

"If it's going to happen, it's going to happen after the 2026 World Cup," Garber said. "So making this change is seismic. It's not something we should do lightly. We obviously have teams across multiple climate zones, multiple time zones, unlike any other league in the world. And if we do make the change, we're not going to go back on that decision.

"There are a number of key benefits to it. Aligning with the world standard, we think, is important for our brand as we try to continue to engage as one of the important, influential leagues in the world. We want to align with on the calendar to be able to be even more engaged on the player transfer market."

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WHAT’S NEXT?

Major League Soccer leadership will evaluate potential schedule modifications. The league will hold it's next All-Star Game in Charlotte in 2026.