Sports · Football · 3 hrs ago
Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati to open MLS sprint season on Feb. 19
MLS has announced that Inter Miami will host FC Cincinnati on Feb.
19 to open its sprint season in 2027.
Lionel Messi is expected to be part of the Inter Miami team for the game.
Each of the league’s 30 teams will play 14 regular-season matches, seven at home and seven away, against opponents from their own conference.
The short season is part of MLS’s move to a calendar that better aligns with international soccer schedules.
A 16-team single-elimination playoff will follow, and MLS will crown a champion about five months after this season’s title match.
The full sprint-season schedule is due Thursday; the next MLS season is set to begin in July 2027 and end with a title game in May 2028.
Inter Miami CF and FC Cincinnati will open Major League Soccer’s 2027 sprint season on Feb. 19 in Miami.
The match is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Nu Stadium.
The sprint season is a one-time shortened competition, with each of the league’s 30 teams playing 14 regular-season matches against conference opponents.
Each team will play seven matches at home and seven away, followed by a 16-team, single-elimination playoff.
MLS is using the shortened season to shift to a schedule running from summer to spring, beginning with the 2027-28 season.
- Who
- Inter Miami CF and FC Cincinnati.
- What
- They will play the opening match of MLS’s 2027 sprint season.
- When
- Feb. 19, 2027, at 8 p.m. ET.
- Where
- Nu Stadium in Miami, Florida.
- Why
- The sprint season will help MLS shift to a schedule aligned with international calendars.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
MLS revealed the Feb. 19 opener and several other matches from the sprint season schedule.
MLS said it would announce the full sprint season schedule.
Inter Miami and FC Cincinnati are scheduled to play the sprint season opener.
The 2027-28 MLS season is scheduled to begin under the new calendar.
- Opening match
- Inter Miami CF vs. FC Cincinnati
- Date and time
- Feb. 19, 2027, at 8 p.m. ET
- Venue
- Nu Stadium, Miami, Florida
- Regular-season format
- 14 games per club; seven home and seven away
- Playoff format
- 16 teams, single elimination
- New MLS season start
- July 2027-28 season